GRAND ISLAND — While the “No Gasoline Motors Allowed on Lakes” signs in Grand Island parks are primarily intended for boats, they carry the same restriction against ATVs on frozen ponds.
The Grand Island Police Department issued a reminder to residents that driving an ATV onto any frozen bodies of water with the Grand Island park system is against the law.
The GIPD has received reports of individuals out on the ice at L.E. Ray Park with ATVs.
Nebraska Game and Parks warned about the dangers of ATVs on lake ice after two incidents on Jan. 11 in western Nebraska.
“No injuries or fatalities were reported in either incident, one at Lake Maloney State Recreation Area and one at Cottonwood-Steverson Wildlife Management Area, where all-terrain vehicles broke through the ice,” per Nebraska Game and Parks.
Both ATVs will have to be removed from the lake by state agencies.
People going onto lakes for winter recreation are reminded of the following clear-ice thickness guidelines, according to state fish, wildlife and parks agencies:
- Under 4 inches: Stay off the ice
- 4 inches: Can support ice fishing or other activities on foot
- 5-7 inches: Can support a snowmobile or small ATV
- 7-8 inches: Can support side-by-side ATV
People should use an ice chisel or spud bar to strike the ice and evaluate conditions as they venture out.
Remember as winter progresses, ice changes. Cloudy ice of frozen slush is about half as strong as clear lake ice, so people should double the minimum thickness when encountering such conditions.
