Muskingum River Ice Jam Continues To Build

The ice jam on the Muskingum River is continuing to build up.

The ice is located from the Dillon Road area back to the Y-Bridge. According to the Director of the Muskingum County EMA, Bo Keck, the ice has been piling up for about a week now. Though there aren’t any big concerns with it right now, it is being closely monitored by officials.

“We are watching it daily as well as the County Engineer and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. We’re all keeping an eye on it to see, you know, our concern is if it starts moving or if it starts stacking up higher than it is, or anything like that where it actually starts blocking the water.”

Block water flow can cause flooding. Keck says it is most noticeable at Putnam Landing and the Y-Bridge. Though the ice jam tends to draw a lot of visual attention from the public, Keck told us the icy back up is something that you want to avoid.

“When we saw this move last year, it took out everything and anything on it’s path. So if theres a dock or something, do not go out on it to look at it, stay on shore, stay up on the roads. Because in just a moment it could start moving and it will just snap off poles, trees, and everything in its road.”

Mother Natures cooperation is needed to help clear the jam. Keck says the sun today and upcoming 40 degree temperatures this weekend will help to get the water moving beneath the ice.