In 2025, a catastrophic flood risked changing Garland Mineral Springs forever.
When the U.S. Forest Service bridge above Garland failed, the North Fork Skykomish River surged across the property. The river swept away the remaining historic cabins, stripped away topsoil, uprooted hundreds of trees, and engulfed both the mineral springs and geothermal wellheads that make Garland unique.
Today, the river is flowing where families once gathered, children played, campers explored, and visitors soaked in the mineral waters that made Garland famous.
For many people, the obvious question is simple:
Is there anything that can be done, or are the Mineral Springs simply lost?”
That question has occupied much of my thinking since visiting Garland this spring when I observed the impact first-hand.
Like many people who care about Garland, I assumed that once a river changes course, there may be little that can be done. But before accepting that conclusion, I wanted to know whether other mineral springs around the United States had faced similar threats—and whether anyone had successfully intervened to protect them.
What I discovered surprised me.
Across the country, historic mineral springs, hot springs, spring-fed waterways, and culturally significant water resources have repeatedly received public support, technical assistance, conservation funding, and restoration planning when they were threatened by flooding, erosion, development, or environmental degradation.
Garland may not be the only spring worth saving.
But it would not be the first.
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Warm Mineral Springs, Florida
Warm Mineral Springs near North Port, Florida, is one of the most significant mineral springs in the United States. Known for its unique mineral-rich waters and archaeological importance, the spring has attracted visitors for generations.
When erosion, sedimentation, habitat degradation, and storm impacts threatened the spring-fed ecosystem, a coalition of organizations came together to restore and protect the resource.
The project included creek restoration, sediment removal, habitat enhancement, and bank stabilization designed to preserve the spring environment.
Partners included:
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Sarasota County
- The Nature Conservancy
- National Wildlife Federation
- City of North Port
- Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
- Gulf Coast Community Foundation
Why it matters: Public agencies and conservation organizations invested significant resources because they viewed the spring as a unique natural, recreational, and cultural asset worthy of protection.
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Tahama Spring, Colorado
Tahama Spring near Colorado Springs suffered extensive damage during major flooding events in the early twentieth century.
Following the devastating flood of 1935, government agencies stepped in to protect the spring and surrounding area. Improvements included widening stream channels, raising banks, restoring damaged infrastructure, and reducing future flood risks.
Partners included:
- Works Progress Administration (WPA)
- City of Colorado Springs
- Local preservation organizations
Why it matters: This is a direct example of public investment to protect a historic spring resource threatened by flooding and river movement.
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Warm Springs Creek, Idaho
In Idaho, floodplain instability and streambank erosion threatened portions of Warm Springs Creek and the surrounding spring-fed ecosystem.
Restoration efforts focused on long-term watershed health rather than simply hardening the riverbanks. Engineers and restoration specialists used floodplain restoration, habitat enhancement, channel improvements, and natural stabilization techniques.
Many modern projects now rely on engineered log structures, large woody debris, and natural channel design rather than traditional riprap alone.
Why it matters: These projects demonstrate that river restoration and resource protection can often work together, even in environmentally sensitive watersheds.
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Peoria Mineral Springs, Illinois
Peoria Mineral Springs faced a different threat—not flooding, but abandonment and eventual disappearance.
Once a popular destination, the spring was eventually buried and forgotten. Through the efforts of local advocates and preservation-minded citizens, the spring was rediscovered, excavated, restored, and preserved.
Partners included:
- Private landowners
- Historic preservation advocates
- Local government supporters
Why it matters: This example demonstrates that even privately owned mineral springs can be recognized as resources with broader historical and cultural value.
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Warm Mineral Springs Park Preservation, Florida
Another example comes from Florida, where public agencies worked to preserve Warm Mineral Springs through acquisition, conservation planning, and long-term stewardship efforts.
Rather than waiting until the resource was lost, agencies took proactive steps to ensure the spring would remain protected for future generations.
Partners included:
- Sarasota County
- City of North Port
- Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast
Why it matters: The spring was viewed as more than a local attraction—it was recognized as an environmental, historical, educational, and recreational asset.
What These Projects Have in Common
Although each project was different, the reasons these resources were protected were remarkably similar.
- Historic preservation
- Protection of unique natural resources
- Recreation and tourism value
- Ecological restoration
- Educational opportunities
- Community heritage
- Flood mitigation and channel stabilization
- Public-private partnerships
These projects were not funded because they generated profits.
They were funded because communities, agencies, and conservation organizations determined the resources were valuable enough to preserve.
What Makes Garland Different?
The more I researched these projects, the more I realized that Garland possesses an unusual combination of characteristics rarely found together in a single location.
- Historic mineral springs
- High-mineral-content therapeutic waters
- Naturally carbonated "sparkling/soda" spring water
- A 1930s resort history
- A youth camp and retreat history dating to the 1950s
- Location on one of Washington's most important salmon rivers
- Documented flood damage and ongoing river migration
- Educational and scientific value
Most preservation projects can point to one or two of these factors.
Garland has all of them.
The strongest argument for Garland may not be protecting private property.
The stronger argument may be preserving a unique natural, historical, geological, and cultural resource before it is permanently lost.
Could Garland Receive Similar Consideration?
I don't know the answer.
What I do know is that other communities have successfully protected springs, spring-fed ecosystems, and historic water resources when they were threatened.
Perhaps Garland deserves at least the same evaluation.
Potential organizations that may have relevant expertise include:
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office
- Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board
- National Trust for Historic Preservation
- Conservation foundations
- Universities and geological research programs
- River restoration specialists
Do You Care?
Over the past year I have spoken with former visitors, historians, geologists, elected officials, family members, and people who simply remember Garland from decades ago.
Nearly all of them agree on one thing:
Garland Mineral Springs is worth remembering.
But remembering Garland and saving Garland are two very different things.
Today the springs are being impacted by river migration. The geothermal wells are at risk. The historic resort structures are gone. The landscape continues to change with every flood season.
The question is no longer what Garland once was.
The question is whether anything can still be done to preserve what remains.
If you have expertise in river restoration, hydrology, geology, geothermal resources, fisheries, historic preservation, environmental permitting, conservation funding, or grant writing, I would love to hear from you.
If you know someone at a university, government agency, engineering firm, nonprofit organization, or foundation who may be interested in evaluating the site, please reach out.
If you visited Garland, attended camp there, worked there, or have photographs, documents, maps, or stories to share, your contribution could help preserve an important piece of Washington history.
Most importantly, if you believe Garland Mineral Springs deserves a fair evaluation before it is permanently lost, let me know.
I am actively seeking ideas, contacts, expertise, and potential partners.
The goal is simple:
Determine whether this unique mineral spring resource can still be protected for future generations.
If this story resonates with you, please leave a comment, share this article, or contact me directly through the website.
Do you care? I'd genuinely like to hear from you.