Photo Gallery: Coast Guard Sector Detroit Begins Ice Breaking Operation Early

Canadian coast guard icebreaker Griffon and U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bristol Bay work to flush an ice jam in the St. Clair River, March 21, as part of Operation Coal Shovel during the 2009-2010 Great Lakes ice breaking season.

DETROIT RIVER - Coast Guard Cutter Bristol Bay cuts ice in the Detroit River in this photo taken during an ice patrol mission by an Air Station Detroit rescue helicopter crew, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011. Ice patrol missions provide valuable information for those on the Great Lakes taking part in Operations Taconite and Coal Shovel, the largest domestic ice breaking missions in the nation. U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer 3rd Class Paul Jaquish, Air Station Detroit.

In this photo released by the U.S. Coast Guard, the cutter Neah Bay breaks Great lakes ice approximately 50 miles east of Grosse Isle, Mich., on Jan. 21. Neah Bay, homeported in Cleveland, is participating in the Ninth Coast Guard District's Operation Coal Shovel. Under tactical command of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit personnel, Operation Coal Shovel covers ice breaking operations in all of lake Erie, the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River and amajority of lake hron. (U.S. Coast Guard photo/Air Station Detroit).

In this photo released by the U.S. Coast Guard, the cutter Neah Bay breaks Great lakes ice approximately 50 miles east of Grosse Isle, Mich., on Jan. 21. Neah Bay, homeported in Cleveland, is participating in the Ninth Coast Guard District's Operation Coal Shovel. Under tactical command of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit personnel, Operation Coal Shovel covers ice breaking operations in all of lake Erie, the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River and amajority of lake hron. (U.S. Coast Guard photo/Air Station Detroit).

In this photo released by the U.S. Coast Guard, the cutter Neah Bay breaks Great lakes ice approximately 50 miles east of Grosse Isle, Mich., on Jan. 21. Neah Bay, homeported in Cleveland, is participating in the Ninth Coast Guard District's Operation Coal Shovel. Under tactical command of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit personnel, Operation Coal Shovel covers ice breaking operations in all of lake Erie, the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River and amajority of lake hron. (U.S. Coast Guard photo/Air Station Detroit).