Guidelines for Evaluating Wild, Scenic and Recreational River Areas Proposed for Inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic River Systems Under Section 2

• Description: Wild and Scenic
• Date: 2/1/1970
• Author: US Department of the Interior, Department of the Interior, US Forest Service
• Title: Guidelines for Evaluating Wild, Scenic and Recreational River Areas Proposed for Inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic River Systems Under Section 2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

system pursuant to Section 2(a)(ii), such construction could
result in a determination by the Secretary of the Interior to
to reclassify or withdraw the affected river area from the
system.
2. "Accessible in places by road" means that roads may occa-
sionally bridge the river area. Scenic river areas will not
include long stretches of conspicuous and well- traveled roads
closely paralleling the riverbank. The presence, however, of
short stretches of conspicuous or longer stretches of incon-
spicuous and well - screened roads or screened railroads will
not necessarily preclude scenic river designation. In addi-
tion to the physical and scenic relationship of the free -
flowing river area to roads, consideration should be given to
the type of use for which such roads were constructed and the
type of use which wou ki occ•ur with i.n the proposed sccn i.c
river area.
3. "Largely primitive" means that the shorelines and the
immediate river environment still present an overall natural
character, but that in places, land may be developed for agri-
cultural purposes. A modest amount of diversion, straighten-
ing, rip- rapping, and other modification of the waterway
would not preclude a river from being considered for classi-
fication as a scenic river. Future construction of such
structures would not be permitted except in instances where
such developments would not have a direct and adverse effect
on the values for which that river area was included in the
national system as determined by the Secretary charged with
the administration of the area,
In the case of rivers added to the national system pursuant
to Section 2(a)(ii), such construction could result in a
determination by the Secretary of the Interior to reclassify
or withdraw the affected river area from the system. "Largely
primitive" with respect to watersheds means that the portion
of the watershed within the boundaries of the scenic river
area should be scenic, with a minimum of easily discernible
development. Row crops would be considered as meeting the
test of "largely primitive," as would timber harvest and other
resource use, providing such activity is accomplished without
a substantially adverse effect on the natural -like appearance
of the river or its immediate environment.