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<br />~ l' .. ..... . <br /> <br />002896 <br /> <br />Executivt'Swnmary <br /> <br />To obtain information on overall development activities, GAO looked at <br />13 rivers that had been found eligible for inclusion in the national <br />system but had been recommended for state or local protection and for <br />which the 3-year poststudy protection period had lapsed. To determine <br />whether required cost estimates were being included, GAO reviewed 27 <br />river studies that had been submitted to the Congress since 1978. (See <br />pp. 16 to 18.) <br /> <br />Results in Brief <br /> <br />The rivers GAO reviewed have generally maintained the qualities that <br />originally made them eligible for the national system. State and local <br />governments associated with 11 of the 13 rivers have initiated varying <br />levels of protection. Most importantly, the 13 rivers have not been <br />affected by new water projects that materially changed their free- <br />flowing condition. While some development has occurred along the <br />rivers' shorelines, on only three rivers have these developments greatly <br />degraded wild and scenic values. One river now has much greater water <br />pollution problems serious enough to threaten recreational and scenic <br />values. (See pp. 20 to 43.) <br /> <br />Of the 27 studies reviewed for cost estimates, GAO found that 9 did not <br />contain detailed, specific land acquisition and management cost esti- <br />mates, which would better enable the Congress to decide which rivers to <br />include in the system. (See pp. 50 to 53.) <br /> <br />Principal Findings <br /> <br />Water Development Projects <br /> <br />No new dams or other water projects have been developed on ,my of the <br />13 rivers since their federal studies. A major new hydropower dam on <br />the Penobscot River was actively pursued for development, but con- <br />struction was precluded after a Maine regulatory agency denied it on the <br />grounds of harming the river's water quality and recreational values. <br />Existing dams on the Housatonic, Illinois, Kettle, Shepaug, and Y ough- <br />iogheny (Pennsylvania segment) have been or may be modified for <br />hydroelectric production; but these changes are generally not considered <br />by state and local officials as detrimental to the rivers' preexisting flow <br />conditions. In addition, major water supply diversions from the Shepaug <br />and Illinois are being considered by state or regional authorities. How- <br />ever, state and local officials told GAO that the diversions' potential <br /> <br />Page 3 <br /> <br />GAOjRCED-87-39 Wild and Scenic Rivers <br />