diff --git a/src/biogeophys/TemperatureType.F90 b/src/biogeophys/TemperatureType.F90
index 6084c7ee2c..a256e22eb7 100644
--- a/src/biogeophys/TemperatureType.F90
+++ b/src/biogeophys/TemperatureType.F90
@@ -120,8 +120,8 @@ module TemperatureType
      real(r8), pointer    :: c_h2osfc_col          (:)   ! heat capacity of surface water
 
      ! Namelist parameters for initialization
-     real(r8), private    :: excess_ice_coldstart_depth  ! depth below which excess ice will be present
-     real(r8), private    :: excess_ice_coldstart_temp   ! coldstart temperature of layers with excess ice present
+     real(r8)    :: excess_ice_coldstart_depth  ! depth below which excess ice will be present
+     real(r8)    :: excess_ice_coldstart_temp   ! coldstart temperature of layers with excess ice present
      
    contains
 
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ module TemperatureType
   !------------------------------------------------------------------------
   subroutine Init(this, bounds, &
        em_roof_lun,  em_wall_lun, em_improad_lun, em_perroad_lun, &
-       is_simple_buildtemp, is_prog_buildtemp, exice_init_stream_col, NLFileName)
+       is_simple_buildtemp, is_prog_buildtemp, exice_init_conc_col, NLFileName)
     !
     ! !DESCRIPTION:
     !
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ subroutine Init(this, bounds, &
     real(r8)          , intent(in) :: em_perroad_lun(bounds%begl:)
     logical           , intent(in) :: is_simple_buildtemp  ! Simple building temp is being used
     logical           , intent(in) :: is_prog_buildtemp    ! Prognostic building temp is being used
-    real(r8)          , intent(in) :: exice_init_stream_col(bounds%begc:)  ! initial excess ice concentration from the stream file
+    real(r8)          , intent(in) :: exice_init_conc_col(bounds%begc:)  ! initial coldstart excess ice concentration (from the stream file)
     character(len=*)  , intent(in) :: NLFilename ! Namelist filename
 
 
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ subroutine Init(this, bounds, &
          em_improad_lun(bounds%begl:bounds%endl), &
          em_perroad_lun(bounds%begl:bounds%endl), &
          is_simple_buildtemp, is_prog_buildtemp,  &
-         exice_init_stream_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc) )
+         exice_init_conc_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc) )
 
   end subroutine Init
 
@@ -650,7 +650,7 @@ end subroutine InitHistory
   !-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   subroutine InitCold(this, bounds, &
        em_roof_lun,  em_wall_lun, em_improad_lun, em_perroad_lun, &
-       is_simple_buildtemp, is_prog_buildtemp, exice_init_stream_col)
+       is_simple_buildtemp, is_prog_buildtemp, exice_init_conc_col)
     !
     ! !DESCRIPTION:
     ! Initialize cold start conditions for module variables
@@ -675,7 +675,7 @@ subroutine InitCold(this, bounds, &
     real(r8)          , intent(in) :: em_perroad_lun(bounds%begl:)
     logical           , intent(in) :: is_simple_buildtemp  ! Simple building temp is being used
     logical           , intent(in) :: is_prog_buildtemp    ! Prognostic building temp is being used
-    real(r8)          , intent(in) :: exice_init_stream_col(bounds%begc:) ! initial ammount of excess ice from the stream file
+    real(r8)          , intent(in) :: exice_init_conc_col(bounds%begc:) ! initial coldstart excess ice concentration (from the stream file)
     !
     ! !LOCAL VARIABLES:
     integer  :: j,l,c,p ! indices
@@ -757,7 +757,7 @@ subroutine InitCold(this, bounds, &
                end if
             else
                this%t_soisno_col(c,1:nlevgrnd) = 272._r8
-               if (use_excess_ice .and. exice_init_stream_col(c) > 0.0_r8) then
+               if (use_excess_ice .and. exice_init_conc_col(c) > 0.0_r8) then
                   nexice_start = nlevsoi - 1
                   if (this%excess_ice_coldstart_depth <= 0.0_r8) then
                      ! we double check this here, and when building namelists
diff --git a/src/biogeophys/WaterStateBulkType.F90 b/src/biogeophys/WaterStateBulkType.F90
index 4f03ba177e..4cd425c976 100644
--- a/src/biogeophys/WaterStateBulkType.F90
+++ b/src/biogeophys/WaterStateBulkType.F90
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ module WaterStateBulkType
 
   !------------------------------------------------------------------------
   subroutine InitBulk(this, bounds, info, vars, &
-       h2osno_input_col, watsat_col, t_soisno_col, use_aquifer_layer, NLFilename, exice_init_stream_col)
+       h2osno_input_col, watsat_col, t_soisno_col, use_aquifer_layer, exice_coldstart_depth, exice_init_conc_col)
 
     class(waterstatebulk_type), intent(inout) :: this
     type(bounds_type) , intent(in) :: bounds
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ subroutine InitBulk(this, bounds, info, vars, &
     real(r8)          , intent(in) :: watsat_col(bounds%begc:, 1:)            ! volumetric soil water at saturation (porosity)
     real(r8)          , intent(in) :: t_soisno_col(bounds%begc:, -nlevsno+1:) ! col soil temperature (Kelvin)
     logical           , intent(in) :: use_aquifer_layer                       ! whether an aquifer layer is used in this run
-    character(len=*)  , intent(in) :: NLFilename                              ! Namelist filename
-    real(r8)          , intent(in) :: exice_init_stream_col(bounds%begc:) ! initial ammount of excess ice from stream
+    real(r8)         , intent(in) :: exice_coldstart_depth ! depth below which excess ice will be present
+    real(r8)          , intent(in) :: exice_init_conc_col(bounds%begc:) ! initial coldstart excess ice concentration (from the stream file)
 
     call this%Init(bounds = bounds, &
          info = info, &
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ subroutine InitBulk(this, bounds, info, vars, &
          watsat_col = watsat_col, &
          t_soisno_col = t_soisno_col, &
          use_aquifer_layer = use_aquifer_layer, & 
-         NLFilename = NLFilename, exice_init_stream_col = exice_init_stream_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc))
+         exice_coldstart_depth = exice_coldstart_depth, exice_init_conc_col = exice_init_conc_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc))
 
     call this%InitBulkAllocate(bounds) 
 
diff --git a/src/biogeophys/WaterStateType.F90 b/src/biogeophys/WaterStateType.F90
index 4c82e4efa6..8f0ba89104 100644
--- a/src/biogeophys/WaterStateType.F90
+++ b/src/biogeophys/WaterStateType.F90
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ module WaterStateType
 
   !------------------------------------------------------------------------
   subroutine Init(this, bounds, info, tracer_vars, &
-       h2osno_input_col, watsat_col, t_soisno_col, use_aquifer_layer, NLFilename, exice_init_stream_col)
+       h2osno_input_col, watsat_col, t_soisno_col, use_aquifer_layer, exice_coldstart_depth, exice_init_conc_col)
 
     class(waterstate_type), intent(inout) :: this
     type(bounds_type) , intent(in) :: bounds  
@@ -90,8 +90,8 @@ subroutine Init(this, bounds, info, tracer_vars, &
     real(r8)          , intent(in) :: watsat_col(bounds%begc:, 1:)          ! volumetric soil water at saturation (porosity)
     real(r8)          , intent(in) :: t_soisno_col(bounds%begc:, -nlevsno+1:) ! col soil temperature (Kelvin)
     logical           , intent(in) :: use_aquifer_layer ! whether an aquifer layer is used in this run
-    character(len=*)  , intent(in) :: NLFilename ! Namelist filename
-    real(r8)          , intent(in) :: exice_init_stream_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc) ! initial ammount of excess ice from stream
+    real(r8)          , intent(in) :: exice_coldstart_depth ! depth below which excess ice will be present
+    real(r8)          , intent(in) :: exice_init_conc_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc) ! initial coldstart excess ice concentration (from the stream file)
 
     this%info => info
 
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ subroutine Init(this, bounds, info, tracer_vars, &
       watsat_col = watsat_col, &
       t_soisno_col = t_soisno_col, &
       use_aquifer_layer = use_aquifer_layer, &
-      NLFilename = NLFilename, exice_init_stream_col = exice_init_stream_col)
+      exice_coldstart_depth = exice_coldstart_depth , exice_init_conc_col = exice_init_conc_col)
 
   end subroutine Init
 
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ end subroutine InitHistory
 
   !-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   subroutine InitCold(this, bounds, &
-       h2osno_input_col, watsat_col, t_soisno_col, use_aquifer_layer, NLFilename, exice_init_stream_col)
+       h2osno_input_col, watsat_col, t_soisno_col, use_aquifer_layer, exice_coldstart_depth, exice_init_conc_col)
     !
     ! !DESCRIPTION:
     ! Initialize time constant variables and cold start conditions 
@@ -342,12 +342,12 @@ subroutine InitCold(this, bounds, &
     real(r8)              , intent(in)    :: watsat_col(bounds%begc:, 1:)            ! volumetric soil water at saturation (porosity)
     real(r8)              , intent(in)    :: t_soisno_col(bounds%begc:, -nlevsno+1:) ! col soil temperature (Kelvin)
     logical               , intent(in)    :: use_aquifer_layer                       ! whether an aquifer layer is used in this run
-    character(len=*)      , intent(in)    :: NLFilename                              ! Namelist filename
-    real(r8)              , intent(in)    :: exice_init_stream_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc) ! initial ammount of excess ice from stream
+    real(r8)              , intent(in)    :: exice_coldstart_depth ! depth below which excess ice will be present
+    real(r8)              , intent(in)    :: exice_init_conc_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc) ! initial coldstart excess ice concentration (from the stream file)
     !
     ! !LOCAL VARIABLES:
     integer            :: c,j,l,nlevs,g 
-    integer            :: nbedrock, n05m ! layer containing 0.5 m
+    integer            :: nbedrock, nexice ! layer containing 0.5 m
     real(r8)           :: ratio
     !-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ subroutine InitCold(this, bounds, &
       this%dynbal_baseline_ice_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc) = 0._r8
 
       !Initialize excess ice
-      this%exice_bulk_init(bounds%begc:bounds%endc) = exice_init_stream_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc)
+      this%exice_bulk_init(bounds%begc:bounds%endc) = exice_init_conc_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc)
       this%excess_ice_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc,:) = 0.0_r8
       if (use_excess_ice) then
          do c = bounds%begc,bounds%endc
@@ -558,10 +558,10 @@ subroutine InitCold(this, bounds, &
             l = col%landunit(c)
             if (.not. lun%lakpoi(l)) then  !not lake
                if (lun%itype(l) == istsoil .or. lun%itype(l) == istcrop) then
-                  if (zisoi(nlevsoi) >= 0.5_r8) then
-                     call find_soil_layer_containing_depth(0.5_r8,n05m)
+                  if (zisoi(nlevsoi) >= exice_coldstart_depth) then
+                     call find_soil_layer_containing_depth(exice_coldstart_depth,nexice)
                   else
-                     n05m=nlevsoi-1
+                     nexice=nlevsoi-1
                   endif
                   if (use_bedrock .and. col%nbedrock(c) <=nlevsoi) then
                      nbedrock = col%nbedrock(c)
@@ -569,8 +569,8 @@ subroutine InitCold(this, bounds, &
                      nbedrock = nlevsoi
                   endif
                   do j = 2, nlevmaxurbgrnd ! ignore first layer
-                     if (n05m<nbedrock) then ! bedrock below 1 m
-                        if (j >= n05m .and. j<nbedrock .and. t_soisno_col(c,j) <= tfrz ) then
+                     if (nexice<nbedrock) then ! bedrock below 1 m
+                        if (j >= nexice .and. j<nbedrock .and. t_soisno_col(c,j) <= tfrz ) then
                            this%excess_ice_col(c,j) = col%dz(c,j)*denice*(this%exice_bulk_init(c))
                         else
                            this%excess_ice_col(c,j) = 0.0_r8
diff --git a/src/biogeophys/WaterType.F90 b/src/biogeophys/WaterType.F90
index e92dc0c759..9a4884ce8c 100644
--- a/src/biogeophys/WaterType.F90
+++ b/src/biogeophys/WaterType.F90
@@ -213,7 +213,8 @@ end function water_params_constructor
 
   !-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   subroutine Init(this, bounds, NLFilename, &
-       h2osno_col, snow_depth_col, watsat_col, t_soisno_col, use_aquifer_layer, exice_init_stream_col)
+       h2osno_col, snow_depth_col, watsat_col, t_soisno_col, use_aquifer_layer, &
+       exice_coldstart_depth, exice_init_conc_col)
     !
     ! !DESCRIPTION:
     ! Initialize all water variables
@@ -227,7 +228,8 @@ subroutine Init(this, bounds, NLFilename, &
     real(r8)          , intent(in) :: watsat_col(bounds%begc:, 1:)          ! volumetric soil water at saturation (porosity)
     real(r8)          , intent(in) :: t_soisno_col(bounds%begc:, -nlevsno+1:) ! col soil temperature (Kelvin)
     logical           , intent(in) :: use_aquifer_layer ! whether an aquifer layer is used in this run
-    real(r8)          , intent(in) :: exice_init_stream_col(bounds%begc:) ! initial ammount of excess ice from stream
+    real(r8)          , intent(in) :: exice_coldstart_depth                    ! depth below which excess ice will be present
+    real(r8)          , intent(in) :: exice_init_conc_col(bounds%begc:) ! initial coldstart excess ice concentration (from the stream file)
     !
     ! !LOCAL VARIABLES:
 
@@ -241,14 +243,14 @@ subroutine Init(this, bounds, NLFilename, &
          watsat_col = watsat_col, &
          t_soisno_col = t_soisno_col, &
          use_aquifer_layer = use_aquifer_layer, &
-         NLFilename = NLFilename, exice_init_stream_col = exice_init_stream_col)
+         exice_coldstart_depth = exice_coldstart_depth, exice_init_conc_col = exice_init_conc_col)
 
   end subroutine Init
 
   !-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   subroutine InitForTesting(this, bounds, params, &
        h2osno_col, snow_depth_col, watsat_col, &
-       t_soisno_col, use_aquifer_layer, NLFilename, exice_init_stream_col)
+       t_soisno_col, use_aquifer_layer, exice_coldstart_depth, exice_init_conc_col)
     !
     ! !DESCRIPTION:
     ! Version of Init routine just for unit tests
@@ -263,9 +265,9 @@ subroutine InitForTesting(this, bounds, params, &
     real(r8)          , intent(in) :: snow_depth_col(bounds%begc:)
     real(r8)          , intent(in) :: watsat_col(bounds%begc:, 1:)            ! volumetric soil water at saturation (porosity)
     real(r8)          , intent(in) :: t_soisno_col(bounds%begc:, -nlevsno+1:) ! col soil temperature (Kelvin)
-    character(len=*)  , intent(in) :: NLFilename                               ! Namelist filename
     logical , intent(in), optional :: use_aquifer_layer                       ! whether an aquifer layer is used in this run (false by default)
-    real(r8)          , intent(in) :: exice_init_stream_col(bounds%begc:) ! initial ammount of excess ice from stream
+    real(r8)          , intent(in) :: exice_coldstart_depth                    ! depth below which excess ice will be present
+    real(r8)          , intent(in) :: exice_init_conc_col(bounds%begc:) ! initial coldstart excess ice concentration (from the stream file)
     !
     ! !LOCAL VARIABLES:
     logical :: l_use_aquifer_layer
@@ -285,14 +287,14 @@ subroutine InitForTesting(this, bounds, params, &
          watsat_col = watsat_col, &
          t_soisno_col = t_soisno_col, &
          use_aquifer_layer = l_use_aquifer_layer, &
-         NLFilename = NLFilename, &
-          exice_init_stream_col = exice_init_stream_col )
+         exice_coldstart_depth = exice_coldstart_depth, &
+         exice_init_conc_col = exice_init_conc_col )
 
   end subroutine InitForTesting
 
   !-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   subroutine DoInit(this, bounds, &
-       h2osno_col, snow_depth_col, watsat_col, t_soisno_col, use_aquifer_layer, NLFilename, exice_init_stream_col)
+       h2osno_col, snow_depth_col, watsat_col, t_soisno_col, use_aquifer_layer, exice_coldstart_depth, exice_init_conc_col)
     !
     ! !DESCRIPTION:
     ! Actually do the initialization (shared between main Init routine and InitForTesting)
@@ -307,8 +309,8 @@ subroutine DoInit(this, bounds, &
     real(r8)         , intent(in) :: watsat_col(bounds%begc:, 1:)            ! volumetric soil water at saturation (porosity)
     real(r8)         , intent(in) :: t_soisno_col(bounds%begc:, -nlevsno+1:) ! col soil temperature (Kelvin)
     logical          , intent(in) :: use_aquifer_layer                       ! whether an aquifer layer is used in this run
-    character(len=*) , intent(in) :: NLFilename                              ! Namelist filename
-    real(r8)          , intent(in) :: exice_init_stream_col(bounds%begc:) ! initial ammount of excess ice from stream
+    real(r8)         , intent(in) :: exice_coldstart_depth ! depth below which excess ice will be present
+    real(r8)         , intent(in) :: exice_init_conc_col(bounds%begc:) ! initial coldstart excess ice concentration (from the stream file)
     !
     ! !LOCAL VARIABLES:
     integer :: begc, endc
@@ -325,7 +327,7 @@ subroutine DoInit(this, bounds, &
     SHR_ASSERT_ALL_FL((ubound(snow_depth_col) == [endc]), sourcefile, __LINE__)
     SHR_ASSERT_ALL_FL((ubound(watsat_col, 1) == endc), sourcefile, __LINE__)
     SHR_ASSERT_ALL_FL((ubound(t_soisno_col, 1) == endc), sourcefile, __LINE__)
-    SHR_ASSERT_ALL_FL((ubound(exice_init_stream_col, 1) == endc), sourcefile, __LINE__)
+    SHR_ASSERT_ALL_FL((ubound(exice_init_conc_col, 1) == endc), sourcefile, __LINE__)
 
     call this%SetupTracerInfo()
 
@@ -345,8 +347,8 @@ subroutine DoInit(this, bounds, &
          watsat_col = watsat_col(begc:endc, 1:),   &
          t_soisno_col = t_soisno_col(begc:endc, -nlevsno+1:), &
          use_aquifer_layer = use_aquifer_layer, & 
-         NLFilename = NLFilename, &
-         exice_init_stream_col = exice_init_stream_col)
+         exice_coldstart_depth = exice_coldstart_depth, &
+         exice_init_conc_col = exice_init_conc_col)
 
     call this%waterdiagnosticbulk_inst%InitBulk(bounds, &
          bulk_info, &
@@ -387,8 +389,8 @@ subroutine DoInit(this, bounds, &
             watsat_col = watsat_col(begc:endc, 1:),   &
             t_soisno_col = t_soisno_col(begc:endc, -nlevsno+1:), &
             use_aquifer_layer = use_aquifer_layer, &
-            NLFilename = NLFilename, &
-            exice_init_stream_col = exice_init_stream_col)
+            exice_coldstart_depth = exice_coldstart_depth, &
+            exice_init_conc_col = exice_init_conc_col)
 
        call this%bulk_and_tracers(i)%waterdiagnostic_inst%Init(bounds, &
             this%bulk_and_tracers(i)%info, &
diff --git a/src/main/clm_instMod.F90 b/src/main/clm_instMod.F90
index 242df92c43..b8a9a0ca79 100644
--- a/src/main/clm_instMod.F90
+++ b/src/main/clm_instMod.F90
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ subroutine clm_instInit(bounds)
     type(file_desc_t)     :: params_ncid  ! pio netCDF file id for parameter file
     real(r8), allocatable :: h2osno_col(:)
     real(r8), allocatable :: snow_depth_col(:)
-    real(r8), allocatable :: exice_init_stream_col(:) ! initial concentration of excess ice in the soil (-)
+    real(r8), allocatable :: exice_init_conc_col(:) ! initial coldstart excess ice concentration (from the stream file or 0.0) (-)
     type(excessicestream_type)  :: exice_stream
 
     integer :: dummy_to_make_pgi_happy
@@ -302,12 +302,12 @@ subroutine clm_instInit(bounds)
     ! Initialization of public data types
 
     ! If excess ice is read from the stream, it has to be read before we coldstart the temperature
-    allocate(exice_init_stream_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc))
-    exice_init_stream_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc) = 0.0_r8
+    allocate(exice_init_conc_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc))
+    exice_init_conc_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc) = 0.0_r8
     if (use_excess_ice) then
        call exice_stream%Init(bounds, NLFilename)
        if (UseExcessIceStreams()) then
-          call exice_stream%CalcExcessIce(bounds, exice_init_stream_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc))
+          call exice_stream%CalcExcessIce(bounds, exice_init_conc_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc))
        endif
     endif
 
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ subroutine clm_instInit(bounds)
          em_improad_lun=urbanparams_inst%em_improad(begl:endl), &
          em_perroad_lun=urbanparams_inst%em_perroad(begl:endl), &
          is_simple_buildtemp=IsSimpleBuildTemp(), is_prog_buildtemp=IsProgBuildTemp(), &
-         exice_init_stream_col=exice_init_stream_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc) , NLFileName=NLFilename)
+         exice_init_conc_col=exice_init_conc_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc) , NLFileName=NLFilename)
 
     call active_layer_inst%Init(bounds)
 
@@ -332,7 +332,8 @@ subroutine clm_instInit(bounds)
          watsat_col = soilstate_inst%watsat_col(begc:endc, 1:), &
          t_soisno_col = temperature_inst%t_soisno_col(begc:endc, -nlevsno+1:), &
          use_aquifer_layer = use_aquifer_layer(), &
-         exice_init_stream_col = exice_init_stream_col(begc:endc))
+         exice_coldstart_depth = temperature_inst%excess_ice_coldstart_depth, &
+         exice_init_conc_col = exice_init_conc_col(begc:endc))
 
     call glacier_smb_inst%Init(bounds)
 
@@ -470,7 +471,7 @@ subroutine clm_instInit(bounds)
 
     deallocate (h2osno_col)
     deallocate (snow_depth_col)
-    deallocate (exice_init_stream_col)
+    deallocate (exice_init_conc_col)
 
     ! ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     ! Initialize accumulated fields
diff --git a/src/unit_test_shr/unittestWaterTypeFactory.F90 b/src/unit_test_shr/unittestWaterTypeFactory.F90
index f5f417f9ce..06362ee1d0 100644
--- a/src/unit_test_shr/unittestWaterTypeFactory.F90
+++ b/src/unit_test_shr/unittestWaterTypeFactory.F90
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ end subroutine setup_after_subgrid
 
   subroutine create_water_type(this, water_inst, &
        t_soisno_col, watsat_col, &
+       exice_coldstart_depth, exice_init_conc_col, &
        enable_consistency_checks, enable_isotopes)
     ! Initialize water_inst
     !
@@ -113,6 +114,13 @@ subroutine create_water_type(this, water_inst, &
     ! 1..nlevgrnd. If not provided, we use arbitrary values for this variable.
     real(r8), intent(in), optional :: watsat_col( bounds%begc: , 1: )
 
+    ! Depth below which excess ice is present on coldstart.
+    ! If not provided, we use an arbitrary value.
+    real(r8), intent(in), optional :: exice_coldstart_depth
+    ! Excess initial concentration for each column.
+    ! If not provided, is set to 0.
+    real(r8), intent(in), optional :: exice_init_conc_col(bounds%begc:)
+
     logical, intent(in), optional :: enable_consistency_checks
     logical, intent(in), optional :: enable_isotopes
 
@@ -121,6 +129,8 @@ subroutine create_water_type(this, water_inst, &
     type(water_params_type) :: params
     real(r8) :: l_watsat_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc, nlevgrnd)
     real(r8) :: l_t_soisno_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc, -nlevsno+1:nlevgrnd)
+    real(r8) :: l_exice_coldstart_depth
+    real(r8) :: l_exice_init_conc_col(bounds%begc:bounds%endc)
 
     if (present(t_soisno_col)) then
        SHR_ASSERT_ALL_FL((ubound(t_soisno_col) == [bounds%endc, nlevgrnd]), sourcefile, __LINE__)
@@ -129,6 +139,10 @@ subroutine create_water_type(this, water_inst, &
        SHR_ASSERT_ALL_FL((ubound(watsat_col) == [bounds%endc, nlevgrnd]), sourcefile, __LINE__)
     end if
 
+    if (present(exice_init_conc_col)) then
+       SHR_ASSERT_ALL_FL((ubound(exice_init_conc_col,1) == bounds%enc), sourcefile, __LINE__)
+    endif
+
     if (present(enable_consistency_checks)) then
        l_enable_consistency_checks = enable_consistency_checks
     else
@@ -157,12 +171,24 @@ subroutine create_water_type(this, water_inst, &
        l_t_soisno_col(:,:) = 275._r8
     end if
 
+    if (present(exice_coldstart_depth)) then
+       l_exice_coldstart_depth = exice_coldstart_depth
+    else
+       l_exice_coldstart_depth = 0.5_r8
+    endif
+    if (present(exice_init_conc_col)) then
+       l_exice_init_conc_col(:,:) = exice_init_conc_col
+    else
+       l_exice_init_conc_col(:,:) = 0.01_r8
+    endif
+
     call water_inst%InitForTesting(bounds, params, &
          h2osno_col = col_array(0._r8), &
          snow_depth_col = col_array(0._r8), &
          watsat_col = l_watsat_col, &
          t_soisno_col = l_t_soisno_col, &
-         NLFilename = ' ')
+         exice_coldstart_depth = l_exice_coldstart_depth, &
+         exice_init_conc_col = l_exice_init_conc_col)
   end subroutine create_water_type
 
   subroutine teardown(this, water_inst)