Gauge Description:

Call 1-888-HYDROWI for a recorded message from the hydro company detailing release amounts. Unfortunately, the message may not distinguish between water in the natural (boater-interest) channel and water heading down the bypass to the powerhouse.

This reach will run in spring when flows regularly exceed need for power generation or pond-height replenishment needs.

* The referenced gauge is well upstream of this reach, in Neillsville. Drainage area at that gauge is 749 square miles, while drainage area at the Hatfield dam is 1290 square miles. Therefore, on average, one should expect actual flow available at the dam (for hydro use and/or release into the natural channel) should be on the order of 1.722 times that of the Neillsville gauge. That 'theoretical available flow' is what is presently being shown by the 'virtual gauge' on this reach.

The capacity of the powerplant is reported as 1262 cfs. Inflows in excess of that may initially be used to replenish the reservoir (particularly in mid-to-late summer). However, when the 'pond' is at full elevation, excess inflows will be returned to the natural channel (this reach). The 'recommended minimum' has been set at 1662 cfs on this virtual gauge: 1262 for the hydro plant, leaving a theoretical 400 cfs for the main channel. This is a level which would/should make the 'creeky' drops (immediately downstream of the Hatfield dam) runnable. Levels of 2262 cfs should leave 1000 cfs for the main reach, which would/should make the upper reach quite gnarly, but begins to make the main reach worthwhile as a playboating run. Obviously there are a great many factors which will contribute to making this gauge unreliable for determining actual flow in this reach, therefore calling the toll-free number is encouraged to confirm where the water is going.

The OLD licensing agreement which was issued February, 1999, had releases scheduled for the third Saturday of each month from April through August, with flows of of April: 2,350 cfs, May: 1,595 cfs, June: 895 cfs, July: 1,070 cfs, and August: 835 cfs. Unfortunately, these were often subject to last minute cancellation (at the discretion of the hydro company) if there was not sufficient inflow to the reservoir (minimum of 400 cfs). This agreement is no longer in effect!

A new agreement issued June 10, 2008 provides:

(1) Minimum release flows would be provided one Saturday during the months of May, June, and September.

(2) The flows would be released from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.

(3) Inflows above 150 cfs, measured at the Neillsville flow gage at least 24 hours in advance, would trigger the release flows. Flows above 150 cfs and below 1,200 cfs would allow a release of flows between 400 and 600 cfs of varying peak durations. The targeted peak flow duration is three hours.

(4) Ramping rates in the dewatered reach of the Black River would be maintained at 300 cfs an hour (cfs/h) rising limb and 100 cfs/h falling limb.

(5) Inflows occurring during a planned release above 1,200 cfs would be directed into the bypassed reach, increasing the recreational flows.

The key points here are that releases are NOT necessarily the third Saturday, but 'one Saturday', occur only three months (May, June, September, NOT April through August as before), flows will be only 400-600.cfs (appropriate for the class IV+ section below the dam, but not generally for the full run), and flows will be cancelled if less than 150 cfs inflow (on Neillsville gauge) and augmented (increased) by the full amount of inflow in excess of 1200 cfs (possibly making the full run worthwhile).

Most generally, boaters should expect the full run to be worthwhile only in early spring, or after particularly heavy rains, on UNSCHEDULED dates, just as it had been without the agreement (as described above the gauge analysis above).

For more information: Jeff Polzine at (715) 284 1946 w or (715) 284 4417 h

Angie Tornes (NPS, FERC) at 414-297-3605

There is a NOAA gauge at the Hydro Plant.

The tabular data for which can be accessed at NOAA Hatfield Hydro.

While we can embed their graph here, we do not have access to reformat their data at this time.


From the release study which was conducted in 1995, my recollection of the consensus opinion of the boaters who were there was:
1000cfs was tame play,
1750cfs was very a good intermediate level, and
2500cfs was pushy and difficult play for most boaters.
Bear in mind, 'playability factors' (boat designs, boater technique, and what constitutes a 'good' playable feature) have changed somewhat since then.

If you have input on 'best' boatable levels (either for the initial class IV 'creek' reach or for the longer 'play' reach) please use the 'Add a comment' button in the "Comments" tab, or sign on as StreamTeam member for this reach!