Coast Guard Welcomes Spring by Breaking Up Great Lakes Ice

ALGONAC, MI. -- The U.S. Coast Guard is welcoming spring by breaking up ice that remains on some Great Lakes shipping channels.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Bristol Bay welcomed aboard members of the media Friday to demonstrate icebreaking on Michigan's St. Clair River.

It's all part of an effort to remove unstable ice, provide flood relief and facilitate commerce.

Captain John Henry and his crew of more than a dozen guided the 140-foot Bristol Bay through the icy waters of the river, which connects Lakes Huron and St. Clair.

Last year, the Bristol Bay was cutting ice well into May. Henry hopes to be done in April this year.

But, as he says, "Mother Nature always does her own thing."