Arkansas River in Wichita closed to recreational activities

The Arkansas River in Wichita will be closed to all recreational activities for a week as it fills will rainwater and roars through the city, the director of parks and recreation said.

The closure comes after record rains poured on the city Monday, followed by more rain Tuesday. As tributaries, streams and ditches flow into the river north and west of Wichita, the river has raised above normal levels. It is carrying more than 11 times the average amount of water for this time of year, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

At Derby, the Arkansas River was causing minor flooding at noon on Wednesday. The river was at 12.62 feet, according to the National Weather Service. The flood stage is 12 feet.

Near Sedgwick, the river was 25.1 feet at noon, which is in the moderate flooding stage, the river gauge shows.

The river will be closed to swimming, boating, kayaking and canoeing until Oct. 17, Troy Troutman, director of parks and recreation in Wichita said.

“The river will be closed until the flow rate has lessened and the river’s banks are no longer overflowing,” Troutman said in a news release.

This story was originally published October 10, 2018 at 2:23 PM.