Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

• Description: Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
• State: CO
• Date: 8/29/2007
• Title: Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Legislation

Wild and Scenic Rivers Act Page 1 of 50
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Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
(P.L. 90 -542, as amended)
(16 U.S.C. 1271 -1287)
'An Act
To provide for a National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States ofAmerica in Congress
assembled, that,
(a) this Act may be cited as the "Wild and Scenic Rivers Act."
Congressional declaration of policy.
(b) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United States that certain selected rivers of the
Nation which, with their immediate environments, possess outstandingly remarkable scenic,
recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values, shall be preserved in
free - flowing condition, and that they and their immediate environments shall be protected for the benefit
and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Congress declares that the established national
policy of dam and other construction at appropriate sections of the rivers of the United States needs to be
complemented by a policy that would preserve other selected rivers or sections thereof in their free -
flowing condition to protect the water quality of such rivers and to fulfill other vital national
conservation purposes.
Congressional declaration of purpose.
(c) The purpose of this Act is to implement this policy by instituting a national wild and scenic
rivers system, by designating the initial components of that system, and by prescribing the methods by
which and standards according to which additional components may be added to the system from time
to time.
Composition of system; requirements for State - administered components.
SECTION 2. (a) The national wild and scenic rivers system shall comprise rivers (i) that are
authorized for inclusion therein by Act of Congress, or (ii) that are designated as wild, scenic or
recreational rivers by or pursuant to an act of the legislature of the State or States through which they
flow, that are to be permanently administered as wild, scenic or recreational rivers by an agency or
political subdivision of the State or States concerned, that are found by the Secretary of the Interior,
upon application of the Governor of the State or the Governors of the States concerned, or a person or
persons thereunto duly appointed by him or them, to meet the criteria established in this Act and such
criteria supplementary thereto as he may prescribe, and that are approved by him for inclusion in the
system, including, upon application of the Governor of the State concerned, the Allagash Wilderness
Waterway, Maine; that segment of the Wolf River, Wisconsin, which flows through Langlade County;
and that segment of the New River in North Carolina extending from its confluence with Dog Creek
downstream approximately 26.5 miles to the Virginia State line. Upon receipt of an application under
clause (ii) of this subsection, the Secretary shall notify the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and
publish such application in the Federal Register. Each river designated under clause (ii) shall be
administered by the State or political subdivision thereof without expense to the United States other than
http:// www. biologicaldiversity .org /swcbdIPrograms /watersheds /wildlwsract.htmi 8/29/2007