Eau Claire (Wisconsin R. trib) - A) Spring Brook Bridge (Nolan Rd) to Hwy.52 (2.8 miles)


Eau Claire (Wisconsin R. trib), Wisconsin, US

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A) Spring Brook Bridge (Nolan Rd) to Hwy.52 (2.8 miles) (Quarry Section)

Usual Difficulty II (for normal flows)
Length 2.8 Miles
Avg. Gradient 13 fpm
Max Gradient 22 fpm

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
EAU CLAIRE RIVER AT KELLY, WI
usgs-05397500 1.80 - 4.00 ft II 02h48m ~ 1.47 ft (rc= -0.2 )
Almost certainly way too low. Gauge is far downstream, thus will not accurately reflect conditions in this reach, though it should be a reasonable general indicator of runnable flows.


River Description

Old river guide books called the two drops on this run 'Master Ledges' and 'Bader Ledges'. (Ahh, the old sense of humor.) More modern books list them as 'Ledges' and 'Three Row Falls'.

Bryan Foster offers:

The first ledge is signaled by a bolder garden, and has a nice hole for play. This is followed by a small island, with the right side offering more interest at higher levels.

After some boulder gardens you come to the first drop of Three Row Falls. At medium to low levels the right side is scrapy and the left side offers some side surfing at the base. A short rapids leads to the final drop of Three Row Falls, which is a 4' ledge. The right side is a sheer drop, and can provide some stern squirt possibilities. The left side is a class II rapid.

You can paddle this at levels down to 1.4' if you don't mind technical boulder gardens, as the main rapids and access paddle are quite runnable. (Mind you the gauge is down river a ways and after a dam).


Thanks, Bryan!


StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2010-03-08 19:14:14


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