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ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI)– When Rob Hoyt and his family drove across the Mississippi River to go to Monday night`s Cardinals baseball game, he couldn`t help but stop and stare at the water.

“Pretty powerful river,” said Hoyt. “It`s taking the driftwood down.”

The U.S. Coast Guard has concerns about all that driftwood floating down the Mississippi and other swollen rivers. They want boaters to stay off the water.

“It is not a good time to be on the river,” warns the Coast Guard`s Asst. Chief Ryan Christiensen.  “There are high currents and a lot of drift.”

Christensen added  there are no guarantees the Coast Guard could make a rescue with river levels as high as they are.

City leaders estimated the level of the Mississippi River to be the 7th highest ever recorded in St. Louis.

The water was still about a foot shy of the 49.6 foot record set in 1993.  City leaders do not expect any major flooding problems but are watching the situation around the clock.

Parts of Lemay Park were underwater on Monday.  Some nearby residents said it brought back images of the flood of `93.  The park was an area of homes that were eventually part of a buyout.

“That was a very good idea,” said nearby resident Paula Brown.  “They call it a flood plain for a reason.”