March 9, 2011
QUÉBEC – The Canadian Coast Guard would like to notify local residents and all those using the shores of Lake St. Louis that it intends to begin spring icebreaking operations at the entrance of the St. Lawrence Seaway, on the north and south shores of the Lake and in Bay Des Cascades, on or about March 14, 2011.
The purpose of this yearly operation is to dislodge the ice at the mouth of the river’s tributaries in order to prevent ice jams and flooding that may result from the spring breakup. The operation will be carried out by the icebreaker CCGS Tracyand by a Canadian Coast Guard hovercraft. CCGS Tracyhas a red hull with a transverse white band and a white funnel bearing a maple leaf. A hovercraft is an air cushion vehicle whose engines produce a noise similar to an aircraft.
The Canadian Coast Guard strongly recommends that pedestrians, fishers and snowmobilers leave the ice when they see the icebreaker in the vicinity. The ice may move and this may create a real danger for anyone in the area of the Canadian Coast Guard units.
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For more information:
Nathalie Letendre
Communications Advisor
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Quebec Region
nathalie.letendre@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
418-649-6297
NR-QR-11-08E
