The National Weather Service has placed Newaygo County under advisory for potential floods as ice jams form along the Muskegon River. Possible flood zones include the Newaygo, Bridgeton and Croton communities.
Ice jams are blockages of ice that act almost like a dam, preventing water through flowing parts of the river and causing water levels to rise.
Andrew Dixon, a hydrologist for the NWS station in Grand Rapids, said Bridgeton has experienced about a 4-foot rise in water levels but the ice has remained stable. He expects a similar occurrence for the city of Newaygo.
"The reason we're a little bit more focused on the Muskegon is because typically downstream of the big dams, most of that river stays ice free, that it will generate and produce some ice, but it just keeps flowing all the way downstream into Muskegon County," Dixon said. "But when it gets cold like this, we do occasionally see the ice back up through Newaygo County and start to affect those river gauges."
They're exercising extreme caution as they monitor the river even though flooding is not a guaranteed outcome, Dixon explained, purely because it has happened in the past.
He says the most at-risk residents are those who live near the river's low-lying areas or close to potential trouble spots such as sharp bends, bridges, river constrictions and shallow areas.
"Really, we're just wanting to raise visibility so that if there is something unexpected that happens, and the water does start coming up, the people have a plan to not only monitor the river level, but then respond and pull property out of the way," Dixon said.
Newaygo County Emergency Services Director Abby Watkins said local law enforcement and fire departments are on standby if residents need any help.
"Ice jams are a natural threat," Watkins said. "There is nothing that we can really do to mitigate them or to break them loose.
[But] our officials are monitoring the river and communicating with those along the river to make sure that they're aware of ice jam risk as well as potential rise and fall of the river."
Officials encouraged residents to be cautious and prepare for potential floods by:
- Monitoring river gauges
- Avoiding unstable ice
- Moving outdoor furniture and anything of value out of harm's way
- Maintain water safety
- Ensuring they have a way to evacuate if need be
- Reporting any signs of flooding to law enforcement and the National Weather Service
