Aerating a water body helps prevent winterkill, which occurs when aquatic plants either die or reduce their oxygen production, leading to fish kill. Because the air bubbles up to the surface, there is often thin ice and open water near an aeration system. Water bodies with aeration systems are posted with warning signs and people are advised to stay clear of these posted areas.
Aeration systems usually operate between December and March.
Changing temperatures, combined with the amount of snowfall and slush in some areas, can also contribute to unsafe ice conditions.
Extreme caution should be taken while travelling on the ice this winter.
Here are some ice facts that people should be aware of: ice strength should never be judged by appearance alone; ice thickness is seldom uniform throughout a water body and can sometimes vary from safe to unsafe within a metre; changing temperatures can cause thermal cracks and pressure ridges, which are indicators of unsafe ice;
For more information contact the nearest Red Cross office or check the Red Cross website at www.redcross.ca.
