Flow characteristics of the Lower Wisconsin River

The flow of water throughout the year and the stream gradient are necessary considerations in evaluating the recreational potential of the lower Wisconsin River. This flow is regulated in part by the dam at Prairie du Sac and influenced considerably by the 47 storage reservoirs and power dams above Lake Wisconsin. The river's gradient and flow characteristics can be illustrated by a river profile and graphs of flow durations, 7-day low flows, and flood-flow recurrence (Hindall and Borman, 1974). Sufficient streamflow data to develop meaningful graphs were available for the gaging site at Muscoda, about the midpoint of the river reach being studied.