Kletzsch Park Dam and Fish Bypass

*** THIS FEATURE IS NOT WITHIN THE LISTED RUN, BUT WELL UPSTREAM (AS INDICATED BY THE '-3.62 MILE' RIVER DISTANCE) ***

In 2023, a fish bypass was constructed on the east bank. These generally are constructed so there are not any meaningful rapids or playable features at virtually any flow. More to the point, the entire fish ladder area (both on and off the water) is OFF LIMITS, CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC (closed to fishermen and paddlers alike).

This is NOT an on-the-water bypass for recreational paddlers! Paddlers should portage at river-right!

The main structure in Kletzsch Park (between Silver Spring and Good Hope Road, just north of Bender Road) is a serpentine dam of quarried rock, capped with concrete (this is NOT a natural falls). It is so old, and was made in such a fashion, that it almost looks like a natural ledge, with much variation in the vertical face across the width of the river.

The serpentine shape means there are many 'smily faces' and 'frowny faces' (experienced whitewater boaters will know what those terms mean). So, there are a handful of places which (at certain flows) could be run, and at least an equal number of places which would be dangerous to run (at a great many flows). In addition, most of it has very little depth at the base (meaning a likely piton, unless you hit one of the 'auto-boof' spots, or are good enough to launch a successful boof elsewhere).

More to the point, over many years, I have looked at this location at a great many flows, and can't say I have ever seen play-potential sufficient to entice me to bother to gear up and get in my boat here. Additionally, it is a very popular spot for fishermen (either wading in the river at low-to-moderate flows, or casting from shore at any/all flows), so I leave this area to them.

This is a solitary feature -- there is nothing of interest to a whitewater boater for many miles upstream (until Ozaukee County), and over 3.5 miles downstream until our listed put-in. So ... if you feel like sightseeing, maybe it's worth a drive. Maybe your parameters are different from mine, and you'll decide to suit up and huck it.

(If you are paddling a recreational kayak or canoe, please don't think about running this without full knowledge about hydraulics and boil lines and safety & rescue procedures, and awareness of what the measured flow is and how it affects this particular location!)