It then continues in a westerly direction and is joined by the Little Barren River before entering the Mammoth Cave National Park.

The river provided cooling water for the TVA's now-shutdown Paradise Fossil Plant near Drakesboro, in Muhlenberg County.

Following the Revolutionary War, many veterans staked claims along the Green River as payment for their military service.

This has allowed for increased canoeing and kayaking opportunities from Nolin Dam to Brownsville, and has added more land to the National Park on the west bank of Green River.

The 2022 removal of Lock and Dam #5 near Reedyville will allow more opportunities for canoeing and kayaking along the river from Mammoth Cave to Rochester.

In 2002, more than 10 million short tons were shipped on the river, primarily sub-bituminous coal, petroleum coke, and aluminium ore.

The visits, and seeing the devastation to the area brought by strip mining for coal, inspired his song "Paradise", which also references the River and the Rochester Dam.