The Pensive Paddler

Apparently an apple a day does not keep the doctor away! Unfortunately one of my gifts during Christmas week was a gift of pain. Yes I know, if you were to ask my wife she would often say her only pain is me. In all seriousness, after a quick visit to the doctor and an x-ray later the statement every paddler dreads to hear. “You may need to stop kayaking,” and nobody likes to hear that. Being the skeptical person I am, I meticulously went over the internal Polaroid’s with the Doc. After seeing the Madam Curie proofs of my skeletal structure there is no doubt there is something wrong (though due to the pain I could have told you all that beforehand).  It turns out I have done a number on my lower back, the lower vertebra are deformed, potentially due to kayaking.  So this week I will be visiting a osteopath (muscle and bone specialist) to see what I can do to trade myself in for a new model.

Immediately downstream of the Menasha Dam is a historic industrial site which is currently slated for redevelopment. An existing feeder canal flows into the defunct paper mill. The Menasha Dam is the point of administration for the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) control of the Lake Winnebago water level. This appears to be the only site in the project area that would have a consistent source of flow. A carefully designed bypass channel could serve as the centerpiece of the planned development. The potential private/public partnership between the City of Menasha and the private development company presents a unique and timely opportunity.

The project site is on the former Gilbert Paper Company site. The site is approximately 11 acres. The property is owned by a private party who intends to develop land in a mixed use design which may include a combination of residential, commercial and office buildings. The developer plans to donate public greenspace along the shoreline and in other locations on the site.

This project consists primarily of making improvements to 1,000’ of shoreline mentioned above. Currently, this shoreline consists mostly of a hard edge concrete wall. We would like to soften this edge by sloping adding appropriately sized rock outward from the wall. Our intent would be to keep the existing wall in place because we do not want to disrupt the solid protection it has provided for many years. We want to develop a relatively irregular edge, meaning we would have some gentle bumpouts and we are also considering anchoring in some logs and other structure for improved fish habitat and spawning. Adding native plant material to further soften the edge and provide cover for wildlife is also being considered. Native game fish, including walleye, bass, perch, pike and sturgeon will all benefit and thrive in the rocky, protected shore design we are planning.

Two other related project elements are also being proposed. First, we would like to add a rock reef extension extending from the newly created shoreline. This extension would serve a dual purpose. Minimal flow through this structure would be engineered, thus creating a slow water eddy behind it for juvenile fish. This extension would also serve as a fishing spot and would be handicapped accessible.

Second, as depicted in the aerial photo, an expansion of the existing by-pass canal is planned. This is not part of our NRDA proposal. At the confluence of where the new canal extension will be, we would like to create additional fish habitat improvements. A small rapid and pool would be created at this location. This pool will be lined with appropriately sized rocks. A fishing platform at this location is also planned.

Soft edge rock and plant material will be used on approximately 100’ of shoreline on both sides of the new canal and be blended in with the other shoreline treatments previously described.

This project was discussed with both Mike Donofrio and Ron Bruch, fisheries experts from the WDNR. They both like this project and provided valuable preliminary design input. Our NRDA requested will be used as a match in a future Stewardship grant which would include things like walking trails, the by-pass canal expansion, land donations, etc.

We are all very excited about the potential of this project and appreciate the opportunity to submit a full application for your consideration.

http://www.foxcitieswhitewaterpark.com/

Ooh the doldrums of Wisconsin Weather. It’s Christmas, so we all want some snow but this is ridicules! We not only have inches of snow out there we have FEET! Sure I am a kayaker and I love precipitation, but not this kind! Super cooled water not only forms ice but it forms snow, I hate snow, and you can’t kayak on snow. Or can you?

Genius, or lack thereof? Not anyone has ever blamed Team Pabst of thinking before they act, and it seems the Darwin awards may be a shoe in for me and a few other buddies! Ice, according to Dictionary.com is “the solid form of water, produced by freezing; frozen water.” As opposed to snow from Dictionary.com “something resembling a layer of these flakes in whiteness, softness, or the like.” I am not sure about you, but I see the word Softness connected to snow, and I see nothing of the sort in the definition of ice. The hardest thing to decipher, when you’re a genius I mean, is the fact that snow sometimes turns to ice. How you ask? Well it seems when snow is compact it still looks like snow but feels and acts like ice. Well what if there was a light snow that day you ask, well it looks fluffy too! “Looks” is the term here folks.

You know, why explain it when I can let video do that talking? Here you go folks, I hope you enjoy my Helix attempt on a snow jump, scratch that I mean ICE. Ouch. Also note the Jackson kayak beating up the Wavesport! The Wavesport left the battle with a crack, and the Jackson was unscathed!

David, Helix Attempt on SnowBumper Boats

Happy Holidays;

Dave

Special thanks to Paul (Sorry about the boat Paul :\), Tom (and family) and Cole!

My Home River has received some press!

For the past year American Whitewater has been actively engaged in an effort to provide flow information for the Fox River and specifically the reach impacted by the Kaukauna Hydropower Project. This project diverts flow around a section of the Fox River with some outstanding whitewater features that are enjoyed by paddlers in northeast Wisconsin during high flows. The utility that operates the hydropower project is proposing to increase capacity and divert additional water from the river. American Whitewater has formally requested a review of impacts of the proposed project on existing recreational opportunities on the river which are highly valued by the local paddling community. We also have concerns with the impacts of diverting flow on fish and other biota.

On November 14th FERC issued a clear statement on the need for flow information stating as follows:

Item No. 3 of our additional information request (AIR) issued September 18, 2008 required that Kaukauna Utilities, as soon as it was feasible, provide real-time, publicly-available flow information for the Badger bypassed reach either on the internet or via an easily-readable gage installed within the bypassed reach.  The AIR recommended this information be made available in the coming fall, winter, spring, and summer seasons.  Item 3 also required that you coordinate, to the maximum extent feasible, the data gathering for that item with the instream flow study (AIR Item 2) and base your response on surveys of boaters who have experience using the resource. However, based on the discussion that occurred during the November 10, 2008 meeting on the instream flow study, it appears that no steps have been taken to provide the requested publicly-available real-time flow information for the Badger bypassed reach.  It is also unclear how you intend to coordinate the field work for the instream flow study and your data collection for the whitewater study.

This information is needed to allow for an accurate assessment of the range of flows currently available for whitewater boating in the bypassed reach, including the type of experience provided at various flows, which is necessary for the analysis of project effects on recreation.  Therefore, to reiterate and clarify our expectations, you must provide real-time flow information for the bypassed reach  to the public within 14 days of the issuance date of this letter.  In addition, you must install an easily readable gage within the bypassed reach prior to conducting the instream flow study, and you must provide 48-hour notice to all entities who have expressed an interest in these studies as to when the fieldwork for the instream flow study will occur so they have an opportunity to view the flows being studied.

The utility finally responded late last month by installing a staff gauge and publishing a web page with a table that correlates gate openings at the dam with discharge. You can access it from the Kaukauna Utilities website and following the links to Our Environment, Fox River, U.S. Kaukauna Dam Tainter Gate Spillway Flow Release.

This should allow us to begin the effort to quantify instream flow needs for recreation and evaluate impacts of the proposed project. AW will be working with local paddlers, the utility, National Park Service, and other stakeholders to evaluate instream flow needs for recreation over the coming months and we will keep the community updated through the website.

AW advocates for restoration and protection of flows that provide quality recreational opportunities and restore ecological function, accessible information on project operations and impacts to instream flows, and public access to over 100 rivers across the country impacted by hydropower. Our ability to be successful with this work is a direct result of the support from our members and volunteers.

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Article_view_articleid_30227_display_full_

..and this is why “Team yahoo” exists..

I got a call from Dave L, and Cole J Monday morning telling me to meet them after work this to paddle 1000 islands sec. of the Fox River in Kaukauna WI. I worked till 5, but they were already there at 4, so I was running a little later than them. I ran home after work to let Gus outside to do his thing. My boat and paddle were already in my car, the gear was drying on hooks on the back of my garage. While Gus was busy, I packed the gear into a bag and threw it over my fence into the front yard just behind my car. I brought Gus in, and fed him, grabbed a 6pk of PBR, ran out the door, jumped in the car, and left for the river. When I was just about to the river, I remembered my gear bag still sitting in my driveway in front of my garage… so; I drove back up to Green Bay, grabbed the gear bag, and drove back to Kaukauna. I get on river by about 6:15. I had about an hour of daylight left to go meet the rest of the guys somewhere on river.

Now it gets interesting…

Once on river, I paddled down to meet up w/ Dave, Cole, Mike and Matt J, stopping briefly to play at a few spots on the way. I met them in ‘hidden channel’ just below the dam. We were enjoying some great surf, very similar to Sunday’s. Cole, Mike, and Matt continued on to the next waves after a few minutes, while Dave and I stayed to play on this beautiful glassy wave with a treacherous boulder garden right behind it. (This is called foreshadowing, kids) I wanted a few more fun surfs before heading down, but Dave was tired from playing for the past 2hrs so he waited for me in an eddy near the shore a few yards downriver. In what would be my last surf of the day, I got blasted off the back of the wave and got flipped by the pour over a few ft. behind. Not a big deal, I just tucked tight and tried to roll back up. The problem was, I was in this boulder garden, getting my head and paddle bounced off several rocks (my poor SWEET helmet). I was unable to roll due to the fact that the paddle kept hitting rocks, which at one point. tore the paddle out of one of my hands. While I was trying to recover and get both hands on the paddle again, I got slammed into a rock, with my lower back being the contact point. Dave told me later that he thought I was dead at this point, as he watched me get wrapped around this rock backwards. The 8500 cfs pulled my boat one way around the rock, with my upper body going the other way. The river’s strength then pulled my boat away from me, popping my spray skirt and freeing me from the rock. I’m now in the middle of 30-40 yd. wide channel in about 40deg. water wearing shorts, getting swept rapidly downstream behind my boat. I still had my paddle in one hand until it got pinned behind a couple rocks while the river carried me away to bounce my legs off rocks. About 30 sec. later, I saw the paddle float by and was able to grab it. (THANK YOU RIVER GODS!) Dave was already paddling down to try and save my boat (when he saw I was almost to shore) as I continued to fight my way to the shore. After about 2-3 minutes of getting dragged downriver, I was able to make it onto one of the islands. (With little time to spare before my legs quit working on me due to extreme cold!) I immediately began running in place, high-stepping to try and get blood flowing in my legs, which were completely numb. Dave had somehow managed to get my boat over to the other side of the same island I landed on, and I high-stepped my way over to him. We were pretty much at the end of the run at this point, so after I got circulation back in my legs, we drained my boat and finished the run. We met the rest of the crew at the take out and examined the damage. There were a few leg wounds and bruises, and one big knot in my lower back. It sure could’ve been much worse. My helmet isn’t new anymore, that’s for sure. I came away with a good story, which always goes better with Pabst Blue Ribbon. Sure was a good thing I grabbed that 6pk before I left.

By Paul Shady, Edited by David Lemke

Team Pabst (+1 former member…) travels south to Tennessee and N. Carolina:

Tom and I drive down to Milwaukee to pick up Brain C. (space ghost) we load up his stuff and begin our long journey. Luckily it was only about 2 minutes into the trip that Brian remembered that his wallet was still sitting on his kitchen counter. So we, down to Andy’s house in Tenn. where Jim has already been aggravating Andy’s dog for the past week. (He caught a ride down w/ Rich and stayed to wait for us.) Upon our arrival, Jim whipped up a great breakfast for all and then we drove to the Nolichucky River. What fun! Despite the 40-50mph wind directly in our face (if you stopped paddling, you got pushed upstream), this was a great run that took about 4.5 hrs. Gorgeous scenery viewed from the river as well… It’s a shame we didn’t bring any cameras. After the celebratory PBR’s at the takeout, we headed back to Andy’s for some amazing lasagna, PBR, and Southpaw.

… Which may have been the reason we slept too late to hit the Nantahala River on Friday…
but we did make it to the N.O.C. where some kid behind the counter gave us misinformation as to what time the dam release ended. Nice.

Ok, so now we’ve got a 2.5 hr drive back to hot springs, NC to set up camp along the French Broad River… “Tom, you drive. We’ll work on this case of sweet nectar.” (it probably would’ve only taken us 1.5 hrs if we didn’t have to stop to pee on fences at the end of driveways every 25 minutes)

We made it to the campsite and set up camp, unaware that we’d be camping next to the most fun group of guys we’d ever camped with: Scott, Scott, and Sam. Since they went to bed MUCH earlier than Team Pabst did, they agreed to give us a shout the next morning to try and wake us up. This is what we woke up to:

“HEY! Wake up you YANKEES! It’s time to go paddling!”

(This didn’t work) we eventually got up and made it on river around 2:30 p.m. the French Broad River was tons of fun as well, with some great rapids and a fun drop (kayakers ledge) on it.
now it’s our last night camping. Andy arrives w/ brats and bushel of peppers to grill. he also generously picked up 10 bundles of firewood, which came in handy after going to the Paddlers Pub that night. Our campsite became the after bar party for the campground. Great time on river, great friends, a huge campfire, Pabst Blue Ribbon, music from the guitar and slurred words of the few songs we knew. It was a great ending to an awesome trip. It may have also been why tom and I didn’t get back to Green Bay until 3am Monday morning…

By Paul Shady

Yes, we are all aware
paddling is a dangerous sport. Sure, by and large it is safe enough because we
take proper precautions, but it is dangerous.

So, June 9th was the bonus release at the
Wausau, WI play park and we headed up because we knew it would be a great time.
After all, everything you could need is there: great water with great features,
Headquarters (VFW), and fun times with good people.

We were right. A great time was had by
all. There just seemed to be something in the air, though. There were more
swims than I can remember occurring for some time. That is not to say anything
bad. The Wausau crew did a great job changing the course and maintaining just
like they always do. Due to those aforementioned precautions, everyone was
okay.

As we called it a day, there was a quick
pick-up game of Four-Square (Paul won). Then, we headed up to Rib Mountain
State Park to call it an evening. The first order of business is to go ahead
and get a fire going.

We all split up to gather firewood (We
can do more damage that way). Finally, Paul started to stir up the coals and
Rich and I started to “split” the firewood. We were sticking some decent size
logs in the crotch of a tree, and then bending it until they snapped. As a
courtesy, I warned Rich about the rocks on the ground as I didn’t want to see
him face plant on one of them. So I then proceeded to grab a hold of the log
and leaned back to pull it around the tree as Rich pushed from the other side.
This particular log snapped without any warning and I slipped and fell on to
one of those rocks. Other than seeing stars, I am okay (thanks for asking
Paul).

From here forward, I will not forget
that on the river is not the only place I should probably where my helmet. Feel
free to follow suit.

By Tom Schrader