Tennessee River closed to recreational boaters from Paducah to Pickwick

May 5– The U.S. Coast Guard Tuesday closed more than 200 miles of the western Tennessee River to recreational boating traffic because of record high water levels and excessive river drift. 

The Captain of the Port for Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley has declared that no recreational vessels may operate in the established safety zone from mile marker 206 (Pickwick Landing) to mile marker 0 (Paducah, Ky.). 

Commercial vessels are still allowed to transit the river and are reminded to exercise caution when operating within the safety zone and must maintain minimum safe speed to minimize wake effect to moored vessels and other at-risk infrastructure.