Closure intended for safety of anglers and boaters

TOPEKA – The U.S. Coast Guard has closed the Missouri River to all vessel traffic, including vessels used for fishing and recreation, from mile marker 386 located downstream of Leavenworth, northward to mile marker 811, near Gavins’ Point Dam in Yankton, S. D. Mile marker 386 is about one-half river-mile downstream of the ADM/Growmark grain elevator facility located on the Kansas side of the river. The closure includes the entire length of the Kansas portion of the Missouri River northward from mile marker 386.

The closure is a result of consultations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the governors of Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri.

“For their own safety and the safety of emergency personnel who could be called to their rescue, it is vital that people avoid the dangerous flooding conditions on the Missouri River,” said Robin Jennison, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT).”

According to Captain Rob Ladner, a law enforcement supervisor with KDWPT, the swift floodwaters create unpredictable currents and carry large, hazardous debris. “The high water level hides submerged obstacles, making any kind of boating unsafe,” he added.

Information about flooding along the Missouri River is available from the Kansas Adjutant General’s Department, www.kansastag.gov; and the U.S. Coast Guard at www.FloodResponse2011.com. The Coast Guard also urges boaters to monitor VHF-FM channels 16 and 22 for any changes to the closure.

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