diff --git a/src/Hydro/schism_init.F90 b/src/Hydro/schism_init.F90
index 24b4cdd56..c94508216 100644
--- a/src/Hydro/schism_init.F90
+++ b/src/Hydro/schism_init.F90
@@ -5563,15 +5563,20 @@ subroutine schism_init(iorder,indir,iths,ntime)
             do l=1,wqhot(k)%dims(2)
               if(myrank==0) then
                 j=nf90_inq_varid(ncid2,trim(adjustl(wqhot(k)%name)),mm)
-                if(j/=NF90_NOERR) call parallel_abort('hotstart.nc, ICM 1: '//trim(adjustl(wqhot(k)%name)))
-                if(wqhot(k)%ndim==1) j=nf90_get_var(ncid2,mm,buf3(1:ne_global),(/1/),(/ne_global/))
-                if(wqhot(k)%ndim==2) j=nf90_get_var(ncid2,mm,buf3(1:ne_global),(/l,1/),(/1,ne_global/))
-                if(wqhot(k)%ndim==3) j=nf90_get_var(ncid2,mm,buf3(1:ne_global),(/m,l,1/),(/1,1,ne_global/))
-                if(j/=NF90_NOERR) call parallel_abort('hotstart.nc, ICM 2: '//trim(adjustl(wqhot(k)%name)))
+                if(j/=NF90_NOERR) then !skip reading variable, and pass -9999
+                  buf3(1:ne_global)=-9999.0
+                  write(16,*) 'WARNING ICM hotstart.nc: variable not found (use values in icm.nml), '//trim(adjustl(wqhot(k)%name))
+                else
+                  if(wqhot(k)%ndim==1) j=nf90_get_var(ncid2,mm,buf3(1:ne_global),(/1/),(/ne_global/))
+                  if(wqhot(k)%ndim==2) j=nf90_get_var(ncid2,mm,buf3(1:ne_global),(/l,1/),(/1,ne_global/))
+                  if(wqhot(k)%ndim==3) j=nf90_get_var(ncid2,mm,buf3(1:ne_global),(/m,l,1/),(/1,1,ne_global/))
+                  if(j/=NF90_NOERR) call parallel_abort('ICM hotstart.nc, failed in read: '//trim(adjustl(wqhot(k)%name)))
+                endif
               endif
               call mpi_bcast(buf3,ns_global,rtype,0,comm,istat)
               do i=1,ne_global
                 if(iegl(i)%rank==myrank) then
+                  if(abs(buf3(i)+9999.d0)<1.d-6) cycle
                   if(wqhot(k)%ndim==1) wqhot(k)%p1(iegl(i)%id)=buf3(i)
                   if(wqhot(k)%ndim==2) wqhot(k)%p2(l,iegl(i)%id)=buf3(i)
                   if(wqhot(k)%ndim==3) wqhot(k)%p3(m,l,iegl(i)%id)=buf3(i)
diff --git a/src/ICM/icm_init.F90 b/src/ICM/icm_init.F90
index d77136587..f614de8f4 100644
--- a/src/ICM/icm_init.F90
+++ b/src/ICM/icm_init.F90
@@ -1041,16 +1041,23 @@ subroutine icm_vars_init
     if(iPh==1) ppatch(i)=nint(ppatch0)
     if(jsav/=0) then
       spatch(i)=nint(spatch0); sav(:,i)=sav0; call get_canopy(i)
-      if(jsav==2) EP(i)=EP0; TEP(i)=EP0*sav0(1)
+      if(jsav==2) then; EP(i)=EP0; TEP(i)=EP0*sav0(1); endif
+      if(spatch(i)==0) then !zero for other region
+        sav(:,i)=0; sht(i)=0
+        if(jsav==2) then; EP(i)=0; TEP(i)=0; endif
+      endif
     endif
     if(jmarsh==1) then
       vpatch(i)=nint(vpatch0); vmarsh(:,:,i)=vmarsh0; call get_canopy(i)
+      if(vpatch(i)==0) then; vmarsh(:,:,i)=0; vht(:,i)=0; endif
     endif
     if(iBA==1) then
       gpatch(i)=nint(gpatch0); gBA(i)=gBA0
+      if(gpatch(i)==0) gBA(i)=0 !zero for other region
     endif
     if(iClam==1) then
       cpatch(i)=nint(cpatch0); CLAM(1:nclam,i)=clam0
+      if(cpatch(i)==0) CLAM(1:nclam,i)=0 !zero for other region
     endif
   enddo