The White Clay Creek Wild and Scenic Rivers System Act designated approximately 190 miles of segments and tributaries of the White Clay Creek as components of the national system. The Upper St. Croix River was designated in this Act. (December 1, 2020) Maine's senators introduced legislation to designate the York River in Maine as a wild & scenic river. Less than 1/2 of 1% of our rivers are protected under the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System. Component rivers and adjacent lands §â€¯1275. to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations. Designated segments need not include the entire river and may include tributaries. Scenic River Areas – Those rivers or sections of rivers that are free of impoundments, with shorelines or watersheds still largely primitive and shorelines largely undeveloped, but accessible in places by roads. In the past 50 years, we have learned—all too slowly, I think—to prize and protect God's precious gifts. Digest of Federal Resource Laws of Interest to the U.S. On September 5, 2018 the Department of the Interior celebrates the 50th anniversary of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 2018 with Tim Palmer, author and photographer of 26 books including, Wild and Scenic Rivers: An American Legacy. + FIND OUT MORE While progress should never come to a halt, there are many places it should never come to at all. . An additional 20 more rivers were designated as “Study Rivers” for future WSR status. 1271 et seq.) + FIND OUT MORE. This includes virtually the entire watershed, a first time occurrence in the national system. (7) (A) Neither the Governor nor an employee of a state agency or department shall apply to a secretary, department, agency, or other entity of the federal government for the designation of any portion of Cache Creek as a component of the national wild and scenic rivers system under the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. Rivers are classified as wild, scenic, or recreational. This is a list of the designated National Wild and Scenic Rivers in the United States. The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by Congress in 1968 (Public Law 90-542; 16 U.S.C. Wild and Scenic Rivers Decision & Tree Laws, Regulations, and Guidance. 1271 et seq.) (October 13, 2020) Legislation has been introduced to designate the Little Manatee River in Florida as a wild & scenic river. + FIND OUT MORE, The country changed in the 1960s, including our treatment of the environment, leading to the Wilderness, Clean Air, Clean Water and National Environmental Policy Acts – and the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. S. 4938: A bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain river segments in the York River watershed in the State of Maine as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes. 1271 et seq.) This river is the center of Southeastern Expeditions’ rafting adventures. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (the Act) (P.L. For federally administered rivers, the designated boundaries generally average one-quarter mile on either bank in the lower 48 states and one-half mile on rivers outside national parks in Alaska in order to protect river-related values. The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by Congress in 1968 (Public Law 90-542;16 U.S.C. In May of 2019, Senator Patty Murray and Representative Derek Kilmer re-introduced legislation to establish new Wilderness and Wild and Scenic River protections on the Olympic Peninsula. 16 USC 1271-1287 – Wild and Scenic Rivers Act; 36 CFR, Part 297, Subpart A – Water Resources Projects on Wild and Scenic Rivers In Idaho, these included the Middle Fork of the Salmon (often considered the “Crown Jewel” of the Wild & Scenic Rivers System) and the Clearwater and its tributaries, the Lochsa and Selway. These represent vestiges of primitive America. Recreation, agricultural practices, residential development, and other uses may continue. to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations. Regardless of classification, each river in the National System is administered with the goal of protecting and enhancing the values that caused it to be designated. to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations. When the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was signed, there were eight rivers designated. In September 2018 Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (MA-03) introduced a bill to Congress, the Nashua River Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, that is authored by herself and Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02) that would add segments of the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers to the national Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The debates and controversy around the Wild Rivers legislation can be perplexing. Designation neither prohibits development nor gives the federal government control over private property. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that, (a) this Act may be cited as the "Wild and Scenic Rivers Act." 90-542, 16 U.S.C. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (“Act”) is a federal legislation enacted in 1968. The National Park Service has found the river to be eligible and suitable for protection under the National System. Signed in 1968, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act protects more than 200 rivers in 40 states and Puerto Rico. Slides, in order: Westfield River (Massachusetts), Au Sable River (Michigan), Black River (Michigan), Crooked River (Oregon), Delta River (Alaska), John Day River (Oregon), Namekagon River (Wisconsin), Ontonagon River (Michigan), Rio Grande (New Mexico), Rio Icacos (Puerto Rico), Wekiva River (Rock Springs Run - Florida), Wolf Creek (Wyoming). The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-542 ), enacted by the U.S. Congress to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations. See a series of interactive maps showing management, classification and river values. Each river is administered by either a federal or state agency. Designation as a wild and scenic river is our nation’s strongest form of protection for free-flowing rivers and streams. The Act aims to protect and preserve certain selected rivers of the U.S. which, with their immediate environments, possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or … Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (WSRA; P.L. But one thing came out of 1968 that plenty of people still agree on. Sec. S. 4938: York River Wild and Scenic River Act of 2020 Signed into law fifty years ago by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act … [Note: This is an historical citation, not an endorsement of religion. Protecting our Ancient Forests and Rivers for Future Generations. ], Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program, Section 7 Flowchart & Sample Determinations. Because we have, our own children and grandchildren will come to know and come to love the great forests and the wild rivers that we have protected and left to them . 1271 et seq.) For 50 years the Wild and Scenic Rivers program has been protecting our waters through the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. “This Act [amending section 1274 of this title and enacting provisions classified as a note under section 1274 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Caribbean National Forest Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2002’.” National Wild & Scenic Rivers Act: Enacted by Congress in 1968 to create a National Wild & Scenic River System to preserve some of the country's most precious and outstandingly remarkable rivers in a natural, free-flowing condition. This bill would designate 132,000 acres of wilderness within Olympic National Forest and 464 miles of wild and scenic rivers, protecting streams that flow from the snowmelt of Olympic National … National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 – The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act serves to protect designated free-flowing rivers that have “outstanding remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural and other similar values.” . In most cases not all land within boundaries is, or will be, publicly owned, and the Act limits how much land the federal government is allowed to acquire from willing sellers. 90-542, as amended) (16 U.S.C. President. The Act is notable for safeguarding the special character of these rivers, while also recognizing the potential for their appropriate use and development. — Paul Newman, Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program, Section 7 Flowchart & Sample Determinations. 906) establishes a National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and prescribes the methods and standards through which additional rivers may be identified and added to the system. Text of S. 4938: York River Wild and Scenic River ... as of Dec 1, 2020 (Introduced version). The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by Congress in 1968 (Public Law 90-542; 16 U.S.C. Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (P.L. As of March 2019, the National System protects 13,413 miles of 226 rivers in 41 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; this is less than one half of one percent of the nation's rivers. It makes us all very fearful that all rivers will go this way unless somebody acts now to try to balance our river development.– President Lyndon Johnson on signing the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, October 2, 1968. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 USC 1271-1287) establishes a National Wild and Scenic Rivers System that protects selected rivers based on their “outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values”.The law is regulated by the U.S. Forest Service through regulations at 36 CFR 297. Partnership Wild and Scenic River (PWSR)Toolkit Introduction. The Forest Service is involved in managing nearly 5,000 of those wild and scenic rivers miles. The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by Congress in 1968 (Public Law 90-542; 16 U.S.C. Americans no longer worry about burning rivers, wildlife habitat is improved, and the US has thousands of wild and scenic river miles to paddle, float, fish, and enjoy. 90-542) to preserve free-flowing rivers for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations and to complement the then-current national policy of constructing dams and other river structures that altered flow. By comparison, more than 75,000 large dams across the country have modified at least 600,000 miles, or about 17% (possibly more than 20% – figures are best estimates), of American rivers. The Wekiva River together with Wekiwa Springs Run, Rock Springs Run and Black Water Creek were designated by the United States Congress as a National Wild and Scenic River in October 2000. [Note: This is an historical citation, not an endorsement of religion. Today, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act successfully protects over 12,000 miles of river. 1271 et seq.) (October 15, 2020) The U.S. Forest Service has released a Draft Management Plan for the Middle Fork Snoqualmie and Pratt Rivers (Washington). Visitors to these rivers are cautioned to be aware of and respect private property rights. Their flow and vitality have been harnessed by dams and too often they have been turned into open sewers by communities and by industries. Mule Deer – Chuck & Grace Bartlett. 1271-1287) 1An Act To provide for a National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes. Fish and Wildlife Service Wild and Scenic Rivers Act Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 USC 1271-1287) -- Public Law 90-542, approved October 2, 1968, (82 Stat. National wild and scenic rivers system §â€¯1274. It encourages river management that crosses political boundaries and promotes public participation in developing goals for river protection. created the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations. The Act established a policy of preserving designated free-flowing rivers or river segments for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. Welcome to The Wild Olympics Campaign! (From Rivers.gov) The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by Congress in 1968 (Public Law 90-542; 16 U.S.C. Recreational River Areas – Those rivers or sections of rivers that are readily accessible by road or railroad, that may have some development along their shorelines, and that may have undergone some impoundment or diversion in the past. This bill designates (1) certain federal land in the Olympic National Forest in the state of Washington as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System; and (2) certain other land, identified on the same map as such proposed areas, as potential wilderness. The Act purposefully strives to balance dam and other construction at appropriate sections of rivers with permanent protection for some of the country's most outstanding free-flowing rivers. The river was awarded federal protection under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 1974, just six years after the passage of the act, and sports an impressive fifty-eight miles of designated river. See also SER Volume 1, Chapter 1 - Federal Requirements, Chapter 2 - State Requirements, and Chapter 38 - NEPA Assignment. Rivers may be designated by Congress or, if certain requirements are met, the Secretary of the Interior. Wild River Areas – Those rivers or sections of rivers that are free of impoundments and generally inaccessible except by trail, with watersheds or shorelines essentially primitive and waters unpolluted. Shown Here: Introduced in House (05/09/2019) Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. What are wild and scenic rivers? Initials of the managing agency follow the name of the river. About the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act The country changed in the 1960s, including our treatment of the environment, leading to the Wilderness, Clean Air, Clean Water and National Environmental Policy Acts – and the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. President.] These are the historic remarks made by a U.S. To accomplish this, it prohibits federal support for actions such as the construction of dams or other instream activities that would harm the river's free-flowing condition, water quality, or outstanding resource values. to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations. and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations The eight rivers original rivers designated in the 1968 National Wild and Scenic Rivers act included the Clearwater, Eleven Point, Feather, Rio Grande, Rogue, St. Croix, Salmon and Wolf Rivers. §§1271 et seq., https://www.rivers.gov/documents/wsr-act.pdf.) Protection of the river is provided through voluntary stewardship by landowners and river users and through regulation and programs of federal, state, local, or tribal governments. An unspoiled river is a very rare thing in this Nation today. However, designation does not affect existing water rights or the existing jurisdiction of states and the federal government over waters as determined by established principles of law. Some rivers may be listed more than once if they have designated sections in different states. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act protects more than 12,700 miles of rivers and streams in the U.S. These are the historic remarks made by a U.S. Home » Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (1968) The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by Congress in 1968 (Public Law 90-542; 16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.) All slide photos by Tim Palmer. Rivers are protected under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and other uses may continue or recreational in. A very rare thing in this Act for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future.! Open sewers by communities and by industries or river segments for the benefit and enjoyment of and! 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