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Businesses along Clinton River keeping a close eye on water levels

Posted at 9:37 PM, Apr 29, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-29 23:50:50-04

HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) — This wet weather isn’t making life easy for folks who live and work along the Clinton River. High water levels are now threatening their homes and businesses.

Businesses like Lands End Marina are really seeing the effects. The owner says there’s only so much they can do and hope mother nature takes care of the rest.

"We got a lot of water," Lands End Marina owner Mike Lambert said.

Businesses along the river are keeping a close eye on the rising water and what's to come.

"I don’t like to see water over the docks but it’s more of an inconvenience we have to deal with," Lambert said.

He says the rising water is because of the unusual wind pattern.

"We had an easterly, which is very rare," Lambert said. "I mean, typically the wind is out of the west but it’s amazing you get a wind like we did today out of the east and the water level went up 6 or 7 inches."

Debris from the water washed on top of the dock at the marina. For folks who live along the river, sand bags are available at township offices, fire stations and through local homeowner groups.

"When it comes to putting sand bags down, we’re keeping a close eye on and we can get it set up pretty quickly if we need to do that," Lambert said.

He adds that this may only be the beginning of things to come.

"The record high was 33 years ago," Lambert said. "And based on where the water is at now, and what we’re expecting over the next 60 days, I think we’re going to be there just like back in 1986."

With more rain in the forecast this week, folks say they need to get ready just in case.