As Water Levels Drop Along the James River, So Does Business

CRANE, Mo. -- The summer drought has people heading to the lakes and rivers to cool off, but the dry conditions are causing a drop for some popular summer activities like river floating.

Clear skies and triple digit temperatures have locals flocking to Missouri waterways to cool down, but they may find it more difficult to enjoy the river downstream.

"Some say they still had a good time and they expected it to be low, but then others didn't expect it to be as low," said Diana Newman, co-owner of Hootentown Canoe Rental.

Newman says the water level at James River has dropped two feet from this time last year; and as the river level drops, so does business.

"It's slower than in the past. Even compared to last year when we had too much water in May, we didn't put in until Memorial Day Weekend. We're not booked up on the weekends like we normally are."

She says the river is at August levels and says after co-owning Hootentown Canoe Rental for 19 years, she's learned it's hard to plan around the weather.

"It's hard to come across a year that's just right."

Cameron Parker and his son didn't have much luck fishing on the river Wednesday. Parker says with the current being slower than usual, they were floating backward.

"When I came last time, it was two feet higher and we floated this same float in two hours and this time it took us three and a half hours."

Other visitors say floating on the river was more work than usual.

"It's obviously a lot hotter and the river is way down," notes Carl Kendrick. "First part of the float trip we had to pull the raft through rocks."

But even though conditions aren't ideal, many people will continue to float patiently waiting for some rainfall.

"I would like to see some more rain and come down and do it again, but with more water," adds Kendrick.