Gates of Lodore Trail Stop 4

The Green River is impacted by many factors upstream.

NPS Photo/Conrad Provan

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Scenic View/Photo Spot

The Green River is affected by events that take place far upstream of here. During spring runoff or after heavy rains, the water may be brown, gray or red with silt from nearby tributaries such as Vermilion Creek. In drier weather, the river may live up to its name, flowing cold and green all the way from Flaming Gorge Dam, which traps most of its sediments. The dam’s greatest affect is not the river’s color, but its flow. After its completion in 1969, the great spring floods of former years are now trapped behind the dam. This altered the habitat downstream and made it more difficult for native fish to survive. In response, dam operators release extra water in the spring to
simulate natural flooding and create conditions for the fish to spawn successfully. For the rest of the year, gradual releases from the dam keep the flow at a relatively constant level.