Green River
Portions of the Green River were determined to be Navigable for Title Purposes under the “U.S. v. Utah” ruling of the United States Supreme Court in 1931, and the “U.S. v. Utah” ruling of the United State Supreme Court in 1965.
Consistent with the Equal Footing Doctrine, the State of Utah claims ownership over the beds and banks of the Navigable for Title reaches of the Green River. The ownership boundaries of sovereign land on the Green River are defined by the river’s ordinary high water mark at the time of Utah Statehood, in 1896.
Since 1896, Western practices of water diversion and storage over many years have had significant human-caused impacts on water flows and on the location and appearance of the Green River’s ordinary high water mark.
The Division actively manages the Green River by issuing authorizations for public and private infrastructure and for commercial uses of its sovereign lands. The Division also implements river restoration projects to reduce the impacts of invasive species and improve wildlife habitat and other public trust objectives.
Green River Management Plan
The Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands is excited to announce the completion of the first-ever Green River and Colorado River Comprehensive Management Plans and an update to the Green and Colorado Rivers Mineral Leasing Plan. Records of Decision for the Final Green River and Final Colorado River Comprehensive Management Plans and for the Final Green and Colorado Rivers Mineral Leasing Plan have been executed by the Division. Your administrative appeal rights can be found in the Records of Decision or in Utah Administrative Code R652-9.
Colorado River Recreation Management Plan
Leases & Permits
For Leases and Permits related to activities on the Green River, please reach out to Tony Mancuso at 435-210-0362 or by email at [email protected], or visit our Leases & Permits page.