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No Swimming at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

DELAWARE WATER GAP — The river at the Delaware Water Gap looks inviting but you can’t go in for a swim at the national recreation area. High water a...

DELAWARE WATER GAP -- The river at the Delaware Water Gap looks inviting but you can't go in for a swim at the national recreation area.
High water and fast currents will keep swimmers on shore for the entire holiday weekend.
The Delaware River in Monroe County may look calm but people familiar with the river know when it's not safe to swim.

They look at the wake behind the buoys and the water's muddy brown color.

"Visibility is very poor in the water, so it's all brown and turbulent, so if somebody did go in the water, it would be hard to pick them out," explained Jeff Heberle of East Stroudsburg.

Officials at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area hoped people would be swimming in the river by the weekend but high water levels will keep the ban in place at least through Sunday.

Rangers are concerned because the river looks fairly calm, even inviting.  But you can feel the strong current of the Delaware River, even if you're just ankle deep.

At Smithfield Beach, the lifeguards showed up for work but did not sit in their usual perch.
"Crime scene" tape  keeps everyone away from the river at a usually busy swimming area.

"Frustrating.  Its horrible," said Janice Vega of New Jersey.

Janice Vega, 11,  spent her day playing soccer rather than playing in the water.
"It's really hot today, and I wanted to go swimming."

Nick Simons of Bangor knows the current is so strong he should not swim and once he gets in his canoe, he can only paddle downstream.   That's why boaters are required to wear life preservers.

"I've been in several canoes where it does tip over.  And very glad to have the life preserver on," said Simons.

Another boater even protected her dogs with life vests.
When the Delaware River is brown with high water levels and fast currents swimming is not an option.

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