Alton Dam Question

[esox niger]

just curious to see how deep the water is below the dam. I dont have a boat, ive got a kayak with outriggers. Ive made it out into the missouri a couple of times. its doable up from st. charles when usgs real time is around 14 ft. i see the usgs real time data for the tailwater to be at least as low as 5 ft on the gauge ...what does that translate to on the water say 200-300 yards down from the dam. also, would it be suicide in a kayak? i know i cant just go up near the darn or i could get sucked down, but aside from that. anything to worry about? lol

[ekl-stl]

The water is deep, and turbullent. I wouldn't try it there.. You can go upstream where the old dam used to be and go out and up from there but that is still dangerous.. Look up Dresser Island.

[ozark trout fisher]

The water is deep, and turbullent. I wouldn't try it there.. You can go upstream where the old dam used to be and go out and up from there but that is still dangerous.. Look up Dresser Island.

I personally wouldn't go out anywhere on the Mississippi in a kayak.... I have heard many horror stories about small craft being sucked under barges, not of which have had favorable outcomes. Being below a dam further complicates the situation.

I would very strongly discourage it.

A common misconception is that the Missouri is the same as the Mississippi to paddlers. This is very untrue. Barge traffic is extremely light on the Missouri, whereas it's extremely heavy on the Mississippi. The Missouri is pretty easy to kayak or canoe. The Mississippi is only for those who really know what they're doing if you ask me.