Knowledge (XXG)

National Wild and Scenic Rivers System

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77:"It is hereby declared 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 Congress declares that the established national policy of dams and other construction at appropriate sections of the rivers of the United States needs to be complemented by a policy that would preserve other selected rivers or sections thereof in their free-flowing condition to protect the water quality of such rivers and to fulfill other vital national conservation purposes." (Wild & Scenic Rivers Act) 207:, or those goods and services that nature provides freely and that ultimately benefit society. Rivers (or sections of rivers) so designated are set out for protection and enhancement in perpetuity by preserving their free-flowing condition from dams and development that would otherwise diminish the quality of their remarkable values. National Wild and Scenic designation essentially vetoes the licensing of new dams on, or directly affecting the designated section of river. It also provides strong protection against federally funded bank and channel alterations that adversely affect river values, protects riverfront public lands from new oil, gas, and mineral development, and creates a federal reserved water right to protect flow-dependent values such as fish habitat. 136:(ORRRC). Among other things, the commission recommended that the nation protect wild rivers and scenic rivers from development that would substantially change their free-flowing nature and values. At this time, the country was also experiencing rapid degradation of its water resources due to municipal and industrial effluent being released into the nation's rivers. Many waterways and the fish in them were toxic, rendering them unusable by surrounding communities. Populations of aquatic species were declining and people were being relocated from their communities due to rampant dam building. All across the country people were writing letters imploring the President and First lady to protect their beloved rivers. Ultimately, the act was sponsored by Sen. 331:
access points, roads, railroads, bridges, and homes located within the designated corridor. Scenic rivers tend to fall somewhere between the Wild and Recreational level of development. It is important to note that a river's classification is not related to the value(s) that made it worthy of designation. For instance, recreation may not be an outstanding value on a river with a recreational classification, nor scenery on a river classified as scenic. Notably, Wild and Scenic Rivers receive the same standard of protection regardless of classification.
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Designated rivers are assigned one or more classifications: Wild, Scenic, or Recreational. These classifications are based on the developmental character of the river's surroundings on the date of designation. Wild rivers are the most remote and undeveloped while Recreational rivers often have many
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The Act is notable for safeguarding the special character of these rivers, while also recognizing the potential for their appropriate use and development. It encourages river management that crosses political boundaries and promotes public participation in developing goals for river protection. The
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Selected rivers in the United States are preserved for possessing Outstandingly Remarkable Values (ORVs) that fall into the 8 categories: Scenic, Recreation, Geologic, Fish, Wildlife, Historic, Culture, or Other similar values. These values can be considered synonymous with
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State-managed Wild and Scenic Rivers are subject to the same protections as federally administered rivers. These state rivers can be added to the National System by the Secretary of the Interior following an application by the governor of the state the river flows through.
90:. Designated segments need not include the entire river and may include headwaters and tributaries. 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 199:). As of November 2018, 209 rivers, totaling 12,754 miles of river in 40 states and Puerto Rico, have Wild and Scenic status. By comparison, more than 75,000 large dams across the country have modified at least 600,000 miles, or about 17%, of American rivers. 1000: 298:
Federally administered National Wild and Scenic Rivers are managed by one or more of the four principal land-managing agencies of the federal government. Of the 209 National Wild and Scenic Rivers, the majority are managed by the
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The Act established the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System to protect and enhance rivers found to be regionally and nationally significant. Rivers may be designated by Congress or, if certain requirements are met, the
624: 304: 105:; this is less than one-quarter of one percent of the nation's rivers, which flow over 3.5 million miles (5,600,000 kilometers) across the United States. By comparison, more than 75,000 large 252: 910: 953: 948: 943: 938: 933: 1245: 905: 519: 785: 86:. Each designated river is administered by either a federal, state, or tribal agency, or as a partnership between any number of these government entities and local 133: 1260: 973: 995: 988: 983: 978: 766: 579: 737: 649: 172: 900: 885: 188: 958: 777: 1027: 1022: 875: 291:
Designation as a Wild and Scenic River specifically protects the free-flowing nature of rivers in both federal and non-federal areas, something the
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with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations.
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and other federal designations cannot do. Despite misplaced fears, WSR designation does not alter private property rights.
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As of August 2018, the National System protects over 12,700 miles (20,400 km) of 209 rivers in 40 states and the
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across the country have modified at least 600,000 miles (970,000 km), or about 17 percent of American rivers.
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The National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was an outgrowth of the recommendations of a Presidential commission, the
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Act, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the height of the United States environmental era, states:
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were designated as a Wild and Scenic, the first Wild and Scenic designation in Montana in over 40 years.
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In 2018, America continues to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
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Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. P. L. 90-542; U.S.C. 1271 et seq. 2 October 1968.
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Conservation effort of certain rivers in the United States and its territories
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signs the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act into law, October 2, 1968
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On August 2, 2018, 20 miles (32 km) of East Rosebud Creek in
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United States House of Representatives special elections, 1937
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fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/river-habitat
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1938 United States House of Representatives elections
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https://www.rivers.gov/documents/act/complete-act.pdf
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Johnson National Historical Park 738: 724: 716: 580: 566: 558: 98:in order to protect river-related values. 279:Learn how and when to remove this message 1023:1960 United States presidential election 876:Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum 442:"Wild & Scenic River Act Amendments" 373: 341:List of National Wild and Scenic Rivers 335:List of National Wild and Scenic Rivers 548:National Wild and Scenic Rivers System 446:National Wild and Scenic Rivers System 402:National Wild and Scenic Rivers System 313:National Landscape Conservation System 52:National Wild and Scenic Rivers System 7: 1261:Protected areas of the United States 1046:Lyndon B. Johnson in popular culture 881:Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland 392: 390: 357:Protected areas of the United States 257:adding citations to reliable sources 61:(Public Law 90-542), enacted by the 1008:Democratic National Convention 1956 964:1948 United States Senate elections 770:Vice President of the United States 759:36th President of the United States 476:International Journal of Wilderness 1130:Claudia "Lady Bird" Taylor Johnson 25: 467:Perry, Denielle (December 2017). 448:. National Wild and Scenic Rivers 1219: 1218: 229: 18:National Wild and Scenic Rivers 891:Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center 518:Fiebig, Mike (2 August 2018). 317:U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1: 906:Memorial Grove on the Potomac 301:United States Forest Service 1065:The Years of Lyndon Johnson 605:Estuarine Research Reserves 128:is a Wild and Scenic River. 103:Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 1277: 836:Texas Broadcasting Company 553:Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 338: 56:Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 1187: 896:Lyndon Baines Johnson Day 753: 595: 309:Bureau of Land Management 165:Secretary of the Interior 148:) and signed into law by 84:Secretary of the Interior 1172:George Washington Baines 824:Civil Rights Act of 1960 819:Civil Rights Act of 1957 645:Outstanding Natural Area 625:Lakeshores and seashores 1256:1968 in the environment 1160:Samuel Ealy Johnson Sr. 1148:Samuel Ealy Johnson Jr. 1136:Lynda Bird Johnson Robb 778:U.S. Senator from Texas 1074:(1991 television film) 808:Early years and career 700:Wilderness Study Areas 690:Wild and Scenic Rivers 670:Research Natural Areas 352:National Trails System 155:on October 2, 1968. A 129: 79: 47: 35: 384:. Web. 8 August 2018. 120: 75: 41: 33: 1251:1968 in American law 1166:Joseph Wilson Baines 253:improve this section 65:to preserve certain 1174:(great-grandfather) 1154:Sam Houston Johnson 1142:Luci Baines Johnson 786:U.S. Representative 398:"About the WSR Act" 54:was created by the 911:U.S. Postage stamp 814:Southern Manifesto 630:Marine Sanctuaries 600:Conservation Areas 205:ecosystem services 130: 48: 36: 1233: 1232: 1211:Hubert Humphrey → 1193:← John F. Kennedy 841:Johnson Amendment 747:Lyndon B. Johnson 713: 712: 640:Natural Landmarks 289: 288: 281: 153:Lyndon B. Johnson 44:Lyndon B. Johnson 16:(Redirected from 1268: 1222: 1221: 793: 781: 773: 762: 740: 733: 726: 717: 705:Wildlife Refuges 695:Wilderness Areas 665:Recreation Areas 620:Historical parks 582: 575: 568: 559: 535: 534: 532: 530: 515: 509: 508: 506: 504: 490: 484: 483: 473: 464: 458: 457: 455: 453: 438: 432: 431: 419: 413: 412: 410: 408: 394: 385: 378: 284: 277: 273: 270: 264: 233: 225: 21: 1276: 1275: 1271: 1270: 1269: 1267: 1266: 1265: 1236: 1235: 1234: 1229: 1207:← Richard Nixon 1200:Richard Nixon → 1183: 1116: 1032: 915: 861: 855: 831:Operation Texas 796: 784: 776: 765: 757: 749: 744: 714: 709: 591: 586: 544: 539: 538: 528: 526: 524:American Rivers 517: 516: 512: 502: 500: 492: 491: 487: 471: 466: 465: 461: 451: 449: 440: 439: 435: 424:"River Habitat" 421: 420: 416: 406: 404: 396: 395: 388: 379: 375: 370: 348: 343: 337: 285: 274: 268: 265: 250: 234: 223: 221:Classifications 115: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1274: 1272: 1264: 1263: 1258: 1253: 1248: 1238: 1237: 1231: 1230: 1228: 1227: 1214: 1213: 1208: 1204: 1203: 1196: 1188: 1185: 1184: 1182: 1181: 1175: 1169: 1163: 1157: 1151: 1145: 1139: 1133: 1126: 1124: 1118: 1117: 1115: 1114: 1106: 1098: 1084: 1076: 1068: 1061: 1056: 1048: 1042: 1040: 1034: 1033: 1031: 1030: 1025: 1020: 1015: 1010: 1005: 1004: 1003: 993: 992: 991: 981: 976: 971: 966: 961: 956: 951: 946: 941: 936: 931: 925: 923: 917: 916: 914: 913: 908: 903: 898: 893: 888: 883: 878: 873: 867: 865: 857: 856: 854: 853: 848: 846:Box 13 scandal 843: 838: 833: 828: 827: 826: 821: 816: 804: 802: 798: 797: 795: 794: 782: 774: 763: 754: 751: 750: 745: 743: 742: 735: 728: 720: 711: 710: 708: 707: 702: 697: 692: 687: 682: 677: 672: 667: 662: 657: 652: 647: 642: 637: 632: 627: 622: 617: 612: 607: 602: 596: 593: 592: 587: 585: 584: 577: 570: 562: 556: 555: 550: 543: 542:External links 540: 537: 536: 510: 485: 459: 433: 414: 386: 372: 371: 369: 366: 365: 364: 359: 354: 347: 344: 339:Main article: 336: 333: 305:official units 293:Wilderness Act 287: 286: 237: 235: 228: 222: 219: 114: 111: 92:national parks 26: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1273: 1262: 1259: 1257: 1254: 1252: 1249: 1247: 1244: 1243: 1241: 1226: 1225: 1216: 1215: 1212: 1209: 1206: 1205: 1202: 1201: 1197: 1195: 1194: 1190: 1189: 1186: 1179: 1176: 1173: 1170: 1168:(grandfather) 1167: 1164: 1162:(grandfather) 1161: 1158: 1155: 1152: 1149: 1146: 1143: 1140: 1137: 1134: 1131: 1128: 1127: 1125: 1123: 1119: 1113: 1111: 1107: 1105: 1103: 1099: 1096: 1092: 1088: 1085: 1083: 1081: 1077: 1075: 1073: 1069: 1067: 1066: 1062: 1060: 1057: 1055: 1054:advertisement 1053: 1049: 1047: 1044: 1043: 1041: 1039: 1035: 1029: 1026: 1024: 1021: 1019: 1016: 1014: 1011: 1009: 1006: 1002: 999: 998: 997: 994: 990: 987: 986: 985: 982: 980: 977: 975: 972: 970: 967: 965: 962: 960: 957: 955: 952: 950: 947: 945: 942: 940: 937: 935: 932: 930: 927: 926: 924: 922: 918: 912: 909: 907: 904: 902: 899: 897: 894: 892: 889: 887: 884: 882: 879: 877: 874: 872: 869: 868: 866: 864: 858: 852: 849: 847: 844: 842: 839: 837: 834: 832: 829: 825: 822: 820: 817: 815: 811: 810: 809: 806: 805: 803: 799: 791: 787: 783: 779: 775: 771: 768: 764: 760: 756: 755: 752: 748: 741: 736: 734: 729: 727: 722: 721: 718: 706: 703: 701: 698: 696: 693: 691: 688: 686: 685:Scenic Trails 683: 681: 678: 676: 673: 671: 668: 666: 663: 661: 658: 656: 653: 651: 648: 646: 643: 641: 638: 636: 633: 631: 628: 626: 623: 621: 618: 616: 613: 611: 608: 606: 603: 601: 598: 597: 594: 590: 583: 578: 576: 571: 569: 564: 563: 560: 554: 551: 549: 546: 545: 541: 525: 521: 514: 511: 499: 495: 489: 486: 481: 477: 470: 463: 460: 447: 443: 437: 434: 429: 425: 418: 415: 403: 399: 393: 391: 387: 383: 377: 374: 367: 363: 360: 358: 355: 353: 350: 349: 345: 342: 334: 332: 328: 324: 322: 318: 314: 310: 306: 302: 296: 294: 283: 280: 272: 262: 258: 254: 248: 247: 243: 238:This section 236: 232: 227: 226: 220: 218: 216: 211: 208: 206: 200: 198: 194: 190: 186: 182: 178: 174: 170: 166: 162: 161:U.S. Congress 158: 154: 151: 147: 143: 139: 135: 127: 126:Massachusetts 123: 122:Taunton River 119: 112: 110: 108: 104: 99: 97: 93: 89: 85: 78: 74: 70: 68: 64: 63:U.S. Congress 60: 57: 53: 45: 40: 32: 19: 1217: 1198: 1191: 1180:(son-in-law) 1109: 1101: 1086: 1079: 1071: 1063: 1059:Johnson cult 1051: 1038:Public image 871:Bibliography 851:Bashir Ahmad 689: 680:Scenic Areas 527:. 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Index

National Wild and Scenic Rivers


Lyndon B. Johnson
U.S. Congress
rivers
Secretary of the Interior
NGOs
national parks
Alaska
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
dams

Taunton River
Massachusetts
Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission
Frank Church
D
Idaho
President
Lyndon B. Johnson
river
U.S. Congress
Secretary of the Interior
Clearwater
Eleven Point
Feather
Rio Grande
Rogue
St. Croix

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