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Swimming in Detroit River is "too dangerous," warns Port Authority

Joggers run under the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit to Windsor, Ontario. Governor Snyder is pushing for another bridge across the Detroit River to be built.
J.Stephen Conn
/
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Joggers run under the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit to Windsor, Ontario. Governor Snyder is pushing for another bridge across the Detroit River to be built.

Water levels continue to rise in lakes and rivers across the region – including the Detroit River.

The Windsor Port Authority told the Windsor Starthat people should avoid swimming in the river.

The Port Authority’s Peter Berry said the river is flowing almost two times faster than in recent years.

He said even boaters going for a swim to cool off is "way too dangerous."

Berry also advises keeping an eye children so they do not venture near the shore.

High water and heavy spring rains have caused erosion and property damage along the river.

And as Michigan Radio’s Sarah Cwiek recently reported, the city of Detroit declared an emergency so that workers could enter private properties to re-enforce sandbag walls in the Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood.

The placement of those sandbags has been the focus of a city-led flood prevention effort since May.

Last week, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources released tipsfor swimmers and boaters to stay safe as water levels reach record highs in some places.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkins told the Windsor Star that "water levels are expected to continue to rise through August, which means the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better."

Paulette is a digital media reporter and producer for Michigan Public. She started as a newsroom intern at the station in 2014 and has taken on various roles in that time, including filling in as an on-air host.
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