Lake Couchiching went ice-free on Friday" "The ice-out date last year was April 8. In 2008, it was April 22.
For about five years, the average ice-out date has been April 20, down from the previous average date of April 21.
"This April 2 date will help bring it down again," Bowles said.
Ice-out records for Lake Couchiching have been kept since 1900. The earliest recorded ice-out date was March 25 in 2000. Before that, the earliest date was March 28 in 1945. The latest ice-out date on record was in 1904, when the ice was gone by May 4. "
