Major Portion of Mississippi River Closed To Boating

DES MOINES — The Mississippi River has been closed to recreational boating from mile marker 169 to 482.9, an area from Rock Island, Ill., to St. Louis, by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Meanwhile, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is continuing to advise boaters, kayakers and canoeists to avoid boating on rivers and flood control reservoirs until water levels return to a more normal level.

“High water, especially at the level we are seeing in many places, is dangerous for boaters and paddlers, regardless of the skill level,” said Susan Stocker, boating education coordinator with the Iowa DNR. “There is more to the dangers than the debris you can see. Much of it lies just under the surface or is mixed in with the water from what was flooded upstream.”

“People who boat on floodwater not only put themselves at risk, but they put the people who would have to rescue them at risk. It is best to wait until water levels drop before going boating,” Stocker said.

For more information, contact Kevin Baskins at 515-249-2814.

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