Under the authority of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, a river or river section may be designated by the U.S. Congress or the Secretary of the Interior. As of 2004, a total of 156 rivers have wild and scenic status.
Selected rivers in the United States preserved for possessing outstandingly, remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values. Rivers, or sections of rivers, so designated are preserved in their free-flowing condition and are not dammed or otherwise improved.
Designation as a wild and scenic river is not the same as designation as a national park and does not generally lock up a river like a Wilderness Area designation. The idea is not to halt development and use of a river; instead, the goal is to preserve the character of a river.
National Wild and Scenic rivers are each managed by one or more agencies of the federal or state government.
Feeds |
Contact