High Water Threatens Georgetown Shops

WASHINGTON - The National Park Service is warning businesses in Washington's Georgetown neighborhood of a flood threat due to the partial failure of a lock gate on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.

The agency said Monday it has closed the C&O Canal National Historical Park towpath from 34th Street N.W. to Rock Creek as a precaution.

Spokesman Bill Spinrad says officials are looking for a spot to breach the towpath to minimize the potential for flooding in the event the inlet gate at Lock 5 fails entirely.

The trouble follows three straight days of rainy weather in the region.