Events

Friends of the Black River Upcoming Spring Events

SPRING 2010 FBR EVENTS

Feb. 21        FBR Annual Snowshoe Hike, East bank trail 1:00 PM
Popular winter family event. Enjoy winter vistas of the Black River. Meet at the Ho Chunk water treatment plant at the end of Wa Ka Ja Huk Rd., best found by taking Mission Road north off Hwy 54 and turning left on Pettibone Pass. Call 896-4901 for more information. Snowshoes available for rent at Moe’s Hardware.

March 6    Second Kayak Skills Day, 11 AM to 2:30 PM, Middle School pool $10/$5 Adult/Child
Expert FBR paddlers will be on hand to teach beginning and advanced kayak techniques. Call Jeff at 284-4117 or Amanda at the Lunda Center, 284-7606 for information. All equipment provided.

March 10    Dick Theil, Sandhill Demonstration Area, Membership meeting at the CCU, 7 PM
Learn about native Wisconsin wildlife and outdoor skills from renowned wildlife biologist, outdoorsman and author, Dick Theil. All are invited

April 10    Robinson Creek Paddle with Sierra Club, meet at 10 AM on Old Hwy I bridge. Paddle to start at 11 AM. Call 284-4117 for information.

April 11    Hall’s Creek Paddle with Sierra Club, meet at 10 AM at Lower Lake Beach. Paddle to start at 11 AM. Call 284-4117 for information

April 17    Spring Whitewater Paddle, To begin around 9 AM, East side above Hwy K near Hatfield to the powerhouse. Call 284-4117 for information.

April 24    Annual Earth Day Cleanup, Meet at Castle Mound State Park at 8:30 AM. Lunch is provided!  Call 284-1507 or email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for information and to sign up.

May 1    Annual Spring Paddle the Black River,11 AM Meet at Hall’s Creek Landing On Hwy E and paddle the drawdown to the dam. Call 284-4117 for information.

May 8    Spring Hike on the East Bank Trail, time and details to be announced.

or to make suggestions of events you'd like to see here, contact us

Monday, December 14, 2009 FBR CHRISTMAS EVENT FEATURED LOCAL RIVER FILM

Monday evening, December 14, at 6:00 PM Friends of the Black river will hold their annual Christmas party at the Falls Cinema Theatre. Featured will be unique and breathtaking footage of challenging whitewater rapids on an outstandingly scenic stretch of the Black River and on its tributaries. Cost is $10 and includes refreshments. Door prizes will be awarded and the public is invited.

Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or phone: 715-896-4901 to register.

Read more: Monday, December 14, 2009 FBR CHRISTMAS EVENT FEATURED LOCAL RIVER FILM

Attention Paddlers: Saturday, 9/26 Paddlers release from the Hatfield Dam

Attention paddlers: Next Saturday, 9/26, North American Hydro will be doing a paddlers release from the Hatfield Dam.  The put-in will be on the east side of the river between HWY K and East Arbutus Campground, likely starting around 1 pm.  If you have any questions, call Jeff Polzien or  e-mail FBR.  This replaces the release that Hatfield was supposed to have earlier this month and will likely be the final paddlers release this year.  Hatfield is in the process of conducting a temporary Arbutus partial drawdown for temporary dam repairs. 

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September 12, 2009 BRF Dam Conducts Water Release For Paddlers

On Saturday, September 12th, the Black River Falls (BRF) Municipal Utility conducted a water release for area paddlers.  The release was held from 8:00 to 9:30 am.  The east gate (#8) was opened 10% to allow for 300 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water to flow through the dam.  This was the first ever paddlers’ release from the BRF dam.  This 300 cfs release was intended to simulate the projected 330 cfs flow ability that the low flow generator is anticipated to deliver through the east side of the new dam. 

Many onlookers enjoyed watching the 18 paddlers who participated in this release, organized by Friends of the Black River (FBR) and its board member Jeff Polzin. "I didn't know what to expect from this release, but in the end was very pleased with the outcome", commented  Polzin who also noted "Today proved that minimal water releases like this can result in fun and safe paddling opportunities for local and visiting kayakers.” BRF paddler Marc Rukevina commented, "We saw some really fun wave action below gate 8."  This was evident and onlookers were impressed with the talent demonstrated by paddlers surfing and spinning around playfully in the waves. 

Read more: September 12, 2009 BRF Dam Conducts Water Release For Paddlers