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1— Introduction <br />Chapter 1 <br />Introduction <br />As part of the current Resource Management Plan (RMP) revision process being conducted by <br />the US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (Bl.vl), Grand Junetion I� icld <br />Ofllce (GJFO), an inventory and analysis of rivers and streams within the planning area is <br />rcyuired to determine whcther rivers or segments of rivers are "cligiblc" and "suitable" for <br />considcration in the National Wild and Sccnic Rivers System (N WSRS). The GJFO has <br />completed the eligibility phase and the results are rcported herein. <br />1.1 Wild and Scenic Rivcrs Act of 1968 <br />I�hc Wild and Scenic River net (WSR Act) was enacted by Congress in 1968 with the realization <br />that, "the established national policy of dam and other construction at appropriate sections oF the <br />rivcrs of the United Statcs needs to be complcmented by a policy that would preserve other <br />selected rivers or sections thereof in their free-Ilowing condition to protect the water quality of <br />such rivers and to fulfill other vital national conscrvation purposes." Rivers that fall under this <br />dcsignation have to mect criteria of being free flowing (WSR Act, Section 16(b) "existing or <br />flowing in natural condition without impoundment, diversion, straightening. rip-rapping, or other <br />modification of the waterway") and possess outstandingly remarkable values (ORVs: scenic, <br />rccrcational, geologic, tish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other). l�he act provides for <br />protection for included river segments so thcy are `preserved in frco-Flowing condition, and that <br />thcy and their immediate environments shall be protected for the bcncfit and enjoyment oF <br />present and future generations." <br />W ild and Scenic River Eligibility Report, Grand Junction Field Office, Colorado � � <br />