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

000468

include the rivers into the national system. In 1973 the
Governor again requested national ~esignation for the
D~schlltes River, a unit of the Oregon scenic waterways
system. The Governor cited a desire of Oregonians to pre-
serve the unique quality of scenic streams and stated that
Federal endorsement of the State's goal would be in the
national interest of preserving ths unique character of
undeveloped 'stream systems. The Secretary again declined.
Tne Secretary's refusal follow~d from a Department of the
Interior Solicit~r's opinion that the presence of substan-
tial Federal la~d3 along tte b~nkB of the oroposed rivers
would be contrary to the stipula~ion that administration
of the rivers must be at no expense to the Federal Govern-
ment.

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I
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Recently, the State of Califo~nia also expressed an
interest in ubtaining secretarial designation of,rivers
protected under the State wild and scenic rivers program.
BOR inf0rmed the State of the SOlicitor's opinion regard-
ing the Oregon request and noted that the ~alifornia
rivers might also be ineligible f0r secretarial designa-
tio", as subst~ntial Federal lands were involved.

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Department of Agriculture officials commented that
if this provision were removed, (1) rivers would lack the
detJiled st~dy that analyzes ~he value forgone or fore-
closed if t~e river is added to the system, (2) the
incentives for States to implement a program to preserve
and protect rivers where State and private lands pred0mi-
nate w0uld be removed, and (3) it is doubtful if the
Federal ~03ts vould be reduced.

~

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act specifically encourages
St~te participation in the wild and scenic rivers program.
Because many potential wild and scenic rivers flow through
substantial blocks of Federal lands, particularly in the
western United States, secretarial designation will be pre-
cludeu for many of these rivers. ~emoval of this barrier
would give the Secretary of the Interior greater flexibility
to approve, on a case-by-case basis, State river management
plans that adequately protect the Feneral Government's
interest. Approval might be continqe~t on land exchanges
or COOFerative aqreements to shift Federal administrative
responsibilities and costs to State and local agencies.

CONCLUSICNS

The Wild and Scenic Rivers ~ct directed that study
r.ivers be studied 3~ quickly as possible to deter~in~ their

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