How would Wild and Scenic designation change the way these rivers and streams are currently managed?
It wouldn’t. The reason why we want to include these rivers and streams in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System is because we cherish these waters the way they are right now and we want to keep them that way for future generations to enjoy. Wild and scenic designation would protect these waters by: prohibiting the construction of new dams and other potentially harmful water development projects; making sure each river’s “outstandingly remarkable values” are protected; ensuring that water quality is maintained and enhanced; creating a federal reserved water right for the amount of unappropriated water necessary to maintain a river’s special values; and requiring the development of cooperative river management plans to guide future use.
