Manitowoc, Wisconsin, US

A) Leist Road to Logwood Lane (PnP, 4.5 or 12.5 miles)

Dan Harvey cato falls

Dan Harvey cato falls
Photo of cato falls by val jean @ 4.9ft

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
MANITOWOC RIVER AT MANITOWOC, WI
usgs-04085427	600 - 3000 cfs	I(II)	58d05h24m	329 cfs (rc= -0.2 )
	Flatwater float, but gradient will be grungy (likely portage).

River Description

Quick Facts:

Location: Clarks Mills, approximately 10 miles due west from Manitowoc.
Shuttle Length: 4.2 or 9.7 miles. (See details in "Directions" Tab.)
Character: Two bedrock ledges, a few areas of compression waves, and a few random boulder-bed rapids.

Put-in is approximately 795' elevation.
Take-out is approximately 650' elevation.
Thus total elevation change is approximately 145'.

General Overview

   Putting in at Leist Road one quickly encounters (upper) Cato Falls. To call this a 'falls' is really a misnomer, since it is nothing more than some bedrock riverbed (there is not really even a ledge/drop at good boatable flows). You will find some sweet waves and holes which will allow some decent play. If permission can be obtained from a 'sportsmen's club' (uncertain at this time how likely that may be), this spot may be possible as a 'park-and-play'. This is followed by a rather lengthy flatwater paddle until you get to the Clarks Mills Dam, which should be portaged (river-left). The dam is about 7-8', but the flow drops onto a 'splash pan' (cement slab) and spills out through random large rocks placed in the riverbed (probably to prevent or reduce scouring of the riverbed).

  From below the dam in Clarks Mills, less than a mile of paddling brings you to Lower Cato Falls. A few warm-up waves lead to a short ledge combination (a couple feet total drop . . . again, southern Wisconsin is generous in what is described as a 'falls'). At higher water levels (above 600 cfs), some really sweet playable waves form here. Play boaters may wish to just do a 'park-and-play' from the county park on river-right (south bank) here. Inexperienced or less aggressive paddlers may wish to use this as an alternate put-in to avoid the 'falls', putting in below them.

About two miles more brings you to Oslo Dam. While the dam has long ago been removed, a bit of a constriction forms a fine wave train leading into a large pool below. Paddlers most interested in maximizing whitewater (and minimizing flatwater) may prefer to end their trip at this point (if they haven't just opted for park-and-play at just the Cato Falls), since the rest of the trip contains only much lower grade rapids.

Another 1+ miles leads to some low grade (class I) rapids followed by a couple miles of flatwater until the listed take-out of the 'upper' reach, and put-in for the lower reach.

While a few folks have argued to the contrary, I have found the water quality on this stretch to range from poor to out-and-out gross. The drainage is dominated by cattle farms (I believe a number of 'industrial farms', packing unusually large numbers of cattle in inordinately small space), and virtually every field in the area is spread with manure all winter. It stands to reason that much of the runoff (especially in early spring) will contain significant amounts of fecal matter. Recent changes in DNR rules regarding farm practices should help, but I wouldn't expect miracles. Note: this is not intended as a criticism of agricultural practices or the farmers in the area. It is just an advisory for those who may pursue recreation on this river. Keep your mouth closed if you flip or get some significant splash. I would also make sure to shower (ASAP) and thoroughly rinse all gear after being in/on this river.