WSP04519

• File Number: 7630.285
• Description: Wild and Scenic - General
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 5/22/1978
• Author: US GAO
• Title: Federal Protection and Preservation of Wild and Scenic Rivers is Slow and Costly - By the Comptroller General - Report to the Congress of the United States
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

000456

river for national designation and the potentIal environu,ental,
economic, and social impacts Gf adding the river to the
national system. Since inception of the wild and scenic rivers
program, the Congress has authorized the study of 58 rivers as
potential additions to the system. In his May 23, 1977, mes-
s~ge to the Congress, President Carter proposed to designate
another 20 river segments for study.

The 1968 act soecifically encourages the addition of
State wild and scenic river~ t~ the national system by pro-
viding that "pon the request af a Governor, rivers designated
by a State legislature as wild, scenic, or recreationvl r.an be
considered for immediate national designation. The Secretary
of the Interior determines if the river meets the standards
of the national system, but the administrative responsibilities
and costs must remain with the State.

The act establishing the national rivers system did not
define the system or establish parameters. The system is
openended in intent, geogra~nic distribution, and balance of
types of r'~ers to be included. BOR has initiated ar. effort
to define what should comprise the scope of a basic system.
It is identifying those rivers most likely to gualify as can-
didates for the national system. BOR plans to complete the
dpfinition of the system in fiscal year 1978 and transmit the
proposed basic system to the Congress.

Preservation .of rivers l~th~_~~tional_~~~~

Inclusion in the national system preserves the river
by prohibiting any federally funded, assisted, or licensed
water pro)ects, such as dams or reservoirs. The act pro-
vides Federal ri'rer managers with tools to control develop-
ment of river corridor lands. Federal managers can directly
control development through outright purchase of full prop-
erty rights (fee ~imple) or selected develooment rights
(easements). In ad~ition, the act encourages Federal m~na-
gers to USe State and local .,and use controls to control
d~velopment within the river corridor.

The act restricts the amount of private lands which can
be acquired through condemnation. Federal agencies can
acquire private Yands in fee title for use as recreation
access points and picnic and campin~ areas, but if 50 percent
or more of the entire river area iE in public ownership, con-
demna~ion cannot be used. Federal agencies cannot acquire
fee title to an average of more than 100 acres per mile on
both sides of the river. Scenic easements can De acquired
through condemnation in sufficient amount to make the total
acquisition not more than an average of 320 acres per ~ile.

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