What a difference a year makes.  This mild winter has resulted in very little ice coverage on the Great Lakes.  Currently, the entire Great Lakes has only 5.7% ice coverage according to Great Lakes Environmental Research data.  A year ago at this time,  there was 50% ice coverage and in 2014 the rate was 71.6%.   Lake Superior has just 3% ice coverage when at this time in 2014 it was 94%.  Lake Huron has only 10% ice coverage when in 2014 it was 89% covered.