In general, running dams is highly discouraged. Many low-head dams are 'killing machines' at a wide variety of water levels. This dam is a rather notable exception. The cement face of the dam slopes nicely, and flairs to a smooth horizontal 'kicker'. Water at the base of the dam generally 'sheets' away quickly due to the generally shallow bedrock of the riverbed downstream. At high waterlevels (above 800 or 1000 cfs) the left half of the dam does develop a bit of a nasty looking hydraulic, but the right half still generally sheets out fairly reasonably.

Again, not meaning to encourage anyone to run it, but the question comes up with great regularity. So, yes, the dam has been run numerous times. Levels below 300 cfs you'll be grinding down the cement on a thin sheet of water. From about 300 to somewhere in the 500 - 800 level it's a quick smooth slip down the face. Above that, things can start to look a bit scary. Highest presently known run is about 1500 cfs, Christmas day, 2006, no less!

It is important to note that there is much shallow bedrock at the base of the dam, and much rocky rubble about halfway down toward the next feature ('Malted Milk'). If you flip at the base of the dam, you are likely to have trouble rolling as you are raked across all this bedrock and rocky debris.

And, for what it's worth, there is a viewing deck off the back of the bar at the motel on river-right. You are likely to attract an audience of patrons cheering you on and pulling out their cellphone/cameras.

The name derives from one of Racine's former claims to fame. The Horlick company patented a Malted Milk process, and sold their product for nearly a century. (The formula, process, and rights to the name have apparently been assigned to GlaxoSmithKline, and the product is now made in Jamaica! Jars of the Malt are available from the Historical Museum in downtown Racine for $5 as of this writing. Great stuff!!!)

At low to moderate levels (250-800 cfs) the sloping bedrock and very minor ledge (to the left) form a decent playable wave (though it barely deserves the same name, hence at these levels call it 'Horlick's Extra Lite').

It is at higher levels (about 1200-1500 cfs) that this wave really earns it's name, as to dishes out into a wide, glassy wave. Sweet surfs and spins can be done, often with a smally gallery of spectatators on the Northwestern Avenue bridge just behind and overhead.

This feature may wash-out a bit or become surgey and chaotic at different levels over 1800-2000. While it may offer some great surfs, it is less predictable or assured that at more moderate levels (1200-1500 or so).

Not far downstream from the Northwestern Avenue bridge (and the USGS gauge site), a large eddy exists on the right, as the river twists off to the left. At levels above 600 cfs or so, there will generally be sufficient depth in the eddy and enough current differential to allow those who are so inclined to charge into the eddy, plow down the bow, and try for bow-stalls and 'eddy-wheels'.

As the river bears off to the left (just out of this eddy), it falls across a small diagonal bedrock ledge. At low-to-moderate levels (~300-700 cfs) this can allow some odd surfs in shallow wrapping twisting currents. At 1000-1500 or so, it provides very interesting and challenging surfs. At higher levels, this completely washes out. Be aware that cement rubble lies river-right, immediately downstream. One large slab lies center-river about 50 yards down, and has a large upturned metal rod. This will be completely covered at most boatable flows, and would only be of concern if you are upside-down (flailing and failing to roll quickly) or out of boat coming out of 'Diagonal Slice'.

The area between the upper features and the lower features is mostly just flat and flowing. However, at levels above 1000 cfs or so, a series of small but sweet catch-on-the-fly glassy waves (riffles) do form. Turn bow upstream and paddle hard to stall onto the best among them, or (if you are of a mind and body to) try a few wave-wheels down the small wave-train.

A huge hunk of concrete (remnant of an old bridge from the quarrying days) lies on river right along the stretch of 'doldrums'. At moderate water levels (maybe 500-1000 cfs), this forms a fine place to practice charging into and catching an eddy, as well as peeling out of the eddy. At the higher end of levels cited, it allows bow stalls and stern squirts on a well defined eddy line. The eddy becomes a bit dynamic (swirly and boily) making an interesting place for novice boaters to learn how to deal with those currents as well. Unfortunately, flooding in 2008 has pushed this slightly more diagonal to the current, pushing more water toward shore, diminishing the eddy and the play potential (minor though it always was).

This is the first feature on the lower part of the run. Most boaters will just put in here for most runs at most levels, foregoing the upper features since they hardly justify the extra carry-up/shuttle at many levels.

A shoreline eddy/pool to 'stage' from exists among the trees on river left.

At low-to-moderate levels (200-700 cfs), a river-right pocket-wave/hole ('Upper Pipeline Right' or 'UPR') exists, with a narrow and short shoreline eddy. Sweet surfs and flatspins can be done at will, but you have to paddle hard for the eddy when you come off the wave or you will be flushed too far downstream to be able to regain it.

There is also a river-left wave/hole  ('Upper Pipeline Left' or 'UPL'). At low-to moderate levels, this one is exceedingly shallow and scrapey, and hardly worth any time or effort. As the level rises, the UPR washes out, but UPL builds quite nicely. At higher water (1000 cfs and up) this one becomes a sweet surf (especially nice around 1500 cfs). Again, there is only a narrow and short shoreline eddy, so you have to come off the wave in good control and paddle hard for the eddy or you will be flushed too far downstream to be able to regain it. Additionally, at the downstream end of the eddy, there are trees on the shore overhanging the river which can become quite worrisome. Strong, confident paddlers who are swept back close to these trees may be able to 'throw their back into them' and push off to secure the eddy. However, more paddlers (as soon as you realize you are not being able to make it into the eddy) will quickly paddle hard (away from shore) to avoid tangling with them.

Also, it should be noted, 'post flood' (since June, 2008) the eddy for UPL will not extend far enough upstream (at lower flows) to allow repeat play. As levels reach somewhere around 1100-1200, water spreads across what is normally shore. It is then possible (not easy, but possible) to 'pull' your way up this eddy. As levels exceed 1300 (+/-) the eddy gets much more manageable.

Other features on this run come and go (I.E., are good at some levels but either disappear or are lame at other levels), but this is one of the best features at the widest variety of water levels.

To surf the main wave, it is generally best to charge hard into a river-left eddy just before these features. A diagonal 'shoulder wave' feeds out of the eddy, across to center river where a flattened-out V-wave exists. At most playable water levels, it is nearly impossible to catch that wave 'on-the-fly' unless you use the eddy and shoulder-wave to slide across and onto it.
 

Fortunately, a sweet feature here is that from the center-river slackwater which backs up the main wave (Lower Pipeline), it is possible (at levels from 300 to about 1000) to paddle upstream in the slackwater, over the back of the wave and slide back in to surf the main (Lower Pipeline) wave. After playing that to your heart's content, experienced boaters can slide from the center of that wave, back across some minor turbulence, and onto Tundra.

Not far downstream of Tundra (or, where Tundra used to be, pre-flood), in the river-left flow, at higher levels (1000+ cfs), a wave forms. Some boaters have been enjoying sweet surfs here. This lies just downstream of a willow on shore which (years and years ago) toppled, to there is a horizontal trunk anchored to the ground, and a substantial vertical branch/tree. You will also see a substantial size trunk/limb which has been cut. This had been a sizable limb overhanging the river, which broke off in a storm wome years back. What remained (until it was sawed off) was about an eight-to-ten foot angled (almost horizontal) stump, the end of which had cracked in half, nearly 2' back, having almost the appearance of the gaping jaws of an alligator. The name of this wave recollects the once 'gaping jaw' of that tree.

A natural bedrock intrusion (on the right) creates a pour-over/pocket-wave/hole. At levels maybe 300-800 cfs or so, this tight (narrow) pocket allows interesting play. Boaters who are confident having their boat 'on edge' may surf and spin in this short, narrow, pourover/pocket of a hole. You will have to really focus on your upstream edge and your 'edge transitions' to keep from tripping-up in this pour-over.

Out in center-river to river-left, sloping bedrock forms a wider, smoother wave. The same eddy that serves the previously mentioned pourover/wave/hole will allow repeat play on the main wave. A large eddy also exists river-left, but regaining the wave from there is difficult-to-impossible at most flows. The wave mostly washes out into a catch-on-the-fly wave or (above 800 or so) into little more than a minor wave-train.
 

This is a combination of lesser features. Many boaters will bypass them entierely. In fact, at many levels, these features will not exist or will provide minimal if any play. When present, they generally provide only tame play. Catching them is more about river-running moves (holding a good ferry angle to cross the main current a couple of times).

Fenceline (FL) is a small bedrock intrusion which extends from river-left to center-river. It can (at low-to-moderate levels) form a minor riffle of a wave, providing very minor (beginner) diversion. At high levels, this does create a nice trough (fairly wide across the river, but not tall or deep) which can be caught on the fly and will allow nice surfs and spins. The river is quite shallow here any time the feature is 'in', so if you flip, you will encounter bottom.

Right Hip Pocket (RHP) is another small bedrock intrusion tight to river-right. At moderate levels this forms a rather funky little wrapping pourover/wave/hole for interesting surfs and spins (good practice for keeping the boat 'on edge' and switching edges on the spin).

Good Intentions (GI) is a third minor wave/hole which lies tight to river left. Levels need to be moderate to high (500 cfs or more) for this to be worthwhile. It can be a bit of a challenge to play RHP and then try to make the cross-river ferry and catch GI.

Mid-Evil (ME) is a sweet standing wave that lies in a left-hand-bend in the river. This wave is generally caught one of two ways. The tree/snag on river-right has almost completely blown out by flooding 2008.06.09. At some levels, there will still be a micro-eddy on this shore from which you can slide out onto the wave. (It makes good river-running practice to make the move from GI to the river-right micro eddy, which, of course, is good practice at catching narrow, funky, shoreline eddies.) Altenatively, you can stay in slackwater river-left (downstream of Good Intentions) on an upstream ferry and slide across a small shoulder-wave which runs diagonally out to center-river. ME never really builds to a size to allow much other than straight-on front surfs (OK, sometimes some boats/boaters can flatspin on it). In spite of that, there are boaters who will relish the ride on this smooth wave.

This is where the rodeo crowd will hang out when the river is running large. This is the most pronounced ledge on the river (though still tiny by most whitewater river standards), and is backed up by a good sized pool, with generally pretty good depth. As levels change (up or down), one can often watch this feature change from hour to hour (sometimes within moments, right before your eyes).

While the ledge is river-wide, differences in how the wave/hole forms up are significant. River-left is always a bigger pourover/wave/hole, while river-right tends to be a much tamer wave. Thus, they are referred to (respectively) as the "Greater Evil" and the "Lesser Evil". It is really only at higher levels (above 1400 cfs or so) that they merge into one big hole, All Evil (of the Root).

Note: this feature (or combination of features) may have been most changed by floods of 2008.06.09. With the loss of the tree/snag/deadfall above (which affected how/where water comes into the drop) and erosion/deposition of material in the pool below the drop (which significantly changed pool height at various flows), this feature is not behaving anything like it used to. At levels under 1000 cfs, it has been almost totally MIA (missing in action).

Take-out is at river-left from the pool at this drop. Downstream the riverbed changes from bedrock to rubble and mud/clay/silt, and one encounters only relatively minor riffles and shoals. Continuing (boating) past this pool would mean having to set a shuttle, whereas one can get the best action by just carrying up within Quarry Park.

A golf course (Racine Country Club) spans the river downstream of this pool. There are reports (and signs) indicating they can be fairly aggressive about enforcing trespass on their property (including the bridge downstream here). Boaters playing "All Evil" are advised (if they swim, or are otherwise swept downstream of the pool) to be as quick and 'invisible' as possible in getting back upstream to Quarry Park.

Be aware that there are three bridges in the golf course. The first is visible from the take-out (the pool/eddies at 'All Evil') and should cause no problems (unless the center-river bridge-pier catches a strainer).

The second and third bridges at high water (above 2000 cfs) will become serious hazards as there will be no clearance under them. At higher levels, water will flow through the bridge railings. While it may be possible to get to shore (or even paddle around the ends of the bridges), many boaters will be in serious danger trying to escape being swept into these bridges.