Menomonee, Wisconsin, US

A) MenFalls: Main Street bridge to next bridge (0.4 mile)

Overhanging Wall

Overhanging Wall
Photo by Rob Smage taken 10/01/11 @ too low to run

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
MenFalls Winter Gauge
virtual-50361	0.00 - 3.00 ft	I	03h46m	~ -0.34 ft (rc= -0.2 )
	Too low. MUST CONFIRM with onsite visual inspection to assure safe passage throughout reach.
MENOMONEE RIVER AT MENOMONEE FALLS, WI
usgs-04087030	100 - 600 cfs	I(II)	24d03h44m	37 cfs (rc= -0.7 )
	Bang and scrape (too low to call whitewater). Gauge (34.7 sq.mi. drainage) is just downstream of this reach, so will very accurately represent flows in this reach.

River Description

Quick Facts:

Location: Downtown Menomonee Falls.
Character: Small creek-like river, in a city park. Bedrock slides, one ledge-drop, tight turns, overhanging/undercut banks, and a couple of short intimate mini-gorges.
Shuttle Length: 0.5 mile (carry up).

Put-in is approximately 820' elevation.
Take-out is approximately 767' elevation.
Thus total elevation change is approximately 53'.

General Overview

Intimate city 'mini canyon' run in a quarry/lime-kiln park. Shallow limestone bedrock and a river-wide 3' ledge (making a shallow wave/hole) make for a 'novelty' in-town park-and-play with a decidedly 'creeky' feel. (Indeed, there is 40-50' of drop in 0.45 mile, which makes an 'effective gradient' of 100 feet per mile!)

Be very cautious about boating this reach. At virtually any time of year, and at virtually any boatable flow, it is virtually mandatory for all boaters to hike this entire reach, every time, before boating. Since it is such a narrow, confined stream, with very few good eddies, a downed tree or other obstruction in any spot could be disastrous. Strong flows will push you toward overhanging/undercut walls. Eddies will be few, small ('one-boat'), and often obstructed by overhanging vegetation (especially when foliage is fully lush). If you aren't completely confident that you can make the necessary twists and turns to negotiate the bends and get around or through any deadfall or strainers (or catch an eddy to get out before them), then don't put on! The situation often changes with each heavy rain or wind, as trees, wood and debris fall into and shift in this small stream, so do not fall into the trap of thinking that since you have made it down once (or any number of times) before, you can always make it down. The key phrase to remember: "Walk before you run."

Technically, the actual rapids almost never rate above a class III. However, at anything above bare minimum flows, you need a proper whitewater boat, and skills more in the class III-IV range! If you can't catch small eddies (or if you don't know what that means!), and if you can't roll your boat, do not even consider trying this run at flows above 250-300 cfs! Contrary to logic or expectation, smaller creeks like this can be more dangerous than some larger rivers, precisely because they will have so much UNAVOIDABLE overhanging shrubbery and deadfall, and essentially need to be in flood to run, meaning there won't be many eddies. You will be swept into things, and the strength of the current can make it impossible to get you or your boat out!

Note: Legality of access may be questionable. Talking with local authorities (many years back), one time I was told it was completely 'ok' to boat here, another time I was told it is not permitted (though I can find no specific ordinance supporting such a claim). Therefore, my best recommendation is to be as quick and discreet as possible (while gearing up in this highly visible parking lot), and get to the river as quickly as possible. If confronted by any anyone ('authorities' or not), be as polite as possible. You may wish to explain your experience with whitewater, explain your proper safety precaution and awareness, and explain your whitewater gear. But, do not belligerently assert your 'rights' to boat. Instead, be prepared to pack up, move on, and (perhaps) try some other time. Do not spoil it for others and give all boaters a bad reputation. (FWIW, having boated this over a dozen times across twenty+ years, I have never been stopped nor encountered any problem. Most folks either completely ignore us (as though they've seen it all before) or are politely curious and ask if they can watch.)