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CWCB <br /> 8/31/83 <br /> PIEDRA RIVER <br /> WILD AND SCENIC RIVER STUDY <br /> Background <br /> Public Law 93-621 designated the Piedra River as a study <br /> river . The law specified study of "the Middle Fork and East Fork <br /> from their sources to their confluence, thence the Piedra to its <br /> junction with Colorado Highway 160, including the tributaries and <br /> headwaters on National Forest Lands. " This study authorization <br /> was later amended to eliminate the tributaries and headwaters on <br /> national forest lands. The study was carried out by a joint <br /> Federal/State team starting in 1976. <br /> Eligibility and Classification <br /> Of the 53 miles of river studied, 51 miles were found to be <br /> eligible for designation. Thirty-two and one-half miles were <br /> classified as wild river area, 12 .9 miles as scenic river area, <br /> and 5 .5 miles as recreational river area. <br /> Issues and Concerns (as expressed by the public) <br /> The major issues regarding river designation expressed by <br /> the public were: <br /> o The Federal government should not force private <br /> landowners to open their lands to public use (through <br /> easements) since the river runs mainly through public <br /> lands and the public currently has access to most of the <br /> river across these public lands . <br /> o The Federal government should not use designation as a <br /> means to control water use. <br /> o Notoriety surrounding designation of the river will <br /> attract and encourage recreation use levels that will <br /> degrade the existing river environment. <br /> o Designation is the only means of guaranteeing protection <br /> of the physical , biotic, and ecological environment of <br /> the river and its free-flowing character. <br /> o Lumber and livestock uses, which insure local economic <br /> stability, must not be impaired . <br /> 705 <br /> PR <br />