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<br />TI.lDIptll>, <br /> <br />Indiana has i'l. leqislatively aut.horized natural rivers prOClram that was <br />passed in 1973. The act provides for three classes of rivers - natural, scenic, <br />and recreati0nal - based on tbe relat.ive neqrees of develo~ent and scenic <br />qualities of the corridor. Specific criteria have been nevelopeC by the Indiana <br />r-€part!T'ent of l,:atural Resources for inclusion of rivers in the svstF'P'. <br />Administration of tl1e system has been assiqned to. the pirector of the <br />t'.erartmen~,. <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />with reaard to land acauisition, the Direotor has the power of ~inent <br />dorrain under the Rivers Preservilton Act only for conservi"tion or water use <br />easements. Land aCQUisition rrust te tv necotiated purchase, exchance, 0onil~ton, <br />or ot~erwise, thus far. However, the Dower 'of eminent dOP'oin for la~l <br />acquisition exists under other aot~. Tbe a0t prohicits ty,F' C0nstruction of derrs <br />or 'other modifications G~at would invalidate the oriainal classification of the <br />river in the system. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />For each river 'mder constructicn, a citizens advisory croup is forI"€". <br />Composed of local landownwers, public officals, re?resentatives of local <br />orsanizations and other interested individuals, the croup works closely with the <br />Depar~.ent in preparation of a preservation and manq~nt plan. After public <br />hearings the stre~ is considered for desiqnation. Desiqnation is <br />administrative, by the Natural Resources Co~ission appointed hy the governor. <br /> <br />Another law, the Indiana River rOTflT1ission Act, pr0vides for the <br />establishmF.nt of a river commission for any river desiqnate0 as natural, scenic <br />or recreational, Counties contained in the area of a desianatee river mayor <br />may not elect to participatF' in the commission. A river co~issi0n, consistinc <br />of the Director of G~e Department or his designee, ano local landowners, bas G~e <br />duty to". . protect and el"hance the natural am scenic qualities of the river in <br />C'OQoeration with the DepartJl1ent of ~'atrual RescllrcF's." IIC 13-2-27 ,Sec. 17) In <br />addition, no one".,.~ay substantially affect~~e natural or scenic qualities of <br />a river that is the suhiect of '" river commission unless he has secured a pe~it <br />to do so from the commission." (Ie 13-2-27, ,"eo. 1R) <br /> <br />To date, three river se<m1ents haue heen desianatec.', for a total of 107.7 <br />miles. Two other river s~nts, totallinq 7R.5 miles, have been studier for <br />possible inclusion in the System, hut the Natural Resources ro~ission has not <br />yet designater them. Five additional rh'er se<]I1'ents, totallinc 1'4 miles, Clre <br />presently b.~inq studied at ~~e rRte of 0ne segw~nt per. year. <br /> <br />One of the program's ob;ectives is to "..,i<"eI1tify aI1d stud'! a <br />representative croup of riverine ecosvstems basec on the selection of <br />outstanding examples in each of Indiana's tbree physiOClraphic recioI1s." The <br />90al is to assure protectioI1 of rivers that are representative of these <br />reaions. <br /> <br />CCN'I'ACT: l1r. Joseh Payne <br />Chief, StreaI"s & ~ails Section <br />Division of Natural pesouroes <br />612 State Office Ruildin0 <br />Indianapolis, TIJ46204 <br />(317) 232-407('\ <br /> <br />18 <br />