goes by,” said David Baker, Central Fisher- ies District biologist for the Kentucky De- partment of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “This will make for more complex habitat. The increasing habitat complexity will im- prove the fish populations in this part of the Green. It is limited right now.” Baker, who formerly served as a stream biologist for this section of Green River, believes plant growth along the riverbank and newly exposed bars will help sportfish populations rebound. “When we get the water willow beds re-established and other vegetation, I ex- pect smallmouth and rock bass populations to blow up in the newly flowing sections of the Green,” Baker said. “I expect it to get tremendously better for smallmouth bass.” j Biologists are especially interested in how muskie populations will react to the newly renovated river. In the 1950s through the series 1960s, this area was home to several con- secutive state record muskellunge. An exposed rock bar just upstream of the bends gently to the right then left and soon j Bluewater Trails Nolin River confluence is a good picnic “With all of the newly exposed woody envelopes paddlers in some of the most Green River Unplugged cover in this stretch of Green River, the spot. spectacular scenery on any river in Ken- muskellunge will have plenty of habitat, es- tucky. This section features 2 million years pecially in the stretch from Houchins Ferry drive away from the ferry. This is a one-way of work by the river to carve a gorge into to Brownsville,” said Eric Cummins, South- gravel road connecting to KY 70 (Browns- Joppa Ridge. Lower water alters paddle near Mammoth Cave western Fisheries District biologist. ville Road). Turn right onto KY 70 at the The rocky reaches along the outside The gentle gurgle of newly uncovered T-intersection. Continue into Brownsville, bend are good places to throw Hula or Story by Lee McClellan • Photos by Obie Williams springs emanating from the nearby cave then turn right onto KY 259 at the T-in- Spider double-tailed plastic grubs. Use David Baker photo system may startle paddlers and attract tersection. Turn right onto Houchins Ferry green pumpkin-colored grubs rigged on a muskies. Sometimes these springs seem to Road to the river. 3/16-ounce jighead for smallmouth bass. come from a root wad, from underneath a On the return trip, take KY 70 to Mam- As the Green continues flowing around tree or through a maze of driftwood depos- moth Cave Entrance Road. Turn left, then Joppa Ridge, paddlers enter the horseshoe- N 1906, THE U.S. Army Corps of Corps of Engineers decommissioned Lock The pool dropped more than 7 feet, ex- ited on the shoreline. take another left on Maple Springs Ranger shaped Turnhole Bend and meet Sand Cave Engineers plugged the Green River at and Dam 6 in 1951. posing gravel bars and gushing springs that They are critical habitat for muskies in Station Road (Green River Ferry Road). Island. This and Boardcut Island on the op- Brownsville with the construction of By November 2016, the 110-year-old had remained hidden since the horse and hot weather. Paddlers launching at the Green River posite end of Turnhole Bend are popular ILock and Dam 6. The deep pool it created dam could take no more. The Green River, buggy provided transportation for the ma- “In summer, river muskellunge seek Ferry landing must be considerate. The ferry camping spots for paddlers in summer. allowed the steamer Evansville to board by this time, had carved a path underneath jority of Kentuckians. Now, canoeists and cool water,” said Mike Hardin, assistant is not a historic relic, but a business with You must obtain a free backcountry passengers in Indiana for a trip up the Green the aging structure, creating a dangerous kayakers may enjoy two floats of roughly 17 director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and considerable use in the warmer months. camping permit from the Mammoth Cave River to Mammoth Cave. whirlpool from the breach. Federal officials miles along a river in the process of being Wildlife. “They concentrate near springs on Paddlers should launch downstream of the National Park Visitor’s Center to camp along Debarking tourists streamed up the authorized the lock and dam’s removal. reborn. the Green River. You increase your chances ferry and not dally. the river within the park. Always check the landing near the River Styx for a hike This “new” section of Green River still by focusing on those areas.” To check the safety of the river levels park’s website before your trip for current through the woods to the historic entrance reflects more than a century of inundation Two floats best showcase the newly lib- on this section of the Green, search online alerts about river conditions and camping. of Mammoth Cave. The trip cost $8 to $10 of the natural river. Collapsing banks have erated Green: One is a lengthy 12-mile jour- for Mammoth Cave National Park’s River- Paddlers will also see the mouth of Sand for a four-day excursion. The price included tumbled trees into the river, creating thick- ney, while the second 5-mile trip is perfect Check page before floating. Cave and a teal-colored pond in the distance entertainment, meals and cave tours. ets for paddlers to pick their way through. for families and beginners. Several outfitters “This will be the best fishing section of on river left. This “pond” is Turnhole Spring. The first 20 years or so, river traf- So many trees have fallen in the Nolin River in the area offer shuttles and boat rentals. the Green,” Cummins said. “This stretch Steamboats once used the wide area of the fic proved robust, culminating in 22,000 Lake tailwater that it remains impenetrable will be favorable for smallmouth bass with spring to turn around in the river’s narrow passengers a year by 1925. However, the to boaters coming up from the Green River. GREEN RIVER FERRY TO the new flow from the removal of Lock and channel. expansion of highways and railroad lines “I think you will see a lot of sediment HOUCHINS FERRY Dam 6. There are few smallmouth bass on Turnhole Spring is the terminus of a bled away passengers. In 1931, the Evans- move down river and also get scoured from The first float begins at Green River structures in the stretch now, but more will large underground drainage system. Rick ville burned and sank at Bowling Green. By the rocky shoals and stream drops as time Ferry and ends 12 miles downstream at relocate there in the next few years. This will Toomey of Mammoth Cave National Park 1932, only 1,000 tourists made the river trip Houchins Ferry. Use Joppa Ridge Road as a be the perfect camp trip, not one you will said the conduit for Turnhole Spring lies to Mammoth Cave. Lacking commercial Fishing should improve as new vegetation shortcut if you shuttle your own boats. want to do in a day if you plan to fish.” 30 feet underneath the surface. It drains an use of that section of river, the U.S. Army grows along the river. Joppa Ridge Road is on the right as you Just after the ferry launch, the Green area stretching to Cave City, Park City and 14 Kentucky Afield Summer 2017 fw.ky.gov fw.ky.gov Summer 2017 Kentucky Afield 15 Mouth of Nolin River to former er Lock and Dam iv R n li 1.8 miles o N Crump Island to Houchins Ferry 3.2 miles Houchins Ferry G to mouth of re en Nolin River R Crump iv Island e 1.6 miles r Former site of Lock and Dam Houchins Ferry M a Former Lock and d. p le R Dam to Old Ferry y S rr p W Fe r Boat Ramp s i as ouchin Sand Cave n h H Mouth of Nolin g in s Old Ferry Island to Stice 1.4 miles g River to former R to r n Lock and Dam Stice Island to ve Island a Road Ramp S i n t R . g Crump Island in l 2.8 miles e 1.8 miles o Crump Island to en River r N re G S 2.3 miles Houchins Ferry t Stice Island a River t Styx r i e o iv 3.2 miles Green River n Spring R BROWNSVILLE n R ee Houchins Ferry Ferry to Sand r d G G Cave Island . to mouth of re Boardcut Nolin River en Island Crump R 3.6 miles iv Island e 1.6 miles r Former site of Lock and Dam Green Houchins JOPPA River y Ferry RIDGE Ferry Sand Cave M a Former Lock and d. Island p le R Dam to Old Ferry y TURNHOLE S rr p W Fe r Boat Ramp s BEND i y n as ouchin Sand Cave h H g in s Old Ferry Island to Stice 1.4 miles g R to Rd. GREEN n Stice Island to ge Island a Road Ramp d n St i . Turnhole Spring Crump Island a R g p 2.8 miles e op en River r Turnhole Bend Nature Trail J re G S 2.3 miles t a River RIVER Stice Island t Styx r i e o iv Green River n Spring R BROWNSVILLE n R ee Ferry to Sand Gr d Boardcut Cave Island . Boat ramp Island 3.6 miles y y Mammoth Cave National Park JOPPA Green Collapsing banks put numerous trees in RIDGE River Ferry the water.