It's March and Lake Michigan is still covered in ice

MILWAUKEE- As of Thursday, ninety-two percent of Lake Michigan was still covered in ice.

All of that ice has an economic impact on Wisconsin.

It stops massive cargo ships from moving across the lake and the long the ice sticks around the more money those companies may lose.

Recreational boaters are also affected.

Typically, docks would started being loaded into the water at the Milwaukee Yacht Club, but the ice has them at least a month behind.

The ice could also damage the docks, which could cost hundreds of thousands dollars to fix.

On the flip side, lake levels are expected to be about a foot higher this year.

That could mean millions of dollars for the shipping industry and an easier time for local boaters.

CBS 58 was told that when the ice does begin to melt, that process could move quickly.