Hundreds of people entered the St. Clair River Sunday for the annual Port Huron Float Down.
The unsanctioned event in the past attracted up to 4,000 participants, but it appears the threat of thunderstorms kept numbers down this year.
In an e-mail to Sarnia News Today, Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) Communication Officer Jeremy Hennessy said there were roughly between 800-1000 participants.
The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and the U.S. Coast Guard also put out a joint statement warning about the dangers of the event last week, although it's been confirmed by the Canadian Coast Guard that there were no incidents or injuries that required an emergency response.
The 12-kilometre float down, from Port Huron's Lighthouse Beach to Chrysler Beach in Marysville, made international headlines in 2016 when 1,500 U.S. residents, many without identification, were pushed across the river to Canada on strong winds.
"There were a few US floaters that were blown onto the Canadian shoreline. Local law enforcement addressed the repatriation of these floaters," said Hennessy.
In 2014, a 19-year-old experienced swimmer from Michigan drowned.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), and Sarnia Fire and Rescue were also patrolling during the event.
Vessel traffic on the St. Clair River was restricted from the Blue Water Bridge to the upper end of Stag Island between noon and 6 p.m.
