WINONA — Spring is already a week old but there is still no sign of the first towboat of the season in the Winona area.

As of Wednesday, the nearest tow was the Penny Eckstein, which was at the Dubuque, Iowa, Lock and Dam 11 pushing nine barges. Its destination is not known.

With the cold weather, the ice on Lake Pepin has gotten thicker instead of melting.

According to measurements taken Wednesday by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the ice on Lake Pepin is 26 inches thick at one location and 25 inches thick at six other locations.

Two weeks ago, when the last measurements were taken, the ice was between 22 and 24 inches thick.

The Mississippi River is open in the Winona area.