The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act gives communities ​the power to customize designation to meet local needs.

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act is inherently flexible. It was designed this way to encourage MORE local participation in the river’s management. There is no such thing as a standard Wild and Scenic Designation. Every designation is different because every river and every community is different. The Crystal River Wild and Scenic effort seeks only that feature of the Act that will prohibit the building of dams and out-of-basin diversions on the main stem of the Crystal River. The community is currently undergoing a collaborative stakeholder process to define shared values and explore options in a shared learning experience. Coalition members are participating in that process and are hopeful that a community-supported designation proposal emerges that reflects local values and provides a long-term vision for a free-flowing river.

A Wild and Scenic River designation conserves the special character of rivers, while also recognizing the potential for other appropriate uses and development. It encourages river management that crosses political boundaries and promotes public participation in developing goals for river protection.

The National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (PL 90-542:16 USC 1271-1287, as amended) is designed to preserve certain rivers and streams with outstanding natural, heritage, or recreational features in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations. There is one designated National Wild and Scenic River in Colorado, the Cache la Poudre, which was designated in 1986. The White River National Forest’s eligibility study determined the upper 39 miles of the main stem of the Crystal River, from the headwaters to the Sweet Jessup irrigation canal, as eligible for inclusion in the wild and scenic river system. The outstandingly remarkable values as determined by the Forest Service on the Crystal River are scenery, historic, and recreational values.

Wild & Scenic Designation DOES:

  • Prohibit the construction of new federally-licensed dams and water development projects
  • Ensures water quality is maintained or enhanced
  • Authorize federal funds to assist states, local governments, landowners, and individuals in the planning, protection, and management of Wild and Scenic Rivers
  • Requires the development of a Comprehensive River Management Plan, with community input and review, to guide management along designated rivers.

Wild & Scenic Designation DOES NOT:

  • Have any effect on existing water rights
  • Affect existing irrigation systems and other water development facilities
  • Restrict development on private lands within the river corridor or give the federal government any authority over private lands
  • Transfer any private land to the federal government

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