Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

Gauge is a few miles upstream of this reach. While dams intervene, all are top-spill 'non-regulated' dams which effectively pass all water through.

 

Gauge/flow analysis
(based on gauge data for years 1930 through 2010)
Drainage area at gauge 120 sq.mi.
Minimum mean daily flow during gauge period 0.2 cfs ( 1936.08.09)
90% of time flow during gauge period exceeds 8 cfs
10% of time flow during gauge period exceeds 180 cfs
Maximum mean daily flow during gauge period 3,320 cfs ( 1952.03.20)
10/90 ratio ('flashy-ness') during gauge period
(under 3 is fairly steady, over 10 is quite 'flashy')		 22.5
Average days per year during gauge period
over recommended 'low' threshold (100 cfs)		 79
Average days per year during gauge period
over recommended 'high' threshold (600 cfs)		 5
 
Approximate offseason ("Ice")
stage/gauge correlation
USGS  Stage  Virt.Gauge   Apprx.cfs
9.29' 3.29' 1200 cfs
9.12' 3.12' 1100 cfs
8.92' 2.92' 1000 cfs
8.715' 2.715' 900 cfs
8.495' 2.495' 800 cfs
8.25' 2.25' 700 cfs
7.98' 1.98' 600 cfs
7.68' 1.68' 500 cfs
7.34' 1.34' 400 cfs
6.75' 0.75' 300 cfs
6.50' 0.5' 240 cfs
6.25' 0.25' 190 cfs
6.00' 0.00' 145 cfs
5.75' -0.25'   95 cfs
5.50' -0.5'   55 cfs


The 'minimum recommended flow' (100 cfs) is certain to be questioned by many boaters. Indeed, it will have parts of the run be a bit of a scrape, but reasonable whitewater play will be possible at a couple spots. The run has been floated at levels below this, but is not recommended. The 'maximum recommended flow' (600 cfs) is only set as an indicator of levels 'above the norm'. The river is runnable much higher, and, in fact, many experienced boaters will prefer levels above this value, indeed using it as almost their 'minimum'! (See chart below.)

For winter, min/max are set somewhat differently, using a virtual gauge. Since ice is likely to choke the backwaters behind the two dams on the listed reach (and likely also the run-out stretch of lower gradient downstream of the railroad and private bridge), min/max are bumped up to levels more likely to start blowing some ice out, or to provide enough entertainment on parts of the run so as to make dealing with the hassle of the ice at least a little more worthwhile. Obviously, actual conditions will be quite variable in winter. It will be mandatory to do on-site inspection of the creek and millponds to check actual boatability.

 

Flow (cfs) Class Suitable for Description
40 - 100 I-II beginner/novice
Open boats (canoes or recreational kayaks without skirts), kayaks, rafts		 Relatively minimal whitewater play
Even down to low end of range some minor play is possible. Bank Waves are shallow/grungy, but allow tame surfs and spins. Estate Bridge is playable (an odd/interesting surf against the bridge-pier) at these levels.
100 - 600 II-II+ novice/intermediate
Decked canoes (C1 or C2), kayaks with sprayskirts, properly outfitted open boats (canoes with flotation bags)		 Much better depth and play.
Adds play at City Park Ledges and Railroad Ledges
600 - 1100 II-III intermediate/expert
with proper whitewater gear, knowledge, and safety training		 Optimal
All features are well formed and playable
1100-1800   III+ Well-experienced strong-skilled paddlers only

Much care must be taken around the two dams/portages. Putting in below each of them will be somewhat difficult due to relative lack of anyplace convenient to get into your boat and not be in the current.

Due to the high banks, the run will be feature powerful water with few eddies. There will be serious risk/danger. Especially in the lower portion of the run, boaters must proceed around bends in river with caution. Deadfall and strainers are a recurring problem, and high water means extreme risk if you cannot maneuver quickly to avoid being swept into them.


The City Park Ledges will be a wild start, often with an audience of onlookers on shore in the park (who are there primarily just to look at the raging creek). The Bank Ledges will create a sweet surfable wave with a wonderful eddy alongside. Estate Bridge will be large and powerful, but it's eddy will be rather dynamic. Repeat play will depend upon coming off the wave in control to regain the eddy. In general, both waves offer powerful surfs but rather little possibility for any spins, and even less likelihood of any vertical moves.
1800+ III+ No one! Somewhere up in this range most features tend to wash out.
No features (other than the two dams to portage) truly rise above a class III rating (since there essentially will be few real features on the run). However, due to the high banks, the run will be a freight-train fast-flush with virtually no eddies. There will be serious risk/danger (especially due to strainers in the lower portion of the run), and a bridge downstream of the main gradient (but still in an area which will have strong current at these levels) may become too low to the water to convenientlly pass under. We cannot recommend that anyone even think about putting on this river at these levels.
There will undoubtedly be far better (and safer) choices to run in the area.

 

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
Cedar Creek Winter Gauge
virtual-50982 0.25 - 3.30 ft II-III 00h38m ~ -0.24 ft (rc= -0.2 )
Under 145 cfs. Too low for decent whitewater run. *** In winter, always must check ice on ponds above dams.***
Virtual gauge manipulates USGS stage reading to reporting when cfs conversion is off ("Ice") for winter.
RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
-5.00 -0.00 ft extremely Low-somewhat Low II-III Under 145 cfs. Too low for decent whitewater run. *** In winter, always must check ice on ponds above dams.***
0.00 -0.25 ft somewhat Low-barely Low II-III Possibly 145-190 cfs. Likely too low for any decent winter run/play. *** In winter, always must check ice on ponds above dams.***
0.25 -0.75 ft barely runnable-med runnable II-III Possibly 190-300 cfs. Likely low-to-moderate flows. *** In winter, always must check ice on ponds above dams.***
0.75 -2.00 ft med runnable-a bit pushy runnable II-III Possibly 300-600 cfs. Likely moderate-to-pushy flows. *** In winter, always must check ice on ponds above dams.***
2.00 -3.30 ft a bit pushy runnable-high runnable II-III Possibly 600-1200 cfs. Likely high boatable flows. *** In winter, always must check ice on ponds above dams.***
3.30 -4.00 ft somewhat High-somewhat High II-III Unusually high flows (likely in excess of 1200 cfs). *** In winter, always must check ice on ponds above dams.***
4.00 -10.00 ft somewhat High-extremely High II-III Likely outrageously high. *** In winter, always must check ice on ponds above dams.***
CEDAR CREEK NEAR CEDARBURG, WI
usgs-04086500 100 - 1200 cfs I-II(III) 65d21h04m 105 cfs (rc= 0.0 )
Reasonable beginner/intermediate flow.
Gauge (drainage=120 sq.mi.) is upstream of two dams above put-in. They are top-spill run-of-river, so cause virtually no regulation of flow.
RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
0 - 40 cfs extremely Low-somewhat Low I Too low for any reasonable float.
40 - 100 cfs somewhat Low-barely Low I-II E.L.F. (Extreme Low Flow)
100 - 300 cfs barely runnable-med runnable I-II(III) Reasonable beginner/intermediate flow.
300 - 600 cfs med runnable-a bit pushy runnable II-III Good intermediate whitewater flow.
600 -1200 cfs a bit pushy runnable-high runnable III Big surfs for experienced boaters at this flow.
1200 -1800 cfs somewhat High-somewhat High III+ Experienced whitewater boaters only at this flow!
1800 -9999 cfs somewhat High-extremely High III-IV DANGER! A bridge on the run will be IMPASSABLE!!!

Report - Reports of Cedar Creek Cedarburg City Park to CTH.T (2.3 miles) and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
134d02h34m Estate Bridge [WI] Zach surfs Estate Bridge low runnable level Rob Smage
1y308d19h34m @Cedar Creek Cedarburg City Park to CTH.T (2.3 miles) [WI] Estate Bridge play spot 340 cfs bryan foster
1y308d19h34m @Cedar Creek Cedarburg City Park to CTH.T (2.3 miles) [WI] good time 340 cfs bryan foster
2y290d20h04m @Cedar Creek Cedarburg City Park to CTH.T (2.3 miles) [WI] High Water Report 950 cfs Rob Smage
> 10 years Cedar Creek [WI] Super Cedar 1130 cfs Rob Smage
> 10 years Cedar Creek [WI] Sweet Cedar 588 cfs Rob Smage