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001961 INTRODUCTION The Piney River arises in the Gore Eagle's Nest Wilderness Area in Eagle County, Colorado within the White River National Forest. From there it flows generally northwest 25 miles to its junction with the upper mainstem of the Colorado River, slightly upstream from the State Bridge crossing on State Highway 131. Today, the Piney remains largely in its natural primitive state, free flowing, unimpounded and subject to only a few small ranch irriga- tion diversions. It possesses the outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geological, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural values referred to in the preamble of the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (P.L. 90-542) required of wild or scenic rivers. . Presently, there are no designated wild, scenic or recreational rivers in the State of Colorado 2 -- even though a large portion of this country's rivers and water resources arise here. About 80% of our state lands is under federal ownership. Four of our nation's major river systems start in Colorado: The Colorado, the Rio Grande, the Arkansas, and the Platte. These rivers and their tributaries, like the Piney River, pass through some of the most beautiful and unspoiled areas of the United States. Yet, not a single mile of any river in Colorado is included under the Wild and Scenic Riv~rs Act. r. 1. Section 3(a) refers to "instant" wild, scenic rivers. Section 5(a) refers to that section of P.L. 90-542 which originally listed 27 rivers as designates for potential addition to the federal system. Section 5(d) refers to a directive to the Secretaries of the Departments of Interior and Agriculture to make specific studies and investigations to determine which additional wild, scenic and recreational rivers shall be evaluated as potential alternative uses of water by the federal government, its overall planning and reporting for the use and development of water and related land resources nation-wide. On September 11, 1970, said secretaries announced an additional 47 5(d) rivers. None are in Colorado. Nothing under 5(d) prohibits the planning and construction of water projects on 5(d) rivers. The original 5(a) rivers studies were to be completed within 10 years from the date of the Act (10/2/68). Under Section 7(b) the F.P.C. is prohibited from constructing water-power projects on any section 5(a) rivers during a five year moratorium period. The B.O.R. is presently endeavoring to extend that five year moratorium another five years. 2. The Dominick-Moss proposal (5.449 and 5.30) for the Colorado River (Ruby, Horsethief, Westwater Canyons in Colorado and Utah) is being presented as a combined 5(a) proposal. The B.O.R. has submitted a review dated January 8, 1972, in support of this designation. Senator Dominick has recently indicated interest in including other rivers, like the Piney, in an omnibus bill.