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<br />002910 <br /> <br />Chapter 1 <br />Introduction <br /> <br />the status of developments on these rivers, we determined the rivers' <br />conditions at the time they were studied for inclusion in the national <br />wild and scenic rivers system. To develop this baseline condition, we <br />reviewed each study report to identify existing water projects; shoreline <br />dcvelopments (which we define as the placement of communities, vaca- <br />tion homes, commercial stmctures, or industrial plants); resource devel- <br />opments (which we define as agricultural activities, mining, or timber <br />harvesting visible from or affecting the river); recreation-use conflicts <br />(such as crowding, trespassing, or other related incompatible activities); <br />water quality (the extent of pollution); and roads, railroads, or utilities <br />(electric or gas transmission lines) visible from the river. We also noted <br />potential threats identified in the federal studies under each of the <br />above categories. <br /> <br />Table 1.1: Eligible Rivers <br />Recommended for State and Local <br />Government Preservation <br /> <br />River <br />Upper Iowa (Iowa) <br />Suwannee (Fla and Ga.) <br />Gasconade (Mo.) <br />Penobscot (Maine) <br />Buffalo (Tenn ) <br />Housatonic (Conn.) <br />Illinois (Okla,) <br />Kettle (Minn.) <br />Pine Creek (Pa.) <br />Shcpaug (Conn.) <br />Wisconsin (Wis ) <br />Youghiogheny (Md. and Pa.) <br />John Day (Oreg.) <br /> <br />Date study <br />sent to <br />Congress <br />May 1972 <br />Mar 1974 <br />May 1977 <br />May 1977 <br />Oct 1979 <br />Oct. 1979 <br />Oct. 1979 <br />Ocl. 1979 <br />Oct. 1979 <br />Oct. 1979 <br />Oct. 1979 <br />Oct. 1979 <br />Feb. 1980 <br /> <br />With this b;lseline in place, we obtained information about developments <br />that have occurred or are expected or planned since the studies were <br />sent to the Congress though interviews and reviews of documents <br />obtained from federal, state, and citizen or conservation organizations. <br />For states with river protection programs, we contacted scenic river pro- <br />gram offices; and for states without such programs, we contacted recre- <br />ational or natural resources officials to obtain information on the river's <br />status. We also contacted local and private organizations involved with <br />pmtecting these rivers, We did not evaluate the effectiveness of state <br />and local efforts in protecting these 13 rivers or the overall merits of <br />federal versus state and local protection. <br /> <br />Page 17 <br /> <br />GAOJRCED-87-39 Wild and Scf'nic Rh:ers <br />