Why are rivers included in the Wild and Scenic Rivers System?
Some of the more prominent rivers in America can be included as a way of providing national recognition–a “hall of fame”–for great rivers that are an important part of our nation’s history and are a legacy to future generations. Other rivers may be included because their values are threatened by development. The system is a way for people to decide about the future of their river before its values are lost, and to provide specialized management that may be needed. Recently, this group of rivers has been growing in numbers.
