Green River (Duwamish River tributary)
The Green River is a 65-mile (105 km) long river in the state of Washington in the United States, arising on the western slopes of the Cascade Range south of Interstate 90.
| Green River | |
|---|---|
Looking upriver from suspension bridge in Isaac Evans Park, Auburn, Washington | |
Map of the Duwamish/Green River watershed with the Green River highlighted | |
Location of the mouth of the Duwamish River in Washington Green River (Duwamish River tributary) (the United States) | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | King |
| Cities | Auburn, Kent, Tukwila |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Cascade Range |
| • coordinates | 47°8′N 121°18′W |
| • elevation | 3,283 ft (1,001 m) |
| Mouth | Duwamish River |
• coordinates | 47°28′N 122°15′W |
• elevation | 57 ft (17 m) |
| Length | 65 mi (105 km) |
| Basin size | 440 sq mi (1,100 km2) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Auburn, Washington |
| • average | 1,316 cu ft/s (37.3 m3/s) |
| • minimum | 81 cu ft/s (2.3 m3/s) |
| • maximum | 28,100 cu ft/s (800 m3/s) |
The upper Green River valley forms the western approach to Stampede Pass, and was once home to many small railroad and logging towns such as Weston, Lester, Green River Hot Springs, Nagrom, Maywood, Humphreys, Eagle Gorge, Lemolo, and Kanaskat. Shortly before World War I, the City of Tacoma, Washington, filed for water rights on the Green River. Today, much of the upper valley has become a gated water supply watershed for Tacoma and access is heavily restricted, creating controversy among recreation enthusiasts.
Between 1880 and 1888, the Northern Pacific Railway explored and surveyed the Green River. The railway constructed the first direct rail link across Washington's Cascade Range with the opening of their Stampede Tunnel in 1888.