Water Issues and Ice Conditions | Temagami Lakes Association

Break-Up Watch 2023

The TLA is excited to announce we have assembled a crack team of correspondents who will be reporting the progression of ice break-up and recording the “Official” Ice-Out Day – when Lake Temagami is completely ice free. We are proud to continue the 20+ year tradition and excellent work of Brian Back at Ottertooth.com.

We have reporters stationed in the South, Southwest, North Arms, and the Hub sharing boots-on-the-ground progress. In addition, we look forward to providing aerial and satellite imagery, weather permitting. Overcast conditions in Northeastern Ontario the last few days have precluded recent satellite phots.

Our expert observers are as follows:

Bob Farr (Bear Island)
Jackie Hodgins (Wanapitei)
Don Johnson + Nolan Jorgenson (SW Arm)
Ron Miller (flyovers from North Bay)
Bruce Rice (South Arm)
Sacha Stephens (Western Hub)
Penny St. Germain (Wabikon)

Stay tuned for regular updates on the TLA Member Community Facebook page (www.facebook.com/groups/211206275926832), as well as complete coverage, photos, and comprehensive historical data on the TLA website.

~ Paul Tamburro

*** May 8, 2023: ICE OUT ***

Ron Miller did an aerial survey of Lake Temagami this morning and spotted a single remaining patch of ice in a small bay off the North Arm. Presumably the ice melted by this afternoon. Thus, we are calling May 8, 2023 “Ice Out”.

Special thanks to Bob Farr, Jackie Hodgins, Don Johnson, Nolan Jorgenson, Ron Miller, Bruce Rice, Sacha Steven, and Penny St. Germain for their detailed reporting from land, sea (well, actually, lake), and air.

It’s a three-way tie for Bob Farr, Jackie Hodgins, and Penny St. Germain, who all came closest with their initial ice-out predictions of May 10th.

The final holdout spot was in the North Arm – west of Horseshoe Island; photo by Ron Miller (May 8, 2023)

*** May 6, 2023 ***

According to Bob Farr, no wind last night with a full moon and clear skies resulted in probably 50% or more of the lake surface freezing over again. It’s a thin layer – in most places, just a skim. The watch continues.

And just like that we have ice. Melting fast thankfully!: photo by Penny St. Germain at Wabikon (May 6, 2023)

We still have ice too … and made some new stuff, as well.: photo by Sacha Stevens, Island 988 (May 6, 2023)

*** May 5, 2023 ***

The Hub and SW Arm are largely open, with plenty of boat travel occurring. They water is completely ice free, however, and there is plenty of floating debris.

It’s a different story in the north and the south. Bruce Rice reports that the South Arm remains somewhat locked in. Likewise, Jackie Hodgins was unable to boat from Wanapitei to Keewaydin yesterday afternoon due to and ice jam south of Ferguson Mountain.

Overcast skies have thwarted useful satellite imagery for the past seven days, so we cannot provide a big-picture analysis. Presumably, the smaller lakes in the region are mostly ice free.

view from Ogama Island: photo by Gerry Gooderham (May 5, 2023)

still have ice about a km out, but suspect it will be gone by the end of the day: photo by Sacha Stevens, Island 988 (May 5, 2023)

an eager beaver near Wabikon: photo by Penny St. Germain (May 5, 2023)

From Jackie Hodgins at Camp Wanapitei (May 5, 2023): I can officially make it to open water and down past Rabbitnose (and, I would guess, all the way to the landing).

My journey was not ice free, but I could easily push through. However, the North Arm towards Whitefish Bay, and Devil’s and Granny’s Bay was completely covered with ice (and not passable, as far as I could tell).

looking from Red Pine Island (across from Keewaydin) up the North Arm towards Whitefish Bay: photo by Jackie Hodgins (May 5, 2023)

looking towards Rabbitnose (in the far distance) from south of Keewaydin; now clear of ice: photo by Jackie Hodgins (May 5, 2023)

*** May 4, 2023 ***

A neighbour travelled to the landing late yesterdsay afternoon, but it was not easy (from Canusa to landing, he had to move around many pieces of the ice road). The airboat could be heard several times in the afternoon breaking up ice. Now there are lots of pieces floating around in front of Wabikon and some of them appear to be really thick. Debris (e.g., big logs) can also seen.: photo by Penny St. Germain (May 4, 2023)

From Jackie Hodgins at Camp Wanapitei (May 4, 2023): What a strange break-up. Our bay has been free of ice for several days, and we assumed it would be clear sailing. After getting the boat in the water, my daughter and I loaded up expecting to get to the landing or Rabbitnose. Much to our surprise, 1 kilometer south of Ferguson Mountain it was frozen completely across the lake with no channels along the shore. The ice is 3” thick. We could jam through it if we were desperate; however as far as the eye could see, it was totally frozen. We will head out again tomorrow to report in.

looking north in Ferguson Bay – from the ice edge towards Ferguson Mountain and no ice: photo by Jackie Hodgins (May 4, 2023)

looking south in Ferguson Bay and zoomed in to Devil’s Mountain: photo by Jackie Hodgins (May 4, 2023)

looking south (1 km south of Ferguson Mountain): photo by Jackie Hodgins (May 4, 2023)

*** May 3, 2023 ***

Following common Lake Temagami break-up patterns, the SW Arm is mostly clear, with minimal, residual broken ice in the back bays (as reported by Don Johnson and Nolan Jorgenson).

There is still ice in the South Arm, according to Bruce Rice.

Sacha Stevens and Penny St. Germain, reporting from the Hub, note some ice-battered dock damage – particularly for north- and east-facing docks.

This image is looking south from Wabikon toward High Rock. The Wabikon tower has been pushed over on its crib; however, the area is nearly ice free this morning! Boaters will likely be going by today.: photo by Penny St. Germain (May 3, 2023)

This is looking east from Island 988. There is ice all the way to Penny Carroll’s place, and across to the Smellies, but after that, it’s clear to Bear Island. Lots damage has occurred on the north and west side of the island due to ice piling up.: photo by Sacha Stevens (May 3, 2023)

*** May 2, 2023 ***

Two days of rain and favourable temperatures caused the ice to crumble and steadily dissolve like cubes in a glass.

Then yesterday afternoon, the wind began stirring the drink. Jackie Hodgins is reporting large ice chunks washing ashore in Sandy Inlet, and 6-inch-thick sheets batter Don Johnson’s dock in the Southwest Arm.

In front of Wabikon, the ice is so fragile that Penny St. Germain watches as the green marker easily slices thru the wind-driven ice.

Bob Farr reports the first successful boat travel Monday between Bear Island and the landing.

It’s raining again this morning and the Lake is transitioning quickly from hard water to soft. In fact, Bob, our esteemed senior observer, is fast-forwarding his “Official Ice Out Prediction” to May 8th.

looking southwest from Camp Wanapitei toward Ferguson Mountain: photo by Jackie Hodgins (May 2, 2023)

looking northwest from Camp Wanapite toward Napoleon Mountain: photo by Jackie Hodgins (May 2, 2023)

The is looking southwest from Camp White Bear. There is about 2/3 ice and1/3 water in the area. The ice that remains is 4″ thick, with candling and bends. What a difference a day makes.: photo by Don Johnson (May 2, 2023)

looking at some of the ice pushed up on shore at Camp White Bear; in the background you can see our bent-up dock: photo by Don Johnson (May 2, 2023)

*** May 1, 2023 ***

Our weather station recorded about 50 mm of rain yesterday! It is certainly beating that ice up in lieu of sunshine! It continues to rain today thinning our ice; however some spots are thicker than expected. Our ice has come back to the shoreline here a bit, so there is some movement happening this morning. Some people are reporting boats in the water yesterday trying to break ice, but it’s not quite ready yet. We don’t have a high enough water level here to slip our boat down the ramp. We hope to be able to do that in the next few days and start breaking ice to Bear Island. Their air boat has been running twice a week, so breaking ice should be good mid week!: photo by Sacha Stevens, Island 988 (May 1, 2023)

From Jackie Hodgins at Camp Wanapitei (May 1, 2023): Every break-up is unique. A week ago, I would never have predicted the big change in receding ice. Mother Nature likes to keep us guessing. The skies, so full of moisture, have created incredible hues in the ice – black, green, white, and beige. The ice has let go of the shore everywhere up on the north end of the Lake. Once these continuous downpours recede and if the winds come up, I believe we could have some big chunks crashing up on shore.

There is not much change in front of Wabikon, but melting a little more off the shore (a bit of movement southwest, but basically the same).: photo by Penny St. Germain (May 1, 2023)

another view from Wabikon: photo by Penny St. Germain (May 1, 2023)

Not much movement near Wabikon in the last hour, as ice is probably hung up on the shore. The green marker in front is staying up as the ice drags by (so, the ice must be pretty rotted). It is candling at the main dock and the shoreline.: photo by Penny St. Germain (May 1, 2023)

Ice is moving down near White Bear (Island 488). The ice in the picture is 6″ thick and still fairly solid. The movement has pushed up one corner of my dock.; photo by Don Johnson (May 1, 2023)

*** April 30, 2023 ***

Good last day of April! We have lost at least 2-3″ of ice and it has gone out about 10-15 feet!: photo by Sacha Stevens, Island 988 (April 30, 2023)

Looking west from the Bear Island store towards Sacha’s place (Island 988). You can tell how cool and dreary the weather is. The ice just sits there and slowly melts away, but it did move a bit against the shore in places yesterday. One good southwest wind will really help, but I don’t see that in the forecast – only cool, rainy weather.: photo by Bob Farr (April 30, 2023)

looking southwest from Camp Wanapitei towards Pickerel Bay: photo by Jackie Hodgins (April 30, 2023)

looking northwest from Camp Wanapitei towards Napoleon Mountain: photo by Jackie Hodgins (April 30, 2023)

looking southwest from Camp Wanapitei towards Ferguson Mountain, with the Red Squirrel River flowing over the ice: photo by Jackie Hodgins (April 30, 2023)

*** April 28, 2023 ***

looking east from Island 988 toward Bear Island: photo by Sacha Stevens (April 28, 2023)

looking north from Island 988 toward Island 1005: photo by Sacha Stevens (April 28, 2023)

looking southwest from Island 855 in the South Arm: photo by Bruce Rice (April 28, 2023)

looking from Camp Tamar (Island 856) toward to very bottom of the South Arm: photo by Bruce Rice, (April 28, 2023)

looking southwest from Camp White Bear (Island 488) in the SW Arm: photo by Don Johnson (April 28, 2023)

aerial image from Town of Temagami looking northeast: photo by Ron Miller (April 28, 2023)

aerial image from NE Arm looking southwest: photo by Ron Miller (April 28, 2023)

*** April 27, 2023 ***

looking south from Camp Wanapitei in Sandy Inlet: photo by Jackie Hodgins (April 27, 2023)

*** April 26, 2023 ***

launching a steel boat with submerged ice underneath at Island 488: photo by Don Johnson (April 26, 2023)

*** April 24, 2023 ***

from Camp Wabikon: photo by Penny St. Germain (April 24, 2023)

Record Record of Ice-Out Dates (Source: www.ottertooth.com/temagami.htm)

Year:	Date:	Observation Point:	Observer:
1985	May 10	Devil’s Island, North Arm	Glen Toogood
1986	May 1	Devil’s Island, North Arm	Glen Toogood
1987	April 20-21	Devil’s Island, North Arm	Glen Toogood
1988	May 4	Devil’s Island, North Arm	Glen Toogood
1989	May 11	Devil’s Island, North Arm	Glen Toogood
1990	May 1	Devil’s Island, North Arm	Glen Toogood
1991	May 3	Devil’s Island, North Arm	Glen Toogood
1992	May 10	Sandy Inlet	Glen Toogood
1993	May 6	Sandy Inlet	Glen Toogood
1994	May 8-9	Sandy Inlet	Glen Toogood
1995	May 2	Temagami Bay (Town)	Glen Toogood
1996	May 12-15	Temagami Bay (Town)	Glen Toogood
1997	May 6	Temagami Bay Ttown)	Glen Toogood
2000	April 27	Garden Island – north side	Glen Toogood
2001	May 5	Garden Island	Glen Toogood
2002	May 5	Garden Island	Glen Toogood
2003	May 5	Garden Island	Glen Toogood
2004	May 5	Garden Island	Glen Toogood
2005	May 1	Garden Island	Glen Toogood
2006	April 22	Garden Island	Glen Toogood
2007	April 27	Garden Island	Glen Toogood
2008	April 27	Garden Island	Glen Toogood
2009	May 6	Sealrock Point	Harold Keevil
2010	April 15	Devil’s Island, North Arm Southern Hub	Jason Pigeau Bob Farr
2011	May 9	Devil’s Island, North Arm	Jason Pigeau
2012	April 11	North Arm Southern Hub	Jason Pigeau Bob Farr
2013	May 8	North Arm	Harold Keevil Gail Spencer
2014	May 14	North Arm	Harold Keevil Gail Spencer
2015	May 6	Ogama Island, Hub	Bob Farr
2016	May 6	North Arm, Hub, Southwest Arm, Northeast Arm, and the air	Ron Miller, Penny St. Germain, Jason Pigeau, Bob Farr, Steve Battis, Harold Keevil
2017	May 1	North Arm	Owen Bateman, Dave Wilfong
2018	May 17	North Arm	Harold Keevil, Dave Wilfong, Ron Miller
2019	May 18	North Arm	Harold Keevil, Bob Farr, Ron Miller, Dave Wilfong
2020	May 18	North Arm	Harold Keevil, Dave Wilfong
2021	April 13	North Arm, Hub	Ron Miller, Dave Wilfong, Bob Farr
2022	May 8	North Arm, Ferguson Bay	Harold Keevil, Jackie Hodgins, Paul Tenwesteneind