Due to ongoing major flooding on the Mississippi River and the extremely dangerous conditions that exist , the United States Coast Guard has decided to take the rare steps and CLOSE the river to all recreational boating effective now through at least the Fourth of July Holiday Weekend. The closure affects the majority of the Upper Mississippi including Pools 10, 11, 12, and 13.
The Coast Guard says with massive amounts of large debris being carried down the river and extremely swift current it poses a significant risk to boaters. Buoys may also have been dragged off station, making navigation eve more difficult.
Also officials with the Army Corps of Engineers say Lock and Dam 11 at Dubuque will be closing sometime tomorrow due to the height of the river. Lock and Dam 12 at Bellevue is already closed.
The Mississippi at Dubuque is currently at 21.6 feet which is in the Major Flooding category. Forecasters say the river is now expected to crest at 22.6 feet sometime Thursday afternoon and will hover over the major flooding level of 21.5 foot through at least early next week.
