Green

Written by Candice Larson, photos by Sam Westover:
10 of us celebrated the last day of the year on the headworks section of the Green River. Outflow at the dam was 1220 CFS. The temperature was high 30s, but sunny and clear. One packraft, 1 canoe, 8 hardshell kayaks.

This was my first time since the flood. We ran the park. The braided section under the first bridge changed, but no other changes. No wood. Surf waves were in.

Paddled this section at around 1300 cfs yesterday. We were in 2 IK's, 2 hardshell kayaks and a cataraft. This was the first time on this section for myself and one other.
I have a couple of notes about it:
1. The warning posted on this description about the Headworks access is no longer needed. There was no wood in the water at the boat ramp inside the security gate. There was not a lot of wood on the whole route and nothing I would consider worthy of note on this date.
2. The description for this put-in led us to believe that the only way to get in the water is from the boat-ramp inside the locked gate. This is not true: there is a perfectly easy put-in next at the lot just before the gate.
3. There is a warning posted about wood on river left after the takeout. I did not see this, but since it may be farther downriver, let me clarify: The take-out at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park has a big red sign warning paddlers to exit before the next stretch. If you take out right at that sign, there is no strainer. Just after the sign there is a big ledge drop, class III. The easiest line is all the way to river right. There is wood in the water there, but it didn't keep four kayaks from breezing straight through it yesterday. Both there and farther down, I did not see the strainer river left which is in this warning. Perhaps at much higher flows, the trees on the bank I was standing on are actually in the river, blocking the use of river left and forcing paddlers to find a line in the center or river right.

All in all, it was a delightful paddle. We had some experienced paddlers showing us the rapids and (most helpfully) how to get through the railroad bridge drop. (That was easy in an IK, but I was very glad there was someone there to tell me where the line was.) Fellow paddlers are the best! We are learning from some terrific people. I am more eager than ever to get trained on my hardshell so I'll have that extra maneuverability.

Ran 10/22/2020 at 2500 cfs. There was one strainer on river right in RR drop. There was also a large strainer covering river left at the rapid after the take-out/ entrance to the upper gorge. Other than that the river was clear of any new wood. Its the most wood-free I have ever seen the headworks section!

1-18-17 @ around 1100cfs

Floated 5 days ago from Headworks to lower take out in Kanaskat-Palmer SP at around 1100cfs. One medium size log wedged in the Railroad Bridge Drop, easily avoidable but definitely make sure you know where it is, far right side of main river tongue(left) basically in the middle. Rest of the river is clear and very fun!

Ran the headworks from the put-in below the security gate today and wood was not an issue - the river wide tree before the diversion pipe is no longer in play. Part of our crew used the put-in above the security gate and reported safe lines up there too. Also at ~900 cfs, we didn't find any wood hazards at the weir or in the boulder garden - it was a great day with no mandatory portages or sneaking past sketchy logs!

Railroad Bridge Drop at higher flows. Note the terminal hydraulic that extends across approximately 2/3 of the river on river right. At this flow it is extremely challenging to execute a rescue if anyone ends up in this feature.

We ran from the headworks to flaming geyser and the river is clean, no sweepers or log jams.

The upper put-in at Headworks has been reopened for boater use.

The most challenging drop on this section where a riverwide ledge rapid is encountered just downstream of the railroad bridge.

Surfing some fun waves on the Green Headworks run.

Mamie Brouwer speaks with agency staff,
elected officials, and members of the
paddling community on a recent site visit.
This is the new road to the river to access
project sites associated with the gravel
mitigation project. The parking area for
Headworks is off to the right.
The view looking back up the new road from
the river. The gravel in the foreground has
been placed with the goal that it will be
redestributed once flows come up later in
the fall.
Two new engineered log jams. These log
jams have been designed for the 100 year
flood event. The interlocking matrix of logs is
held in place by ballast consisting of river
coble and does not use cables. Boaters will
need to be aware of this new hazard.
Members of the paddling community have
been working with the Corps to locate the
jams in a way that will minimize--but not
eliminate--the hazard to paddlers.

During Green River Cleanup 1999.