PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Columbia River has reached flood stage.
Some low-lying areas are already flooding, like Chinook Landing Park in Fairview. Not only is the entire 60-80 foot wide sandy beach underwater, so is all of the park, and even some of the parking lot.
The sidewalk leading to the Multnomah County sheriff's boathouse is under several feet of water, meaning the only way river patrol can get there is by boat.
Because of the flooding, Metro shut down the park Wednesday and locked its gates. All power to the park has been turned off for safety reasons.
"It's for general safety in that part of the parking lot is underwater and people are not necessarily familiar with the water being so high, and what may be lurking just underneath the water," said Sgt. Stephen Danger with Multnomah County Sheriff's River Patrol.
There's a lot fewer parking spots in the Big Eddy Marina after the rising river flooded that parking lot, too.
Even some buoys out in the river are nearly covered by the fast moving and deep water, all the result of rapid mountain snow melt and more dam releases.
River patrol officers said the river will likely stay at minor flood stage for at least the next couple of weeks, if not longer. The river is expected to rise a bit on Monday, but should stay in the minor flooding category.