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<br />002439 <br /> <br />\ <br />\ <br /> <br />-2- <br /> <br />historic, or cultural values, The Act establishes three classifications <br />in the system: (1) "wild" (essentially primitive and unpolluted streams, <br />free of impoundments, and generally accessible only by trail); (2) "scenic" <br />(streams that are free of impoundments, with largely primitive and undeveloped <br />shorelines, but accessible in places by road); and (3) "recreational "(streams <br />that may have some impoundments and developments, and are readily accessible <br />by rail or car), Section 3 of the Act designates segments of eight rivers <br />as part of the initial national wild and scenic river system. None of these <br />were in Colorado, <br />Acquisition of up to 100 acres per mile on both sides of the river is <br />permitted and appropriation of funds from the Land and Water Conservation <br />Fund of $17 million for land acquisition is authorized, The Act prohibits <br />the taking of land by condemnation if more than 50 percent of the land is owned <br />by a federal or state agency, The Secretary of Agriculture is responsible <br />for river evaluation studies where national forest lands are involved; other- <br />wise, the Secretary of the Interior is to direct the studies. Federal <br />agencies are to cooperate closely with .stategoverhment when requested <br />(which has been the case in Colorado), The Act requires close coordination <br />in evaluation studies with interested agencies, particularly those which <br />are development-oriented, such as the Corps of Engineers and the Federal <br />Power Commission, The FPC is prohibited from licensing projects which <br />could adversely affect a designated stream. An important provision in the <br />Act specifies that the study should, among other things, evaluate "".the <br />reasonably forseeable potential uses of the land and water which would be <br />enhanced, foreclosed, or curtailed if the area were included in the national <br />wild and scenic river system,..". (Section 4a), <br />The Act provides for a moratorium on water development projects during <br />the evaluation period and prohibits mining within one quarter-mile of a <br />wild river, except for valid existing rights, State water laws and inter- <br />state water compacts are not to be affected by the Act. <br />In January, 1975, the Act was amended (P.L. 93-621) to include studies <br />on 29 additional rivers, including twelve in Colorado: Big Thompson; Cache <br />la Poudre; Colorado; Conejos; Elk; Encampment; Green; Gunnison; Los Pinos; <br />Pedro; Yampa; and Dolores. The amendment required that these river studies <br />be completed and reports submitted not later than October 2, 1979, <br />As of November, 1980, no rivers within Colorado had been designated <br />