Green River (North Carolina)

Upper Green River during low flow below Lake Summit, North Carolina. Note the deep green color for which the river is named.

The Green River is a dam-release river that flows through the mountains of North Carolina, south of Asheville.[1] The Green has numerous tributaries, but much of its water flows from a confluence with Big Hungry Creek. The Green River is itself a tributary of the Broad River. The river is dammed to form Lake Summit, in Tuxedo, North Carolina, and Lake Adger near Mill Spring, NC. The Green River is named for its deep green color but runs brown after heavy rains.

Landscape

The Green River begins in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and flows through the Blue Ridge Escarpment into the Piedmont. The river basin itself is not mainly sediment, but rather consists of metamorphic rock. The humid subtropical climate provides for moderate temperatures and relatively mild winters. The precipitation for the areas around the Green River typically ranges from 100 to 140 centimeters annually.[2]

Ecology

The area surrounding the river is all deciduous forest and is known for having some of the "highest floral and faunal biodiversity in the eastern United States." The Green River basin is typical of most southeastern mountain creeks as it is home to many animals, including deer and black bears. A few prominent deciduous trees in and around the Green River Basin are the Maple, Birch, and Oak Trees. The Green river serves as both a source of fresh water to a specific ecosystem, as well as a source of food to many consumers. The population of freshwater trout draws many anglers to the slower-moving lower Green.[3]

Whitewater Sports

The Green River is well known for its different types of whitewater sports including whitewater kayaking, canoeing, and tubing. Because the flow of water is controlled by dam-release, the river has sufficient water to support whitewater sports approximately 300 days a year. This makes the Green River available for whitewater enthusiasts to use even when other popular rivers such as the Chattooga River and the Nantahala River do not have enough water flow to support whitewater kayaking or canoeing. Green River Adventures promotes much of whitewater tourism and sport on the Green. The three main sections of the Green River are: The upper Green, The "Narrows" section, and the lower Green. While all of these stretches of water are very closely connected they each have unique terrain and characteristics, and each section tends to draw different types of boating.

Upper Green

This section of the Green River is frequently run by kayakers, as well as persons paddling whitewater canoes, and other types of solo boaters. It is approximately 3.7 miles in length and has an average gradient of 49 feet per mile. This top section of the Green River begins below the Tuxedo Hydro Station, which controls the water flow, and ends at the beginning of the "Narrows" section. Because it is directly above the "Narrows" section, the Upper Green is often used by whitewater paddlers to access the Narrows. With only two significant rapids (Class III), it is considered a moderately difficult section by most whitewater paddlers. This section of the Green is narrow and resembles what would be considered a creek, rather than an actual river. The hydrology and nature of the water on this particular section of water makes it a popular spot for playboating, a style of whitewater kayaking.[4]

Lower Green

This run is frequented by both kayakers and tubers. Many local companies promote tubing as a type of "safe" whitewater tourism on the Green. The entire run is considered a class II section of water, appropriate for introductory level whitewater enthusiasts. This section of the Green River is very mild compared to its counterparts and is approximately six miles in length.

The Narrows

The "Narrows" section of the Green river has many qualities of a steep creek that drops between pools, and doesn't resemble many broad, slow-moving rivers in the southeast. John Pilson describes the Narrows as "boulder congested" with a "pool-drop character." This length of the river is considered an extremely difficult portion of whitewater, as it contains nine class IV rapids, and eight class V rapids (these being the most difficult runnable rapids). The first official descent of the Narrows was made in 1988, and it is still frequently paddled today. However, the Narrows are typically only paddled by seasoned whitewater boaters with an extensive knowledge of boating technique. While many people, mostly whitewater enthusiasts have been injured here, only two paddlers, both in kayaks, have died on the Green River. Three of the biggest and most notorious class V rapids on this section are known as the "Big Three." These are "Go Left and Die" (Class 5.1), "Gorilla" (Class 5.2), and "Sunshine" (Class 5.2).[5] An incident on "Sunshine" rapid left one whitewater kayaker paralyzed.[6] Coordinates: 35°12′39″N 82°27′52″W / 35.2108619°N 82.4644445°W / 35.2108619; -82.4644445

This technical section of water is home to the Green River Race that is held every year on the first Saturday of November. The race typically involves many different classes of boats, and contains a section judged by time trial, as well as a head-to-head section of the race. Many paddlers consider the Green River Narrows race to be the pinnacle of whitewater racing in the southeast.

Part of the reason that the Narrows are so notable is because they have a downward gradient of over 100 feet per mile. The entire section of river is about 3 miles in length.

Bridges

Peter Guice Memorial Bridge (I-26)

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ Burmeister, Walter F. (1976). The Southeastern Rivers: Rivers of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Oakton, VA: Appalachian.
  2. ↑ Benke, Arthur C. (2005). Rivers of North America. California: Elsevier Academic Press.
  3. ↑ Shelford, Victor E. (1963). The Ecology of North America. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.
  4. ↑ Bell, Chris. "Green, North Carolina, US". American Whitewater. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  5. ↑ Pilson, John. "American Whitewater - 2. Green Narrows, Green North Carolina, US.". American Whitewater. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  6. ↑ Hairr, John (2007). North Carolina Rivers: Facts, Legends, and Lore. Charleston, SC.
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