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

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initiation and completion of th~ Tuolumne wild and scenic
river study. ~he lltilities want this study completed and a
decision made i~l regard to lhe river's inclusi0n into the
national wild and scenic rivers system so long term planning
for ~dditional power sources can proc2ed. The utilities are
concerned that if the study is delayed, power to meet in-
creased demands within the next few yeaes will have to be
purchased from more costly short term sources. Also, the
utilities note that if the TuoJumne is not added to the
national system and the hydroelectric project is eventually
approved, any extensive delay in completing the river study
and reachong the decision will both disrupt planning and
increase project costs uue to increases in construction
costs during the delay.

~low ~tudX-Eace indicates need for
greater management control ana commitment

The studies process is slow because of a variety of
problems that indicate ~need for greater management control
and commitment by BOR and the Forest Service. In many in-
stances, the study agencies have not initiated river studies
until years after authorization. Once studies are initiated,
neither BOR nor the Fores~ Service has maintained adequate
control over their progress to assure that they adhere to
planned study schedules. Both agencies prepare a detailed
plan at the beginning of each river study. Study plans
define the scope of field work and estimated C03tS and in-
clude a schedule of actions with due dates for work inputs
and study products.

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The regional offices and study teams develop a specific
schedule for each study using the Bureau of Outdoor Recrea-
ti0n's 22 1/2-month suggested study schedule and the Forest
Service's suggested 3D-month study schedule. These study
?lans and schedules are approved by regional offices of the
two study agencies.

~

We found that t~e study agencies have not r9quired study
teams to adhere to planned study schedules. Only one of the
s~ven river studies we reviewed, the urp~c Mississi~pi, was
completed on schedule, due in part to the personal interest
expressed by Vice President Mondale. TW0 of the studies, the
Snake and Tuolumne, were no~ completed at the time of our
review. The Snake stud1 was essentially on schedule, but the
Tuolumne study was many months b2hind the target dates of the
original study schedule.

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