Eau Claire (WQOW) – An official with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said our area is months away from the spring thaw, but that doesn’t mean all lakes are still frozen.
After a horrifying incident in which six trucks crashed into Lake Pippin, officials warned the ice wasn’t safe.
Related: Six trucks plunge under ice on Lake Pippin, no injuries
Local reserve superintendent Jake Volks said most lakes in the Chippewa Valley are frozen, but you can’t be too careful, especially when ocean currents are involved, as is the case with Lake Pepin.
“Know the waters you’re in,” Volks said. “River ice melts much faster than lake ice. If there is a current in the lake, just like there is current in Lake Altoona, that part of it can melt faster than other parts.”
Volks was told to always do research and check the ice every time he went out. He said you should never see the thickness of the ice with your eyes. He should always carry an auger or tape measure and talk to others on the ice.
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