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<br />112 <br /> <br />prohibition of dams and major developments on designated river <br />segments, <br />protection or enhancement of water quality, <br />restriction of new commercial or indu,;trial uses on river front <br />lands, <br />protection of scenery by means of cont.rols on development, and <br />regulation, subject to valld existing rights, mineral prospecting, <br />and use. <br /> <br />River Designatiol~, <br /> <br />Several reasons have been advanced for d,~signating rivers to the <br />National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The threat of dam and reservoir <br />systems, diversions or other water development on a river with outstanding <br />natural characteristics is the primary reason for designation. Certainly, <br />federal designation is the most certain way tC) preserve the free-flowing <br />conditions of a river. <br /> <br />Where recreation problems are identified, designation can alert the <br />concern of local, state, and federal government entities. Designation has <br />usually raised the priority status of a river area for additional <br />regulation enforcement, maintenance, and facility development. <br /> <br />All rivers in the National System must b,~ substanti,ally free-flowing <br />and have water of high quality or water that can be restored to that <br />condition, Likewise, the river and adjacent lands also must be in natural <br />or esthetically pleasing condition and possess outstanding scenic, <br />recreation, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural or other <br />similar values. Because of the diversity of rivers and various degrees of <br />alt8rations to their watersheds, The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act established <br />'three classifications fDr inclusion in the system: wild river areas, <br />scenic river areas, and recreational river areas. <br /> <br />Wild River Areas <br /> <br />Wild river areas are river rea,ches free ,)f impoundm,ents and generally <br />inaccessible except by trail, with watersheds or shorelines essentially <br />primitive and waters unpolluted. These areas represent vestiges of <br />primitive America. Wild river areas, belng the most primitive, <br />inaccessible, and unchanged river reaches, ar,~ managed 1:'0 preserve and <br />enhance the primitive qualities. <br /> <br />Scenic River Areas <br /> <br />. '" ., " <br />Seen~e river areas are river.reaches that are free of impoundments, ' <br />with shoreline.8'~ or watersheds still largely primitive and shorelines <br />largely undeveloped, but aecessible in places by roads. ScenIc river areas <br />which are accessible in places by road are managed to preserve and enhance <br />a natural, though sometimes modified environm.mt and to provide a modest <br />range of facilities for recreation. <br />