Cedar Creek,

Gauge Information

River Description

Quick Facts:

Location: Downtown Cedarburg to east edge of town. Shuttle Length: 0.8 mile. (See details in "Directions" Tab.) Character: Two dams (mandatory portage for most paddlers) and their backwaters provide pause. Bedrock ledges and slides provide some decent play before gradient peters out in rubble-field shoals. A large oxbow allows paddling 2.3 miles with only a 0.8 mile shuttle! Put-in is approximately 780' elevation. Take-out is approximately 705' elevation. Thus total elevation change is approximately 75'. (Unfortunately, nearly 30' of this is wasted being backed up by the two dams.)

Dave Bayer, doing a 'shutter rudder' at 'Estate Bridge' 1999-06-16, 588 cfs

General Overview
Historic Cedarburg boasts a fun little run, with two very short, but rather wicked portages down 12' cliffs around dams. Mountain goat skills or ropes will help, especially for early season (ice) or during/immediately after rains (mud).

The run consists of shallow bedrock rapids, short ledges, and gorge/dells. In the lower reaches of this run, the gradient has largely 'petered out', but current is still swift. Novice boaters may find themselves in trouble as they navigate bends and negotiate deadfall, though lately there does seem to be an increase in 'caretaking' of this reach.

Main playable drops are: City Park Ledge, Bank Waves, Estate Bridge, and Railroad Ledge.

Note: this is one of the later southern Wisconsin streams to 'open up' in spring, due to the ponds (behind the two dams on the run) which do not quickly flush free of ice. Specifically, the second one (above the 'Nail Factory Dam') lies in an East-West stretch of river which tends to be rather sheltered from the sun, so it may remain ice-covered and impassible well after other rivers in the area have flushed free of ice.

Recreational users of this stretch of river should be aware that it is identified as a 'hotspot' for PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyl). A major 'contributor' to the PCB load was located in the 'pond' just above the put-in of this reach. Remediation efforts were undertaken on 'Ruck Pond' (just above the listed put-in) during 1994-1995, and on 'Hamilton Pond' (just below the listed put-in) during 2000-2001. To date, no such efforts have taken place in the 'Nail Factory' pond or downstream. The best information I can find suggests that PCBs primarily bond with soil and are NOT generally water soluble. This would suggest that as long as you stay in your boat, and avoid stirring up any muddy areas, your risk of any PCB contact should be minimal.

References
Midwest River Inventory has more details and photos of this reach.