Eau Claire (Wisconsin R. trib)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n\_x5DrIsQPA

What is meant by sneak route, chute, main drop and squeeze....

Ran just the dells today (april 3rd, 2015) at 439cfs, ugg what a low water spring so far. There is an ok surf wave, good for a few swishing front surfs, by the large river right eddy just after the dam. The middle line at the main dells is pretty scrapy, and still not worth it at this level. The main, left drop, has good speed down a sloping drop into a bubbly pool, but can be easily boofed on the the left half and the second squeeze drop does not form a hole at this level. This is a great level to try out the dells, safety can be setup on the main drop with a quick one step in the water to get over to the middle rock formation next to the drop. Any problem will most likely be due to the boogy water between the first main drop and the second squeeze drop.

This river has a odd range of flow. The section below the dells peaks out in the 3500+ cfs range when it begins to be quite pushy and gets bony at below 350 cfs.
The main section of the dells drop will starts to get nasty, hole gets big at second drop and buggy water gets intense, at 900+ cfs, but can offer cheap thrills down to 85 cfs. A far right option ,class III-, opens up on the dells proper at above 2000 cfs and is runnable up to about 3500 cfs. These are some of my best estimates for runnablity.

Higher water at the dells with the sneak a solid run

Ran the section below the dells on 4/9, gauge was reading 3.9' and 1400 cfs. It was a very good level, the s-turn section just below the dells was great, as was the next rapids around the island. However, the gauge is far enough downstream that at this level the river was much higher than Bryan's photos at 2450 a week later and at 4.25 days earlier. So the gauge is not entirely reliable for exact flows and levels, it still provides good indication if the river is running.

Took the right side bounce down at the dells as the main drop of the dells was nasty. The rest of run from the dam to the dells and after the dells was at a great level.

dells has a few lines, but overall best to put in below at this level

Really low water spring, this was about it for fun outside of scheduled releases.

Really low water spring, this was about it for fun outside of scheduled releases.

FYI, the dam is now back. See pictures. At lower levels when the main drop of the dells is relatively safe one can run the dam gates. There are 2 on the river right. The right one tends to have debris in the outflow and does not have a clean line, so I would suggest the left on that forms a nice tongue.
At higher levels, say over 500 cfs the stationary part of the dam becomes runnable. Granted it will be a bit of a bumpy 5ft drop at 500cfs. The far right of this stationary section of the dam looked like it would be best, based on a run at 485 cfs.

This is the operational dam now in place above the dells.
Rapids just below the dam (II)

the dam at the dells has been destroyed by a large ice flow a few years back,the river now runs alot differently than before. watch for pieces of old dam and re-bar if you run it.the large hole in the dam allowes for better flow all year.

Located in a county park, this is a beautiful place to have lunch even if you're not going to run it. You are sure to draw a crowd should you choose to boat.