TRAVERSE CITY — The Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office dive team trained on melting ice during warmer-than-average winter temperatures as part of its year-round preparation for ice rescues and recoveries on northern Michigan lakes.
Lieutenant John Morgan said the team was training in conditions that reflect the increasingly unpredictable winters in the region, where fluctuating temperatures can quickly weaken ice.
During the training, the team cut a hole in the ice that was considered stable enough to work from.
Divers practiced swimming under the ice toward a simulated location where someone may have fallen through, and then practiced recovering the first diver in the event of a communications failure.
The team trains once a month to ensure members are exposed to a wide range of conditions, including thawing ice caused by warm temperatures and rain.
The training follows a recent tragedy in Kalkaska County, where two people drowned after falling through thin ice.
Morgan said the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office dive team responded to the incident and conducted the recovery.
“One of the most challenging things on thin or melting ice is getting to the scene where people actually go through,” Morgan said.
Morgan said recent training with the team’s airboat proved critical during the response.
The airboat allows deputies and divers to move across unstable ice and open water created by thawing conditions.
He said families are often present during recovery operations, and team members work to keep them informed.
“We try to be a liaison and let them know, ‘This is what we’re doing, this is why we’re doing it,’” Morgan said. “We’re glad when we can bring closure to those calls.”
Grand Traverse County spans more than 600 square miles, with roughly 120 square miles covered by water, making ice safety a persistent concern as residents and visitors continue to recreate outdoors despite warming winter weather.
Morgan urged people to use caution before venturing onto ice, especially during periods of warming.
“Always let people know where you’re going, and always take the appropriate safety precautions when going out on the ice,” he said.