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.'\'... . , .- ,<:,-:: . ^ - '1',;,. -~. .., ~ T~e wild and Scenic Rivers Act directs the Secretary of ~griculture or Secretary of t~e Interior to study and report on t~e suitability or nonsuitability of selected rivers for addition to the National wild and Scenic Rivers System, and directs the secretaries to evaluate the existing and potential uses of the selected rivers and to recommend future management of the river. In regard to State participation in these study and reporting activities, t~e act further states: / , ^ c' The study of any of said rivers shall be pur- sued in as close cooperation wit~ appropriate agencies of the affected State and its poli- tical subdivisions as possible, shall be car- ried on jointly with such agencies if request for such joint study is made by the State, and shall include a determination of the de- gree to which the State or its political sub- divisions might par':.icipate in the preser"Ja- tion and administration of the river should it be proposed for inclusion in the national wild and scenic rivers system. (' J~ .... -0 - (" ,;... " .' - , -\ , \ ''\ \.... '\ The original act (P.L. 90-542) designated a number of rivers throughout the nation as components of the National wild and Scenic Rivers SYstem. However, no Colorado rivers were included. The ~ct also designated a number of other rivers for detailed study as potential additions to the National system. Again, no Colorado rivers were included. . It was not until January 3, 1975, when Congress amended the original act through Public Law 93-621, that twelve Colorado rivers were designated for study as potential additions to the National System. The twelve study rivers included: the Big Thompson, Cache la Poudre, Colorado, Conejos, Dolores, Elk, Encampment, Green, Gunnison, Los pinos, Piedra, and Yamoa. Appendix A is a map Showing the location of the study rivers. As provided for in the act, the State of Colorado requested that these studies be conducted on a joint Federal-State basis. The Feder.al agencies concurred wi th the State's request. The State was represented by the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, acting through the staff of the Water Conservation Boarrl. Each of these sturlies has now been completed and the results are summarized in Appendix C. In performing these studies the joint Federal-State study team had two major tasks to accomplish. The first task was to determine if the study river was in fact eligible for inclusion into the naional system. To be eligible the river had to be a free-flowing stream and have related adjacent land that possesses MEMORANUDM -2- 0823 9/27/82