Colorado River: Green River, WY
HELPING TO RESTORE WETLANDS AND LOWER A FLOOD PLAIN
Environmentally-Friendly Recreation at a Historic Launch – When the city of Green River’s whitewater park required repeated repair, saw a fatality, and increased the possibility of flooding, the city turned to McLaughlin Whitewater for a solution. MWDG created a unique, permanent replacement with input from local residents and river users. Today the launch site of John Wesley Powell’s first successful expedition through the Grand Canyon is a popular recreation area that has improved the surrounding environment.
An Improved River and Safer Surroundings - The new project design helped to restore historic wetlands that deteriorated with previous flow reduction, and lowered the 100-year floodplain to assist an adjacent water treatment plant. The design also reduced the sediment processed in the river intake. This project improved the town’s first whitewater park that while popular, required repair three times in three years, saw a fatality and created hazardous environmental concerns by increasing the likelihood of flooding.
“McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group” is synonymous with “teamwork.”
- Allan Wilson, Parks, Facilities and Project Manager
The new whitewater course design improved the river’s functionality, health and recreational quality with
- A 150 foot dam with sluice gates,
- A 1,000 foot whitewater course,
- Features created by Wave Shaper technology that can adjust wave shapes and adjust to accommodate different water flows, as needed
- A 3,000 foot long lake for additional recreational uses.
Services Provided - Conceptual through Final Design / Construction Stakeout / Construction Observations
The City of Green River will be part of the USA Freestyle Kayaking 2011 Point Series events May 21-22, 2011. Learn more about the City of Green River, Wyoming here.
