3 river locks reopen to recreational traffic in Mpls.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Three Mississippi river locks in Minneapolis have reopened to recreational boat traffic. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had closed the locks and dams to small boats because of high water two weeks ago.

The Army Corps said Wednesday that the currents are still high on the Mississippi, so boaters should continue to use caution.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, reopened the locks to recreational traffic at 10 a.m. July Fourth.

The Upper St. Anthony Falls and Lower St. Anthony Falls locks and dams in downtown Minneapolis and Lock and Dam 1 next to Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis were closed to recreational traffic on June 20, when flows on the Mississippi River exceeded 30,000 cubic feet per second, or cfs.

According to the Corps' Mississippi Valley Division lock and dam regulation manual, the district is required to close the locks because the high flows are unsafe for recreational boats at 30,000 cfs.

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