Heavy rain closes Mississippi River locks

Heavy rains have pushed more water into the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities area, leading the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to close three Minneapolis locks and dams to recreational boaters Tuesday.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokeswoman Shannon Bauer said the locks and dams are closed when the water flow is greater than 30,000 cubic feet per second.

"[That's] basically the equivalent of being shot in the face by about a 150 fire hoses all at the same time," Bauer said. "It's a very fast current, and it's not safe for the little boats to be out there."

The closures include Upper and Lower St. Anthony Falls locks and dams in downtown Minneapolis and Lock and Dam Number One, known as the Ford Dam, next to Minnehaha Park. Bauer said the closure will likely last for at least a week and could last even longer if the rain continues.

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