When ice cover began forming on lakes in the fall/winter, staff would drive to various lake locations and visually monitor the progression of ice coverage. This was done as needed based on weather conditions, with visits occurring daily when ice coverage approached 100%. Due to restricted visibility in some areas, the ice on date was recorded if at least 99% of the lake surface was frozen.
In the spring, monitoring began when open water could be seen on lakes in the region. Staff drove to lakes and visually observed ice cover, with visits occurring up to twice per day (once in the morning, and once in the afternoon) when weather produced rapid melting conditions. When at least 99% of the lake surface was open water, ice off date was recorded.
Note that in 2023, trail cameras were deployed along lakeshores to aid in ice on/off detections. Cameras were programmed to take a photo once every hour from sunrise to sunset. Visual observations were still used to monitor ice on/off dates.