Eau Claire (Wisconsin R. trib), Wisconsin, US |
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| Usual Difficulty | II-III(IV) (varies with level) |
|---|---|
| Length | 4.6 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 25 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 47 fpm |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAU CLAIRE RIVER AT KELLY, WI | ||||
| usgs-05397500 | 350 - 2200 cfs | II(III) | 67d19h57m | 685 cfs (rc= 0.5 ) |
Moderate flow. Main drop may get 'sticky'/tricky. Gauge (Drainage=375 Sq.Mi.) is well downstream, thus will generally significantly overstate actual flow here (and will lag on rise and fall). |
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Put-in above the dam on the upstream side of the park (which straddles either side of the main
road). The far-right two gates of the dam are normally runnable.
A short stretch of rapids with some minor play potential lead to a very scenic dells with an
intense zig-zag of channels and drops. Riverbooks indicate the river drops 65' in 1.5 miles
(44fpm). Often boaters just do a park-and-play in a county park where the bulk of that drop is
concentrated.
Downstream of the dells, boulderbed rapids proceed past random rocky outcroppings for the
next mile or so, leading down to and around either side of a large island. Better flow is to the
right, and a fine set of ledges will be encountered just before the end of the island. The
gradient peters out the rest of the way toward and beyond CTH.Z, before reaching another island.
Either side is runnable, with the left being narrower and potentially more interesting, as it
drops through a mini-dells with good waves and holes. As the island ends and the flows rejoin,
the gradient eases, and the remainder of the float to Badger Road is flatwater.
Gauge is well downstream, thus does not reflect actual flow in this reach, but should serve as a decent indicator of runnability. Gauge rise and fall will likely lag rise and fall in reach. There are only relatively small tributaries entering downstream.
Min (350) and Max (3,500) are for 'best' runnability. Some boaters may enjoy runs at levels outside this range. It will get very 'bump-and-scrape' below 125cfs, but there will still be playable spots. On the other extreme, the drops will get big and ugly at high flows. While some may be incined to challenge them, most will stand in awe of the fury of this stretch of water at high levels. At those times, portaging, running alternate lines, or putting in below the main drop in the dells is recommended.
| Gauge/flow analysis (based on USGS data, 1914.01.01-2010.07.03) |
|
| Drainage area at gauge | 375 sq.mi. |
| Minimum daily mean flow (many dates) | 25cfs |
| 90% of time flow exceeds | 60 cfs |
| 10% of time flow exceeds | 519 cfs |
| Maximum daily mean flow (1926.08.21) | 7,180 cfs |
| 10/90 ratio ('flashy-ness') (under 3 is quite steady, over 10 is quite 'flashy') |
8.65 |
| Based upon USGS historical data and the listed min/max levels, expect the full reach to be runnable 50 days per year (on average). |
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| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAU CLAIRE RIVER AT KELLY, WI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| usgs-05397500 | 350 - 2200 cfs | II(III) | 67d19h57m | 685 cfs (rc= 0.5 ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Moderate flow. Main drop may get 'sticky'/tricky. |
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Gauge (Drainage=375 Sq.Mi.) is well downstream, thus will generally significantly overstate actual flow here (and will lag on rise and fall). |
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| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Dam | III | |
| 0.2 | Ledges | II+ |  |
| 0.3 | "The Dells" | IV |  |
| 0.8 | marked rapids (boulder-bed) | II | |
| 1.1 | First (Upper) Island Dells | III | |
| 3.0 | Second (Lower) Island Dells | III | |
This dam has two releasable gates to the right. At most boatable flows, the gates should be open sufficiently to allow boaters to run through them. Scouting before putting on is highly recommended, as the chutes are rather tricky in the immediate outflow area.
Reportedly, some higher flows may allow running ('boofing') the 'fixed' portions of the dam. (Note: last I was there, massive wood debris blocks most of the fixed portion of the dam.)
There are numerous small ledges and waves as you work your way downstream from the dam. The largest/best combination occurs as one nears the CTH.Y, where you may find some play before proceeding to the 'main event'.
The main drop of the dells is a complex drop in a beautiful scenic dells of granite rock. The main flow goes far to the left, jumps down a short shelf into a transverse channel. Flow is backed up by a massive rock, and splits to go left and right. While runnable at low flows, moderate-to-high flows create a massively retentive boiling landing zone. (I have watched good open-boaters have their canoes swamped and chundered in here!)
Moderately high flows open up a center chute which can be a fun 'boof', while higer flows open up a river-right bump-and-thump (or better) class III- sneak.
There is little evident on aerial/satellite views. I believe this is a boulder-bed rapids, easy to just read-and-run.
Many low, small islands dot the river at areas with little-or-no real rapids, thus it doesn't matter which side of those you run. However, there are two major (large) wooded islands which do have gradient of interest. This first one is best run on the right (which takes slightly more of the flow). After you pass most of the island, the channel twists to the left, and (before it rejoins the other channel) drops across a fine sequence of ledges and waves.
(The left channel is far less interesting and will be very rocky/boney until flows exceed 1500 cfs or so.)
After passing under Hwy.Z, a brief paddle brings you to the second large, wooded island. Take the left channel here and you will find a very sweet constricted dells. This can be run pretty much right down the middle, through a fine series of waves and small holes. At moderate to high flows, the waves and holes will build, and boaters may enjoy a roller-coaster ride, or work the rapids by catching some eddies as you break up this flume/drop.
reach
state
reachlink
B) Eau Claire Dells to Badger Rd. (4.6 miles), Eau Claire (Wisconsin R. trib) Wisconsin, US (mobile)
User Comments
level, the s-turn section just below the dells was great, as was the next rapids around the island.
However, the gauge is far enough downstream that at this level the river was much higher than
Bryan's photos at 2450 a week later and at 4.25 days earlier. So the gauge is not entirely reliable
for exact flows and levels, it still provides good indication if the river is running.
when it begins to be quite pushy and gets bony at below 350 cfs. The main section of the dells drop
will starts to get nasty, hole gets big at second drop and buggy water get intense, at 500+ cfs,
but can offer cheap thrills down to 85 cfs. A far right option ,class III-, opens up on the dells
proper at above 2200 cfs and is runnable up to about 3500 cfs. These are some of my best estimates
for runnablity.
relatively safe one can run the dam gates. There are 2 on the river right. The right one tends to
have debris in the outflow and does not have a clean line, so I would suggest the left on that
forms a nice tongue. At higher levels, say over 500 cfs the stationary part of the dam becomes
runnable. Granted it will be a bit of a bumpy 5ft drop at 500cfs. The far right of this stationary
section of the dam looked like it would be best, based on a run at 485 cfs.
alot differently than before. watch for pieces of old dam and re-bar if you run it.the large hole
in the dam allowes for better flow all year.