MGRC Home Press Release 2010

When: Saturday May 1nd, 2010

Where: Meet at Kanaskat State Park

Signup 9:30am — 11:30am

How can I participate:

Whitewater Rafting and kayaking

If you are an expert whitewater boater or kayaker you can run the river with others.

Whitewater Boater Information

Whitewater boating information for General Public

If you would like to raft the Green River Gorge as part of this year's Green River Cleanup we are happy to announce that Alpine Adventures has offered to guide our participants down the river. They will donate 30% of the cost of the trip to Middle Green River Coalition. So not only are you getting to spend an amazing day on one of the most beautiful rivers in Washington State but you are also helping to give back to the river conservation efforts.

River rafting SIGN-UP with Alpine Adventures. Add code: MGRC

30% donated to help MGRC to continue their work in the Green River Gorge Mountains to Valley Greenway

Ground Crews

You can also participate in the on-the-ground clean-up at various places along the 12 mile long gorge. Explore the area while helping to pick up trash. Ground crews meet at Kanaskat State Park between 9:30 am and 11:30am. This year's focus will be on the Headworks Road (near Kanaskat), The historic town of Franklin, and the Enumclaw / Franklin Rd area. If you have a group that would like to participate please contact us at mgrc@mgrc.org

Ground Crew Information

Historic Town of Franklin

9 - 2pm

Don Mason and members of the Black Diamond Historical Society will be leading the cleanup at the old historic town of Franklin. Meet at Kanaskat at 9:30 am. There will be a carpool to parking at the trail head. For more info please contact Don Mason

Please wear hiking shoes and bring appropriate clothing and essentials.

Mountain Bike Ride

Sign-up on Evergreen Mt. Bike Alliance website

10am

Ride with Wlater Yi of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance on sections of a future Green River Gorge rim trail. The proposed, multiple-use, soft surface, trail will eventually go from Kanaskat State Park to Flaming Geyser State Park.  Come learn about the incredible trail opportunities for hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, and others in the Greenway.

Volunteer to help on event day with logistics

Help out on the day of event with organizing ground crews, setting up and take down of event.

General Volunteer Signup


B.B.Q.

2 - 6pm

BBQ by Friends of the Green and Washington Recreational River Runners. BBQ in new location this year for volunteers only.

Dutch Oven Cook-off

Entertainment


About the Green River Gorge Conservation Efforts

"A Ribbon of Wilderness in Our Midst"

Wolf Bauer, is the original catalyst and author of the State Parks "Green River Gorge Preservation Plan". He was just honored by the Washington State legislature for his outstanding contributions to outdoor recreation and the enironment in the Pacific Northwest. He also just co-authored his biography with Lynn Hyde. The book: Crags, Eddies, and Riprap, The Sound Country Memoirs of Wolf Bauer is available through REI.

At his book signing he said that one of his most important life achievements was conservation of the Green River Gorge and urged those of us, regardless of our outdoor pursuit recognize that we all share a common love of nature and the outdoors and we need to work together to preserve our cherished landscape.

Having been too late to save the Cowlitz canyons, Wolf Bauer turned his attention in the mid-1960s to the Green River Gorge. After exploring and kayaking the gorge with friends, he returned with his wife to photograph it. He created a slideshow and approached the Washington State Parks Department to interest them in preserving the area. In a 1966 Seattle Times article, he described the gorge—just thirty miles from a million people—as “a ribbon of wilderness in our midst.” Thanks to public pressure, money was appropriated to purchase private land in the gorge from individuals, railroads and timber companies, thus protecting it from development. Wolf considers the Green River Gorge his legacy to kayaking in the Northwest.. To Learn More about Wolf visit the Mountaineer Journal website: More info on Wolf Bauer

The Green River Clean-up

is in its 25th year. It is organized by Washington Recreational River Runners, Friends of the Green. It is the oldest river clean-up in Washington State. Other participants are: Washington Kayak Club, Paddle Trails Canoe Club, B.E.W.E.T. (Boeing Employees Whitewater and Touring Club), University Kayak Club, Mountaineers, American Whitewater, Sierra Club, Green-Duwamish Watershed Alliance, and Washington State Parks, King County, and more.

Middle Green River Coalition

has joined the cleanup to help raise awareness of the urgent need to move conservation of the unique Green River Gorge forward. They have been working for the past 10 years to protect the "Green River Gorge Mountains to Valley Greenway" and have worked on land conservation in the greater Middle Green River Watereshed for the past 12 years. Their goal is to keep the conservation efforts that Wolf began moving forward through land acquisition along the Green River Gorge and uplands. They are also working to make sure that development doesn't threaten the important springs that feed cold clean water into the Green River Gorge.

Recreational River Flow Study

The results of the Recreational Flow Study are in.

In 1995 Friends of the Green, City of Tacoma, and King County signed a Settlement Agreement over construction of the Second Supply Pipeline which has since been constructed and diverts additional flow from the Green River. As as condition of constructing the pipeline Tacoma must conduct a study on recreational flow needs on the river that will gather information on (1) the river' historic flow ranges before construction and operation of the Howard Hanson Dam; (2) present, existing flows; (3) flows that would result from the Muckleshoot Agreement of August 1995; (4) and flow changes that may occur if the Howard Hanson Dam enhanced storage project is implemented. The study will identify the range of instream flows necessary for different types of recreational river uses including (at least) whitewater rafting, kayaking and canoeing.

Lacey O'Grady and Green River Community College Students

Join "Clean the Green" on August 21st. Lacey has been doing her own clean up in August the last 4 years. She has worked to get the local community and Green River Community College involved . They hike the river in August when it is running low and the sun is shining. Stay tuned for announcements of her effort to "Keep the Green Clean". Stay tuned for a website update.

Rock the Green Clean

This year Middle Green River Coalition members Lisa Parsons, Bernie McKinney, and Lacey O'Grady organized the 1st annual "Rock the Green Clean". This event is a way to bring more resources and awareness of the need to cleanup the trash along the Green River and raise awareness of the need for conservation of the Green River Gorge Mountains to Valley Greenway.

More information:

www.mgrc.org
Photos from Green River Clean-up 2007
Photos from Green River Clean-up 2008



    The Green River Clean-up is organized by

    Washington Recreational River Runners and Friends of the Green,

    with new support from Middle Green River Coalition

    New official "Green River Cleanup" logo designed by Chris Bivins of Spilled Ink Studio


    Official Sponsors of the 2009 Clean-up

    This year's sponsors can earn a river classification rating. Class V is for those who donate $500 and up cash or inkind contributions. Class IV for those from $300-$500, Class III $100-$300, Class II for $50-$100, Class I for individual donations under $50.

    We've added an additional level of sponsorship "The Green Wave" for donations Greater than $1000.

    The whitewater river classification is based on a rating system designed by Wolf Bauer and others. Class I are the easy. Class II is novice. Class III is intermediate. Class IV is advanced. Class V is expert. As the classification system moves up so does the intensity of the whitewater, the challenge, and level of expertise needed to navigate them. Class V is the high edge of technical difficulty and powerful hydraulics.

    The Green Wave


    Sponsors from the Rock the Green Clean Event!

    Benefits go to fund cleanyup of the Middle Green River

    Crystal Bistro Lounge & Sushi
    Downstream River Runners
    Little Caesar’s Pizza
    Aaron Brenner's Bakery
    Food Services of America 
    T Bonz Steak House
    Downtown Hair Design
    Tubeart Displays Inc
    Intent Yoga Center
    Sweet Necessities

    Alpine Adventures
    Sip City Wines
    Elkhead Brewery
    Frankie’s Pizza
    Buds and Blooms
    The Mint
    Over the Edge
    The Kettle

    REI
    Starbucks
    City Perk
    Gateway
    Shelly Becker
    Lisa Parsons
    Devol Racing
    City Hall Saloon


    Thank You to Our Bands!
    Howling Rain
    Foothills Band
    The Kevin Jones Band
    Jake Nicholas
    The Max Renshaw Band,
    Mike Woods and Jimmy Winn