WSP10556

• File Number: 7630.285
• Description: Wild and Scenic - General
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 6/1/1975
• Author: DOI-USDA
• Title: Wild and Scenic Rivers - Authorized by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act - PL 90-542 - 10-2-1968 - As Amended - Information Brochure
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

000642

enactment of specific Fcder~ll legislation.
Among belon; considered by the Presi-
dent and the Congres5 is inform~tiol1 concern-
ing currcnt swtus of land ownership and use,
the extent to which Swte and local agencies
would ~'ure administration :.Ind costs, and the
estinurcd cost to the United States (or aCf}uir-
ing lands and casements.
At rhe onset of a study, one or more
public meetings llsually are held by the stllcty
team in locJliries affected by the propos~d
to discllss the purpose, method. and timing of
the study. Later, public meetings are also
held so that the study team can present pre-
limin.1ry findings and tentative conclusions
and solicit public comments and suggestions.
After formal review by the Governor and
concerned Federal agencies, a final report is
submitted to the President and to the Con-
gress. Conf:,'Tess then decides whether or not
the proposed ri\'er will be added to the Na-
tional System and determines the extent of
Federal involvement.

Rivers Through State Action

The \Vild and Scenic Rivers Act estab-
lished procedures giving Federal protection to
State: or locally 3dministered wild, scenic, and
reneiltional ri\'er areas. Under certain condi-
tions. the Secretary of the Interior can add a
..,elect State or locally administered river area
to the N:ltional \Vild and Scenic Rivers Sys-
tem upon application of the Governor.
To qll~tlify for inclusion by the Secretary
of the Interior, a State or locally administered
free-flowing river 3rea must be designated by.
the State Legislature as wild. scenic, or rec-
re3tiunal. with lands wholly awl pennanenrly
administered in a manner consistent with the

10

Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 3ncl the "Gllide-
lines" adopted by the Dep3rtments of the
Interior and Agriculture in February 1970.
It must be operated zmd maintained without
expense to the Federal Government.

Administration

To preserve and enhance the outstanding
qualities of a river in the National System,
some degree of public control over the stream
and river bank is required. Since Federal leg-
islation is required for feclerallY-J.dministered
components, Congress determines the degree
of control and the size of such an areJ.. The
administration of the new area by the De-
partment of the Interior or the Department
of Agriculture, or jointly. is generallv de-
termined by the extem of land in the' area
controlled by these Departments. and is rec-
ommended in the study of the area submitted
to Congress. .
Land within a federally-administered com-
ponent will be protected by one of the follow-
ing methods: (a) complete public ownership,
(b) public control through <1cqllisition of
scenic or other eJ.sements. or (c) local zoning
ordinances.

Complete public ownership is desirable
for areas where there are outstanding scenic,
recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, his-
toric, cultural or other similar v:llues; exist-
ing or proposed facility developments; and
for major public access and visitor use areas.
Privately owned lands on the river bank not
otherwise needed for present or future public
llSe nOl:mally would be subject to some type
of scenic easement.
. ~asements and local zoning would permit
eXlstmg or expected land lISes that are com.
patible with the basic intent of the vVild and

11