You can say goodbye to the Niagara River Ice Booms.
Crews starting removing the booms today near the outlet of Lake Erie.
The booms reduce the amount of ice entering the Niagara River to reduce the potential for ice jams which can result in damage to shoreline property, and reduce water flow for hydro-electric power production.
Officials say for a second consecutive year, mild weather conditions for most of this winter season have resulted in little to no ice cover on Lake Erie.
Crews from the New York Power Authority will begin opening the boom's 22 spans today.
Last year, the boom opening began on March 8.
The latest date for the start of the boom opening was May 3, 1971, while the earliest start date was February 28, 2012.
The ice boom is owned and operated by the New York Power Authority and Ontario Power Generation.
The use of the boom is authorized by the International Joint Commission with its International Niagara Board of Control overseeing the installation, operation and removal.