UPPER WATERSHED TOUR

Headwaters | Logging and road impacts | Howard Hanson Dam

The Upper Green River subwatershed begins in the Cascade Range south of Stampede Pass at an elevation of about 4,500 feet and extends 30 miles west to Howard Hanson Dam (at river mile 64.5). The headwaters of the Green/Duwamish River and hundreds of alpine tributaries are found here. The highest elevation in the basin is at 5,750 feet on Blowout Mountain on the Cascade divide. No people live in this part of the watershed.

It is thought that historically salmon likely had access to the full Upper Green River subwatershed but this is no longer true due to the presence of Howard Hanson Dam and another dam downstream. This part of the watershed still has some good salmon habitat and supports resident cutthroat trout. Fish transported around the dams (juvenile Chinook, juvenile Coho, and juvenile and adult steelhead also) also survive here. Scientists think that if we can help establish fish passage for salmon upstream and downstream past these dams, they will be able re-establish themselves naturally in the Green River mainstem and major tributaries in this subwatershed.

For more detailed information regarding the Upper Green Subwatershed: and other areas in this watershed see: http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wrias/9/local_action_map.htm

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