Topix Underground

In the modern observational record, Lake Erie has reached full ice cover only three times: 1978, 1979, and 1996, with 1996 being the most recent. 

What followed was not a simple return to normal conditions. It marked the beginning of a new definition of winter behavior across the Great Lakes, and a new limnological era for Lake Erie.

Winter conditions influence spring water clarity, shoreline conditions, and nearshore water quality, affecting swimmers, anglers, boaters, and beach communities months after the ice is gone. Ice cover also shapes winter navigation and shipping, influencing port operations, icebreaking demands, and regional commerce.
Lake Erie is nearly completely frozen today.
What follows could shape lake ecology for decades to com

Took me a few years to figure it out but now I can toss out a good guess as to how much ice Lake E has but how many "Sea" Gulls we have on the river here. We have a few resident Gulls but the number jumps when the lake is frozen.