PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. (WMTV) – Mississippi River flooding could force people to change their plans, including limited boating and swimming.

According to the National Weather Service in La Crosse, the Mississippi River is expected to rise above 20 feet and then crest after the 4th of July holiday.

Independence Day weekend is usually the Winneshiek Bar and Grill’s busiest weekend of the summer, but flooding means no boating which impacts their business.

Drew Hagger manages the grill and he said fewer boaters means less water traffic for his business.

“This is definitely the highest it’s been on the Fourth of July that I can ever remember,” he said. “With the river shut down, we don’t get a lot of that traffic that normally is here during the Fourth of July and summertime.”

PDC Mayor Dave Hemmer said their on-land activities will continue as normal, but said people should not boat or swim in the river.

“Don’t be afraid to come just be careful. Don’t let the kids get down in the water. For one thing it’s nasty stuff with the flooding. Just be careful,” he said. “It’s nasty stuff out there you know. You don’t want to be messing around out there.”

Hagger said despite the flooding, PDC businesses will bounce back. “It’s life on the river,” he said. “You’re not going to be able to control it so you’ve got to take what you get.”

PDC’s flooding record was set in 1965 with the Mississippi River cresting over 25 feet.

Crawford County and Grant County Emergency Management also made statements warning people not to boat on the river this week or weekend.

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