Protection of the Green River Gorge
Boaters have a long history of working for protection of the Green River Gorge. Explored by Wolf Bauer and members of the Washington Kayak Club (one of American Whitewater's original founding clubs) in the mid-1960’s boaters quickly realized the Green River Gorge was one of the most spectacular river canyons in the Puget Sound Region. Having come too late to protect the Cowlitz River Canyons that were dammed for hydropower production in the 1960's, Wolf turned his attention to protecting the Green. He created a slideshow and approached Washington State Parks to gain their assistance in preserving the area. In a 1966 Seattle Times article Wolf described the gorge as “a ribbon of wilderness in our midst.” Between 1965 and 1968 the state got federal money to purchase private property in the gorge.
Through the work of Wolf, the Green River Gorge was recognized by the state legislature (RCW 79A.05.700)
The Green River Gorge, between the town of Kanasket and the Kummer bridge in King county, is a twelve mile spectacularly winding gorge with steep to overhanging rock walls reaching heights of from one hundred fifty to three hundred feet. The beauty and natural features of the gorge are generally confined within the canyon rim. This twelve mile gorge area contains many examples of unique biological and geological features for educational and recreational interpretation, almost two miles of Eocene sediment rocks and fossils are exposed revealing one of the most complete stratographic sections to be found in the region. The area, a unique recreational attraction with more than one million seven hundred thousand people living within an hour’s driving time, is presently used by hikers, geologists, fishermen, kayakers and canoeists, picnickers and swimmers, and those seeking the solitude offered by this unique area. Abutting and adjacent landowners generally have kept the gorge lands in their natural state; however, economic and urbanization pressures for development are rapidly increasing. Local and state outdoor recreation plans show a regional need for resources and facilities which could be developed in this area. A twelve mile strip incorporating the visual basins of the Green River from the Kummer bridge to Palmer needs to be acquired and developed as a conservation area to preserve this unique area for the recreational needs of the region.
Protecting River Flows
While work continues to protect the scenic character of the gorge, the growing water needs of the region continue to place threats on the gorge. With a proposal to build Pipeline 5 as a new pipeline to divert water from the Green River, boaters, fishery interests, and conservation groups had concerns regarding the future of the river. As the City of Tacoma sought permits to increase withdrawals from the river, Friends of the Green initiated a legal challenge. In 1995 City of Tacoma, Friends of the Green, and King County signed a Settlement Agreement that includes provisions to quantify instream flow needs for recreation, provisions to provide flows for recreation, and protection and acquisition of public access.