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Attachment 1
<br /> Wild and Scenic River Suitability Criteria
<br /> (per BLMManual 8351 and
<br /> Interagency Wild&Scenic Rivers Coordinating Council Guidance)
<br /> 1. Characteristics which do or do not make the area a worthy addition to the NWSRS.
<br /> 2. Status of landownerhip,minerals(surface and subsurface),use in the area,including the amount of
<br /> private land involved, and associated or incompatible uses. Jurisdictional consideration(administrative role
<br /> and/or presence)must be taken into account to the extent that management would be affected.
<br /> 3. Reasonably foreseeable potential uses of the land and related waters which would be enhanced,
<br /> foreclosed, or curtailed if the area were included in the NWSRS, and the values which could be foreclosed
<br /> or diminished if the area is not protected as part of the NWSRS.
<br /> 4. Federal,public, state,tribal, local, or other interests in designation or nondesignation of the river,
<br /> including the extent to which the administration of the river, including the costs thereof,may be shared by
<br /> state, local, or other agencies and individuals.Also,the federal agency that will administer the area should it
<br /> be added to the National System.
<br /> 5. Estimated cost, if necessary, of acquiring lands, interests in lands,and administering the area if it is added
<br /> to the NWSRS. Section 6 of the WSR Act outlines policies and limitations of acquiring lands or interests in
<br /> land by donation, exchange, consent of owners, easement,transfer, assignment of rights, or condemnation
<br /> within and outside established river boundaries.
<br /> 6. Ability of the agency to manage and/or protect the river area or segment as a WSR river, or other
<br /> mechanisms (existing and potential)to protect identified values other than WSR designation.
<br /> 7. Historical or existing rights which could be adversely affected. In determining suitability, consideration
<br /> of any valid existing rights must be afforded under applicable laws (including the WSR Act),regulations,
<br /> and policies.
<br /> 8. Adequacy of local zoning and other land use controls in protecting the rivers ORVs by preventing
<br /> incompatible development. This evaluation may result in a formal finding that the local zoning fulfills
<br /> Section 6(c)'s requirements,which in turn preempts the federal government's ability to acquire land through
<br /> eminent domain if the river is designated.
<br /> 9. Consistency of designation with other agency plans,programs, or policies and in meeting regional
<br /> objectives. Designation may help or impede the"goals"of other tribal, federal, state, or local agencies. For
<br /> example, designation of a river may contribute to state or regional protection objectives for fish and wildlife
<br /> resources. Similarly, adding a river which includes a limited recreation activity or setting to the National
<br /> System may help meet statewide recreation goals. Designation might,however, limit irrigation and/or flood
<br /> control measures in a manner inconsistent with regional socioeconomic goals.
<br /> 10. Contribution to a river system watershed or basin integrity. This factor reflects the benefits of a
<br /> "systems"approach, i.e.,expanding the designated portion of a river in the National System or developing a
<br /> legislative proposal for an entire river system(headwaters to mouth) or watershed.Numerous benefits are
<br /> likely to result from managing an entire river or watershed, including the ability to design a holistic
<br /> protection strategy in partnership with other agencies and the public. Other issues and concerns, if any.
<br /> 11. Other concerns, if any.
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