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Indiana's Sugar Creek ;s under con- sideration for the Srale's Nalural. Scenic. and Recrearlonal Rivers Syslem. resources of each designated river. The second task specified is to in- ventory and evaluate all other rivers in the State for possible inclusion in the sceniC fivers system. The act also eSlablishes a formal set of adVisory boards for the program. The Youghlogheny Rivel, due to its unique character, is singled out by the act for direct regulallon by the Department These regulations are now in eHecr. Detailed studies have been conducted on two rivers with studies and planning now underway on an additional three rivels Massachusetts A 1970 study of Massachusetts' polential scenic and recreallonal rivers culminated In the passage of the Massachusells Scenic and Rec- reational Rivers Act In October 1971. A lack of personnel has been the primary factor delaying Its Imple- mentation, Massachuselts worked on defining an Implementation pro- gram in 1976 and is seeking to carry it out on representative rivers. Michigan Michigan's Natural Rivers Pro- gram was iMrated In 1971 follow- ing passage 01 the Natural Rivers Act in December 1970 ThiS pro- gram, along With Wilaerf'less and The Yougfliogl1eny is one 01 nme srreams ;(1 Marylanc1s Srale System Natural Areas, Farmland and Open Space Preservation, Great lakes Shorelands, 5011 Erosion and Sedi- mentation Control, and others, is an important component of Michi- gan's total land management pro- gram_ FollOWing consultalion 01 MIchi- gan's Depanment of Natural Re- sources stall and fIeld personnel, focal groups, and private organiza- Itons, 30 fivers were initially se- lecled by the Natural Resources Commission In 1971 for study and pOSSible inclUSion In the Stale sys- lem Aecognlzmg that a coord mated approach was needed to implement Michigan's Natural Rivers Program, the Natural Rivers Task Force was formed In 1971 10 prOVide assist- ance, review, and coordination wllh the varying programs and disci- plines in the DNA. Presently, action to have a stream added to Michigan's system of Nat- ural Rivers must be initiated locally, rather than by the State. Following nomination. a long-range manage- ment plan lor the stream is devel- oped jointly by the DNA, local governments, and local CitIzens. This "natural rivers plan" IS then reVIewed by the public through hearings and other meellngs. and reVised to reflect Citizen concerns It the plan is then accepted by the Natural Resources Commission, Ihe liver may be designated a nalural river under one 01 the three cate- gories Wilderness, Wild-SceniC. or Country-Scenic Appropriate zoning ordinances muSI be adopted by local authOr Illes wlthm one year or the State will use State Acminis- tratlve Rules to zone the fiver. Oll::i58~ In 1972, the Jordan River was designated MIChigan's first '.wild- scenic" river. The program gamed momenlum in 1973 With the desig- nation of three natural rivers and initiation of the study of 13 01 hers: The Natural Resources Commission designated the Rouge and Betsie Rivers as "country-scenic" and "wild-scenic" rivers respectively. In December 1973 the Two Hear1ed River was given "wilderness" fiver status State Administrative Rules were developed to zone the Jordan River when II became clear that local governmenl units along the stream had decided not to accept the responsibility lor developing and administeflng the necessary local zOning ordinances. With time and experience it be- came apparenl thai increased pub- lic InvOlvement and parllCipation in the planning process of Michigan's Natural Rivers Program would be essential to ensure a proper bal- ance between protection of the re- source, the rights of the public, and lhe rights of the private properly owner. During 1974, the main thrust 01 the program was directed toward increaSing such publiC pal1icipa- tion and broadening publiC under- slanding o! the program, The White River was designated a "country-scenic" river in 1975 and the Boardman River was desig- nated "wild-scenic" early in 1976, bringing to six the number of rivers in Michigan's system. A total at 251 miles 01 mainslream and 390 miles of tributaries presently are included in Ihe State's Natural Rivers Sys- lem. In addition to lormat natural river designation, many streams in Michigan have been locally zoned as a direct resuil of the Michigan DNR's ellol1s, Minnesota Even in the tace of intensive de- velopment over the past decade. lhere are still Mmnesota rivers largely unal1ered by man. From these rivers, one can see, hear, and experience the same things that the Indians and early senlers did. 11