E) Hatfield Dam to Power Plant (3.2 miles)

See the 'Flows' tab for details of the present release agreement. Also, as many boaters have noted, our 'virtual gauge' (as cited above) is often of rather little merit. The most relevant info is available from a NOAA gauge associated with the powerplant. We are told if you subtract 700-1200 from the 'Hatfield Hydro Plant' reading, that will approximate the flow in the natural river channel. When the full reach is runnable, it can provide some rare 'big water play' in Wisconsin. This may be done as either a 'park-and-play' at the put-in (where the best play waves are) or as the listed three mile run from the dam to the powerplant. The run may be extended to a landing at Halls Creek to add three more minor drops (though most whitewater boaters forgo the added flatwater this necessitates). The _usual_ run (at moderate to high flows) starts about _a quarter-mile below the dam_ (the first point reached from the carry-in from normal roadside boater parking). Between the dam and this point lie some serious drops which contains near inescapable boiling cauldrons at moderate to high flows (class IV-V+). Note: As long as one puts in _below_ this upper stretch, no rapids are greater than a class II-III rating. In times of lower flow (and during the scheduled releases) the drops from the dam to the carry-in pool are runnable, and may provide some class III-IV entertainment. In fact, according to Jeff Polzin: _'the section immediately below the dam is full of fun class 2 drops at 75 to 150 cfs ... there are a couple of easy class 3 drops (at the K bridge and at the second zag of the 'Z' approximately 2 miles downstream from the dam)'_ Also at times of lower flow (i.e., when this reach is 'dewatered' due to the power plant diverting all the flow), boaters may wish to check out the reach from Below the hydroplant to Halls Creek landing, as all water which had been diverted from the upper reach will now be returned to the riverbed for these final two or three drops. Runnability will, of course, depend upon power generation schedules.