If high water flows and cold water haven’t proved deadly enough this year, another hazard is threatening users of the Green River.
This time it is two almost back-to-back log jams, blocking most of the river, about 2 and a 1/2 miles downstream from Flaming Geyser State Park near Auburn.
The danger with log jams in a fast-moving river is that unsuspecting inner-tubers or other users of the river will be swept into and under the log jam. The river current will pull the person under the jam, sometimes moving them to the other side, but more often keeping them stuck under the water. Then the person drowns.
The Sheriff’s Office is posting signs along the river warning of the danger ahead. Anyone using the Green River is advised to take-out no later than Metzler Park, an undeveloped recreation area at about 186th Ave S.E. off the Green Valley Road.
Users of the Green River, and of all Western Washington rivers, should use extreme caution. Rivers are running fast, high, and are still very cold, according to state officials. They are exceedingly dangerous this year, and some of the dangers can’t be seen until it is too late, such as these log jams.
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