Green River

Utah

In 1972, Frank Buono and Herm Hoops proposed to the Department of Interior that the river segment from Ouray to Green River, Utah, become the Green River Wilderness National Monument, including a wild river designation. Now, through the work of many people, two jewels have been added to the Green River’s crown. The designation prohibits activities that would harm the river’s character, bans new dams and protects about a quarter-mile of public land along the river banks, allowing one to feel the land much like John Wesley Powell and his crew experienced in 1869.

With additional protection from the Green Wilderness to the west, the 5.3-mile segment of the river from Rattlesnake Canyon to the Nefertiti Boat Ramp has been designated as wild and 8.5 miles from Nefertiti to the Swasey’s Boat Ramp as a recreational river. In addition, a 49.2-mile segment below the town of Green River, from Bull Bottom to the Wayne County line, designated as a scenic river, is also protected by the Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness on the West. Combined with the recent addition of a boat passage at Tuscher Wash, it is possible to boat over 350 miles from Flaming Gorge Dam to the confluence with the Colorado River.

Now, these segments of the river protect secretive places where the Anasazi and Fremont Indians left signs of the earliest habitation. The crisp light of a billion stars pierce the night sky, and overwhelming silence clasps one like a blanket as the river winds through the sparsely inhabited land. Here, the call of a wren, howl of coyotes, or splash of a beaver are the only sounds that echo above the flowing water’s whisper. Four endangered fishes recover within the waters, while black bears and mountain lions prowl the banks and mule deer hide in the willows. Early cowboy, rustler and homestead history await discovery to share their tales.

The canyons Desolation and Labyrinth were named by the geographic expedition party lead by John Wesley Powell in July 1869.

The Bureau of Land Management is in the process of determining all the “outstandingly remarkable values” of the Green River. Preliminarily, the BLM has found these values as likely to be outstanding on the river: culture, ecology, fish, geology, history, recreation, scenery, and wildlife. Ongoing planning efforts may further identify or clarify outstandingly remarkable values on this river.

A section of the river through Labyrinth Canyon, from Swasey’s Rapid south to the Emery/Wayne county line, is owned and managed by the Utah Department of Natural Resources, up to the ordinary high water mark.

Recreational
Scenic
Wild
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Designated Reach

From the boundary of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, south to Swasey’s Boat Ramp. From Bull Bottom south to the Emery-Wayne county line.

Outstandingly Remarkable Values

Preliminary Finding

Preliminary Finding – Culture

The river corridor provides evidence of significant occupation and use by prehistoric peoples, and it includes rock art and other features that remain significant to some Native American populations today. The prehistoric use represents more ...Show More

Preliminary Finding

Preliminary Finding – Ecology

The Green River hosts a variety of avian, terrestrial, and aquatic species populations. The river and its properly functioning riparian area provide a corridor of habitat through an otherwise arid region for many sensitive and federally liste...Show More

Preliminary Finding

Preliminary Finding – Fish

In terms of fisheries, the Green River is important in comparison with other rivers in the Colorado River Basin region because of the uniqueness of fish species and connectivity within the river system. The Green River is also recognized on a na...Show More

Preliminary Finding

Preliminary Finding – Geology

The Green River in Desolation and Gray Canyons is an outstanding illustration of an antecedent river. The river wound its way downstream before the occurrence of the uplift of the Colorado Plateau, and as the uplift elevated ...Show More

Preliminary Finding

Preliminary Finding – History

Much of the river corridor in Desolation and Gray Canyons is a National Historic Landmark because of its recognition as the least changed of the river corridors associated with John Wesley Powell and the exploration of the Green and Colorado ...Show More

Preliminary Finding

Preliminary Finding – Recreation

A trip though Desolation and Gray Canyons of the Green River is a premier, world-renowned wilderness recreation experience. This pristine section of the Green River gives visitors a chance to experience and see things very similar to what ...Show More

Preliminary Finding

Preliminary Finding – Scenery

Desolation Canyon

The wild segment of the Green River is located at the southern end of Desolation Canyon. Although most of Desolation Canyon lies above the designated wild segment, the scenic experience and value continues t...Show More

Preliminary Finding

Preliminary Finding – Wildlife

Desolation and Gray Canyons

These portions of the Green River is considered to have remarkable value for both avian and terrestrial wildlife populations. With regard to avian species, this river corridor is regionally signif...Show More

Documents

Public Law 116-9180.82 KB

Classification/Mileage

Recreational Scenic Wild
Recreational — 8.5 miles; Scenic — 49.2 miles; Wild — 5.3 miles; Total — 63 miles.
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Video

On Utah's Wild and Scenic Green River, Adventure Scientists volunteers Lindsay Hunt and Sean Tropsa share why they love adventuring for science and what it's like to collect water quality data that will help protect Wild and Scenic rivers into the future. Learn more about our Wild and Scenic Rivers project and how you can volunteer at adventurescientists.org/rivers.

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