Wild and Scenic Rivers
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One of the components of the National Park Service that is far less well known than the national parks, national monuments, or national historic sites is the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. In the 1960s there was a growing awareness that our nation's rivers were being damned, dredged, diverted, and polluted at an alarming rate. In 1968, Congress passed the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, declaring it to be the policy of the United States that "certain selected rivers of the Nation which, with their immediate environments, possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural or other similar values, shall be preserved in free-flowing condition, and that they and their immediate environments shall be protected for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations."
The act established three classes of river areas: 1) Wild river areas, characterized as being unpolluted, free from impoundments, generally inaccessible except by trail, with primitive watersheds or shorelines; 2) Scenic river areas, characterized as being free from impoundments, generally accessible in places by road, and having shorelines or watersheds still largely undeveloped; and 3) Recreational river areas, which may include some development along their shoreline, are readily accessible by road or railroad, and may have undergone some impoundment or diversion in the past.
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Though sometimes criticized for not reaching its full potential, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act has helped to protect some of this nation's premiere rivers, including many of the rivers of our history, our literature, and our nation's youth. These include John Muir's Tuolumne River; the Delaware River of our American Revolution; Zane Grey's famous flyfishing river, the North Umpqua; and the Missouri of Lewis and Clark's journeys. A large percentage of wild and scenic rivers flow through the Pacific Northwest, including Oregon's spectacular Klamath River -- and its incredible abundance of wildlife -- which was added to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System following a 15-year battle over the proposed Salt Caves Hydroelectric Project. Though each river designation is different, and each management plan is unique, the idea behind the wild and scenic river act is not generally to lock up a river like a wilderness designation and halt its use and development, but rather to preserve the character of a river. Any recreational use must be compatible with preservation goals.
The Wild and Scenic Rivers System is supported by an Interagency Coordinating Council comprising representatives of the four wild and scenic rivers administering agencies -- the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the USDA Forest Service. The Council addresses a broad range of issues, from management concerns on rivers presently in the national system to potential additions listed on the Nationwide Rivers Inventory, from state designations to the provision of technical assistance to other governments and non-profits organizations. To find out more about which rivers are included as Wild and Scenic Rivers, the National Park Service maintains a list for all four agencies.
Other useful resources:
America Outdoors - represents the outfitters providing recreation on our nation's rivers.
American Canoe Association - the oldest and largest organization in the U.S. devoted to paddlesports.
American Heritage Rivers - a federal initiative to protect and preserve rivers of cultural, historic, recreational, and environmental value.
American Rivers - Goal is to protect and restore America's river systems and to foster a river stewardship ethic.
American Whitewater Affiliation - works to promote and protect boating opportunities across the country.
Canadian Heritage Rivers System - established to give national recognition to the important rivers of Canada and to conserve and protect the best examples of Canada's river heritage.
EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans & Watersheds - integrates the protection and management of our Nation's watersheds, coastal and marine waters, and wetlands. Includes extensive on polluted run-off, wetlands, restoration techniques, water quality assessment, and watershed management.
Friends of the River
Works with individuals, organizations and local, state and federal
agencies to preserve, protect and restore the ecosystems of California
rivers and of watersheds shared with Arizona, Nevada and Oregon.
Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN) - mission is to improve education through a global network that promotes watershed sustainability.
Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN) - provides a variety of data and information about the region's environment and economy, tourism, education, and more.
River Management Society - dedicated to the protection and management of North America's river resources.
Save Our Wild Salmon - a coalition that works to protect dwindling wild salmon stocks in the Northwest.
Trout Unlimited - dedicated to protecting and restoring trout populations throughout the country.
U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Division - provides data to evaluate the quantity, quality, and use of the Nation's water resources and provides results of these investigations to the public.
Water Environment Federation - concerned with technological developments in water quality and providing information on wastewater treatment and water quality protection.
