U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials announced that they would close the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks park grounds today at 4:00 p.m. due to the anticipated gathering of more than 700 people who support the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s action against the construction of the Dakota Pipeline.

"Current projections are for a gathering of more than 700 people near the Locks, and the Corps doesn’t have the scheduled staff to ensure public safety and property protection for a gathering of the size anticipated this afternoon, " the Corps wrote in the announcement

Normal operations will continue in the small lock. The park will reopen at 7 a.m. on November 16.