ZANESVILLE — The ice jam on the Muskingum River, reported in The Thursday Jeffersonian, has broken up, according to information released by the Muskingum County Emergency Management Agency.

The jam caused water to back up and flood property adjoining the river's banks.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the agency reported the jam had broken up and the ice floe had moved downstream. The river’s water level also has returned to a seasonal normal, the post said.

There was some alarm as the jam began to re-form near Kirkbride's Marina. However, pressure from water and additional ice forced it downstream where it fragmented upon striking piers of the Veterans Bridge and then plunging over the dam at the Y Bridge.

"There are still chunks of ice lying along the river and there is debris in and along the river this morning," the post read.

"Mother Nature was in control and there is no way for us to control this type of incident. We are grateful she decided to end this event."

The agency representatives expressed sympathy for people whose property was damaged and who now face the prospect of cleaning up debris left in the wake of the floe.

They also expressed appreciation to partner agencies which helped during the emergency and to citizens who called in updates about the floe and the flooding.