Already three weeks ago the shallows and mudbank where the Teal hang out were freezing over, so the Teal went upriver to just below the lower falls. That's where the water that's been diverted through the final and largest turbines of a chain of power plants reenters the river, so that area never freezes. The colder it gets, the more water is getting pumped through the turbines to keep up with power demands, and the turbines warm that water, which again warms the river at least briefly. So that's where I saw some Teal last time I hiked up there. I should hike up there again this week. There may also be swans there now. Their favorite spots are further UP-river where there are also some (smaller) power plants, but there too the river is now mostly frozen, I'm told. The weather turned milder two days ago, but still below freezing and whatever the temps it will take a while for all that ice to melt and break up.
