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St. Clair River closed to traffic Sunday afternoon for Float Down
August 11, 2025
US and Canadian Coast Guard urge people not to participate
The Independent
US and Canadian Coast Guard officials are urging people not to join Sunday’s annual Float Down event on the St. Clair River.
The floating party is an annual tradition and over the years has led to plenty of Port Huron residents landing on Sarnia-Lambton shores and worse.
In 2014, a 19-year-old experienced swimmer drowned during the event. In 2016, high winds and heavy rains led to approximately 1,500 participants requiring assistance when they landed on the Canadian shoreline at Sarnia and Corunna leaving them stranded and subject to Canadian and US border security with no identification, money, or means of communication. Some had injuries and suffered from hypothermia.
The US and Canadian Coast Guard have issued a joint statement saying the St. Clair River will be closed to commercial and recreational traffic Sunday from noon to 7 pm.
“This is an inherently dangerous activity. As first responders, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Canadian Coast Guard recommend that people do not take part in this event,” say Marc-André Meunier, Assistant Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard Central Region and Captain Mark Kuperman, Great Lakes District Chief of Staff for the US Coast Guard.
“High risk factors include the fast-moving current, weather conditions, water temperature, the large number of participants, lack of life jackets, and alcohol consumption. These factors can create challenging emergency response scenarios that can result in serious injuries or fatalities. The risks are real.”
While coast guard officials urge people not to be a part of the float down, they urge people to
- • wear a properly-fitting life jacket at all times
- • put your ID and personal items in a waterproof bag
- • bring a paddle since the current is not suitable for uncontrolled crafts
- • file a “Float Plan” with a friend not going to event to give to first responders if necessary.
- • don’t go alone
- • don’t consume alcohol
- • stay near the shore
- • mark your floats with your name
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