Fox (Illinois R. trib.), Wisconsin, US

B) Waterford/Rochester/Burlington: Calumet Channels (PnP)

Calumet Channels (1)

Calumet Channels (1)
Photo by Rob Smage taken 04/13/09 @ 680

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
FOX RIVER NEAR NEW MUNSTER, WI
usgs-05545750	600 - 1200 cfs	I	11h21m	324 cfs (rc= -0.5 )
	River is boatable, but area for whitewater is too shallow and rocky for any 'play'. Gauge (811 sq.mi. drainage) is a good ways downstream. Check 'Flows' tab for additional gauge info.

River Description

Waterford Dam
The dam (near the library in downtown Waterford) which creates Tichigan Lake has two releasable pivot-lift gates. Water spilling from these gates sheets shallow and swift across a horizontal cement slab then falls off a sheer vertical lip into the pool of the river. While it may sometimes look enticing, at virtually all times there may be great froth here, but no real play opportunity.The curtain of water is 'hollow' behind (back to the vertical slab), and the flow is mostly chaotic where it hits the pool. While there is good depth immediately behind the dam, things get very shallow and rocky almost immediately downstream. Best advice: do not try to playboat at the Waterford dam. Flatwater paddlers may put in here for a downriver trip.

There is a large island in Tichigan Lake (filled with condos and houses) just upstream of the dam. The channel around the left side of the island has a rock-rubble dam (rather than a cement dam with release gates). In general, there is no whitewater interest here, either, as water very seldom covers enough of the rock to make this area passable with any sort of watercraft.

Rochester (Eagle Park) Dam
Just downstream of Rochester (2.25 miles downstream from the dam in Waterford), in Case Eagle Park, there is another dam. The left-most part of the dam has a series of evenly spaced (too narrow to fit any boat through) metal rods stand vertically from the cement slab. In the past (and perhaps at times now still, though I haven't seen them in a while) these supported 2x6 planks (standing edge-wise) to increase the pool height. Between that area and the center release gates lies an area of (somewhat higher) cement slab. This entire area has large rock rubble (filling the spill area on the downstream side of the dam) which makes passage in any watercraft impossible. There are four lift-gates on the dam. In virtually all occasions I have been there, the left two gates have flow passing through (under) the pivot-gate, and the right two gates are fully closed. Under most conditions, the outflow from the gates creates what looks like it could be an interesting playable hole. Unfortunately, there are HUGE boulders just under the surface of the water in the outflow (of all four gates, so it wouldn't matter where they release from). So, again, best advice: do not try to playboat at the Rochester dam.

Burlington, Calumet Street/Dog Park
Just beyond downtown Burlington (9.25 miles downstream from the dam in Waterford, 7 miles downsteam from the Rochester Case Eagle Park dam), the Fox River spreads wide (approximately 110 yards/330 feet) as it passes under a (defunct) railroad bridge. This area is accessible from the end of Calumet Street, where there is parking for a fenced-in dog-walk area. (Hmmm, does that make this a 'bark-and-play' spot?) The river is split into a number of channels -- three more-or-less 'main' divisions made by islands before the bridge, with each of those channels then split in two or three by bridge piers. A total of 7 bridge piers make 8 possible channels, though at least one of those is exclusively a high-water/flood channel (I.E., will be dry land most of the time).

Each channel contains a different amount of the flow of the river (obviously) and has differing rock/rubble clutter creating differing potentials for play. Some channels are relatively tame (worthless) at virtually all flows. Some may offer some tame entertainment at the right flows. (Don't ever expect much more than tame entertainment here. However, since this is one of the larger watersheds in the S.E.Wi. area, it may provide opportunities when all else has gone too low!) It may be noted that there is some evidence of modification ('rock stacking') in some of the channels. These manipulations are nearly futile here, as any attempts to pool or constrict flow in any channel (to create or modify a playable feature) mostly just result in the other channels taking some additional flow.

At lower flows, the two most 'primary flow' channels (furthest right and furthest left) suffer from shallow runout and a relative lack of decent eddies, but the center channels will have tame play and decent eddies. At higher playable flows, workable eddies may exist for the left-most channel.

The right-most channel (actually, pair or channels, split by a bridge pier) contains the greatest flow (perhaps nearly 40% of the flow of the river). The eddy behind the bridge pier here has pretty fair depth (for possible vertical moves -- bow stalls, stern squirts). Downstream, a couple minor waves may exist before the river runs out across wide shallow shoals.

The left-most channel (again, actually, pair or channels, split by a bridge pier) probably is the second largest (perhaps 25-30% of the flow of the river). Rocky constriction (under the railroad bridge) and shallow bottom combine to create strong current through here. A potentially surfable wave may form at flows in the higher end of the cited range (700-1000 cfs), but at low-to-moderate levels (500-700) swift run out and shallow shoals not far downstream will virtually preclude any repeat play here.

The remaining 'middle' channels are all much smaller (10-15% or less of river's flow). These are likely to be the better play available (such as it is) at this location, as they (surprisingly) have a bit more of a 'pool' immediately below the bridge (allowing for easy repeat play) and generally lack the shallow rocky shoals found in the larger right and left channels. At the lower range of cited flows (maybe 500-700 cfs) they may provide some easy surfing opportunities (front-surfs, side-surfs, and flat spins).

Note: be very cautious if you opt to walk the (defunct) railroad bridge to cross the river (perhaps to scout the channels, or to return to your vehicle after playing the leftmost channel, rather than paddling back across to river-right). There is one area where the 'boardwalk' on the downstream side of the bridge has broken completely out. One other spot show signs of charring from a fire. There are many areas of insecure planking, where boards are warped and no longer anchored (nailed/bolted) into place. (In general, I opt to walk the large supporting timbers, just to be 'safer'.)