Chippewa
C) Lake Wissota Spillway (PnP)
| Difficulty | II-III |
| Length | 0.85 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Chippewa River Below Dells Dam at Eau Claire, Wi |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 3450 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | December 8, 2023 |
River Description
At times of increased/excessive flows in the river, it is likely there will be water flowing into a spillway from the dam which forms Lake Wissota. Just under a half-mile of gradient here appears to have potential interest for whitewater boating. (Aerial views show enough detail to suggest some significant features likely to form at good flows!)
The hydro facility can discharge a maximum of approximately 10,400 cubic feet persecond (cfs), so flows above that (and possibly at times below that!) will put water in the 'overflow' channel(s).
It appears there could be good access from 74th Avenue (parking at the dam, likely for fishermen) which could be used. One would most likely have to carry in, and carry back up and out (I.E., this is a 'park-and-play' section). However, a scouting report from Memorial Day Weekend, 2020 (thanks, Niko!) found access from 74th Avenue blocked by a fence and gate. If that gate is always closed/locked, it may mean access would only be via carry-up (0.5-0.75 miles) from 'Area 178' parking for off-road mountain biking trails. (parking LAT/LNG: 44.9449, -91.3541) A fine map of this area (and the trails) is available at: https://corbatrails.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Area178NativePlain20171029.pdf
For those of you who use Facebook, as I write this, there is a fine video shot by a biker from the adjacent biking trails. (Using the timestamp of the post, flows may have been in the neighborhood of 35,500 cfs on the USGS Dells Dam gauge.) Check out the video here: Facebook CORBA Area 178
To reiterate, this will ONLY have water when inflow exceeds capacity/needs of the hydroplant. At all other times, expect this to be nothing but rocks and (likely) random pools of water! (Perhaps a good time to walk across to check out the middle channel and 'connect
...River Features
Put In
"FOC" (First Overflow Channel)
Depending upon which gates on the dam are open/releasing, there may be different options available for whitewater play. A decent-sized island splits the overflow ('non-power-generating') channel, and another larger island divides this area from the outflow of the Xcel Energy Hydro plant. It may be possible to explore some combination of channels.
The 'First (rightmost) Overflow Channel' will be the easiest to explore, since you will be parking and accessing the river from that side.
Exploring any other channels will require being able to land and carry up on any of these islands.
Some great drone-video, at a time of very-high flow, is available at: https://youtu.be/yZxq_EowoC8
(I've cued the link to cut out the first 1:40 of video of the drone taking off and flying to the channels.)
Take Out
"NOCC" (Narrow Overflow Connecting Channel)
It
appears (dependent on flows, of course) that there may be a narrow
channel which splits off to the left from the left channel (about midway down the island) and connects
across to the outflow channel from the hydro plant.
Being able to make it to this channel will be highly dependent upon flows, and will likely require ferrying across strong currents ... or ... you may have to carry up the larger island (or you may opt to paddle a up the outflow channel from the hydro plant, to beyond where this small channel connects, and then carry across the island there).
"ROC" (Rejoined Overflow Channel)
At the end of the island, as the first and second channels rejoin, you will find additional ledges.
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