Proposed Yahara River Park | Whitewater Park Features

Proposed Yahara River Park | Whitewater Park Features

Home » Yahara Waterway » Proposed Yahara River Park | Whitewater Park Features
The City proposes to modify the existing Stoughton Dam to create a river park. The goals of the project stated in the permit application to the WDNR are to provide a recreational amenity, naturalize the river, improve habitat and fish passage, and increase safety of river users.

The project would remove the existing dam gates and replace them with a passive overflow weir at the dam. The new proposed overflow elevation of 836.5 ft is about two feet higher than the base of the existing Tainter gates (834.8 ft); however, the ability to raise the millpond stage by closing the gates would be lost.

The current WI DNR orders for Stoughton Dam require that a minimum elevation of 841.0 ft is maintained. Those DNR dam orders state that maintenance of water levels below 841.00 "will adversely affect recreational use near the shore, lead to drainage of wetlands, expose areas of the stream bed which provide aquatic habitat and would be aesthetically objectionable if exposed."
 
 

The City proposes to modify the existing Stoughton Dam to create a river park. The goals of the project stated in the permit application to the WDNR are to provide a recreational amenity, naturalize the river, improve habitat and fish passage, and increase safety of river users.

The project would remove the existing dam gates and replace them with a passive overflow weir at the dam. The new proposed overflow elevation of 836.5 ft is about two feet higher than the base of the existing Tainter gates (834.8 ft); however, the ability to raise the millpond stage by closing the gates would be lost.

The current WI DNR orders for Stoughton Dam require that a minimum elevation of 841.0 ft is maintained. Those DNR dam orders state that maintenance of water levels below 841.00 "will adversely affect recreational use near the shore, lead to drainage of wetlands, expose areas of the stream bed which provide aquatic habitat and would be aesthetically objectionable if exposed."