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<br />. The eastern regions - the Northeast, Southeast, and Lake Central Offices - <br />[J.02.280have completed the initial phase of the System Study, while the remaining <br />regions are in the process of beginning their ,inventories. <br /> <br />.r~ETHODOLOGY <br /> <br />How was the apl'roach for' conducting the ,Rivers Inventory <br /> <br />developed? <br /> <br />The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which has been interpreted by the Departments <br />of Interior and Agricu~ture, served as the basis for establishing a method <br />for i nventoryi ng and en! ,ld t i ng ri vers. A deci s i on was made, at the <br />Washington level eal'ly in the study process, that the system should be <br />representative of all the different physiographic sections and river types <br />found in the nation. This physiographic' approach is important because it <br />allO\'is for a greater objectivity and consistency in the f.valudtion of rivers. <br /> <br />At various times throughout the study process the extent of the System has <br />been identified and described at both its minimum and rnaxiumum extremes. <br /> <br />When dip the Rivers Inventory <br /> <br />process begin? <br /> <br />The Rivers, InventorY-luegan in the three eastern regi,ons in 1975 with a <br />series of pilot physiographic section studies. <br /> <br />What was the methodolo~y used to conduct these initial studies? <br /> <br />The river evaluation method first used was based upon a process which focused <br />on eliminating rivers with characteristics unsuitable for consideration under <br />P.L. 90-542, Once the unsuitable rivers were eliminated those rivers which <br />remained were examined in detailed, field checked and prioritized. <br /> <br />What was the reaction by river conservation interests to this evaluation <br />approach? <br /> <br />Generally state and private river interests felt that the approach was: <br /> <br />- Overly biased toward natural rivers <br /> <br />- Inflexible and rigid <br /> <br />Not using all of the existing river information and expertise which <br />was available <br /> <br />STUDY CHANGES <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />What changes were made by H.C.R.S. in response to these criti~iZms? <br /> <br />It was recognized that the river elimination approach needed to be comple- <br />mented with a positive river feature evaluation which was: <br /> <br />- More comprehensive and flexible <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />- Placing more emphasis on river values <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />.-.~_..,~-" ......~ " .... ,._~._.,~.-. .,.--'. ..- ~'---""-- <br /> <br />