Canoeists, rafters urged to stay off of Minnehaha Creek

Recent heavy rains have prompted officials with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District to advise people to stay off the creek until further notice.

Lake Minnetonka, which feeds the creek, has become so swollen from the rainfall, district officials have had to discharge water from the lake into the creek via the Gray's Bay Dam.

The volume of water rushing through the creek is causing unsafe conditions, says district spokeswoman Telly Mamayek.

"The water is not only moving very fast, it's also very high," Mamyek said. "So there are some underpasses which may be not passable in a kayak or a canoe, causing people to portage."

Mamayek says the creek may also contain debris that's been shaken loose by the running water.