The river is known for ice jams during the spring freshet. During spring freshet the river can be closed to navigation. The Centennial Bridge was washed away during the spring freshet of 1888. In the tropics, tropical storms and cyclones can lead to freshet events. During the spring freshet in June and July, the falls could be completely submerged. The first bridge was washed away during a freshet (an overflow caused by heavy rain). It is also said to have been swept away in a freshet. The lock was damaged by a spring freshet one year had to be rebuilt. The system usually would be fully filled with fresh water only during the spring freshet. Wealth is rushing in upon us like a freshet. A freshet in 1894 caused the new course to become permanent. In 1618 a freshet destroyed the new fort, and it was abandoned for good.