Dear friends…
A few years ago I made a raft trip with my friend Allan Kearny down the upper Green River and though
together we had rafted almost every river in the state of Washington here we found a river uniquely
pristine and filled with magic. When a river such as this plays and dances unmediated by man it infuses
its spirit to the land and all who are touched by its flow. It is vital and necessary to have fresh, clear water that
runs through our lives, and reminds us of the value of innocence and hope.
Middle Green River Coalition (MGRC), an organization working on land preservation in the Middle
Green River watershed, is working to create a Mountains to Valley Greenway. This greenway is
made up of the 12 mile long scenic Green River Gorge and surrounding uplands. The Greenway will link the
Cascade foothills of the upper Green river watershed to Puget Sound lowlands at Flaming Geyser
State Park in the Green River Valley. It represents an incredible opportunity to link the foothills to the
lowlands. “ This is one of the most significant east / west greenway corridors left in the Puget sound
area” says Lisa Parsons, executive director of MGRC.
The Greenway will protect an existing wildlife corridor from the foothills to the lowlands. It will
provide a route on State Parks land for a multi-use recreational trail from Kanasket State Park
to Flaming Geyser State Park. This trail will provide a route to hike, horseback ride, and mountain
bike along the rim of the gorge. It will maintain access for fishermen at key points along the
gorge. Uplands protection will maintain the view corridor along the Green River Gorge, which is
one of the premier whitewater rivers in western Washington.
The Greenway will protect one of the most important recharge areas in the Green river. 7 major
springs feed the Green river from the south side of the gorge between the Green River Gorge resort
to the east and Icy Creek to the west. These are the major sources of cold, unpolluted water that
feed the Green and are key to protecting salmon runs in the Green river system. This underground
spring network lies in one of the least developed sub basins along the Green river and is key to
protecting water quality and quantity in the river. “By linking together existing public open space on
the south side of the river we can help to ensure that these springs remain a viable source of cold,
unpolluted water recharge into the Green river.”
Middle Green River Coalition is a group made up of a larger coalition of people, community and
regional organizations, recreationists, private land owners, government, and others whose goal
it is to protect the Middle Green River and its tributaries. By identifying and preserving key natural
areas we ensure the protection of wildlife and fish habitat and recreational opportunities .
I hope you will join me in celebrating the Green River, and in preserving its wonder and magic.
Sincerely,
Richard Bangs