Figure 2. Concept drawing of original Cazenovia Creek ICS. Dimensions and elevations shown
are prototype feet. Not shown is a low-flow gated opening in the weir to allow fish passage from spring to
early winter. In its final design, the ICS piers were 12 ft long. A pool for storage of ice floes was to be
excavated pool at elevation 635; it was 400 ft wide at the ICS and tapered linearly to the natural channel
width (approximately 160 ft) at a distance of 600 ft upstream. The project also required extensive grading
and riprap protection for the floodway bypass channel.
both West Seneca and Buffalo, are heavily developed.
weir with nine ice-retaining piers, an excavated pool to
Consequently, we sought greater ice-retaining capac-
store ice pieces, and a prepared floodway to bypass the
ity for the Cazenovia ICS.
peak flow (Fig. 2). The project was estimated to cost
Figure 3 shows the new ICS concept proposed for
,100,000 (1987 dollars), reduce average annual ice-
Cazenovia Creek. It consists of evenly spaced cylin-
jam flood damages by 0,000 (1987 dollars), and
drical piers anchored in main channel and does not
achieve a benefit/cost ratio of about 1.5 over the life of
include a weir. The adjacent treed floodplain is left intact
the structure. Nevertheless, it was not built. Federal law
to act as a flow-bypass channel. In proposing this ICS,
was changed at that time to require 25% cost sharing
we expected that vertical piers spaced the same dis-
by the local sponsor. The Town of West Seneca could
tance apart as the Hardwick ICS blocks would offer
not afford this amount on its own, and New York State
significantly better ice-retention capability, especially
had not yet modified its laws to participate as a spon-
for thinner ice. Nevertheless, we needed to quantify this
sor.
and verify that piers alone would offer the same or bet-
Many communities along small northern rivers
ter performance as the original weir-with-piers ICS.