Historic Wild and Scenic River Bill Heads to President's Desk

The second largest Wild and Scenic Rivers package in history now heads to President Obama's desk, after passing the House of Representatives today by a vote of 285-140. The bipartisan H.R. 146, the legislative vehicle for the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, will safeguard over 1,100 miles of rivers in Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Wyoming, Utah, California, and Massachusetts. The legislation includes important protections for 350,000 acres of land along 86 new Wild and Scenic Rivers and it also contains new Wilderness designations for over two million acres of public land. Last week the bill passed the Senate by a vote of 77-20.

"Passage of this bill is an expression of the home grown support for one of the largest environmental protection measures in decades," said Rebecca Wodder, President of American Rivers. "Today congressional leaders established a legacy of clean water, outdoor recreation and the economic benefits of healthy rivers and wild places for our grandchildren."

American Rivers is extremely grateful to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Chairman Jeff Bingaman, Chairman Nick Rahall, and all the sponsors of the Wild and Scenic Rivers provisions. Without their determination to see this legislation through we could not have protected these national treasures for future generations of Americans.

A Wild and Scenic River designation protects riverside land along both sides of a river corridor, blocks dams and other harmful water projects, and preserves a river's free-flowing nature. It helps protect and improve clean water, as well as the river's unique historic, cultural, scenic, ecological, and recreational values.

The law was enacted in 1968 and three years ago American Rivers set the goal of designating 40 new Wild and Scenic Rivers by the 40th anniversary of the law. With passage of this package we more than double our goal by designating 86 new Wild and Scenic Rivers.

"From the Snake River headwaters in Wyoming to the desert Southwest's Fossil Creek, to the trout streams of the Rockies, and the popular fishing and paddling streams of the Pacific Northwest, local people--hikers, boaters, hunters and anglers--pushed for these historic protections," said Wodder. "These rivers are the lifeblood of the land and our communities and the Wild and Scenic River designations are a tremendous gift to future generations."

The details of the new Wild and Scenic designations can be found below:

Arizona
Area: Fossil Creek
Designated River Miles: 16.8
Rivers: Portions of Fossil Creek
Sponsored by: Sen. John McCain

California
Area: Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Wilderness
Designated River Miles: 66.9
Rivers: Portions of Amargosa River, Owens River Headwaters, and Cottenwood Creek.
Sponsored by: Sen. Barbara Boxer, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Howard McKeon

Area: California Desert and Mountain Heritage
Designated River Miles: 31
Rivers: Portions of North Fork San Jacinto, Fuller Mill Creek, Palm Canyon Creek, and Bautista Creek.
Sponsored by: Rep. Mary Bono-Mack and Sen. Barbara Boxer, Sen. Dianne Feinstein

Idaho
Area: Owyhee Public Land Management
Designated River Miles: 316.3
Rivers: Portions of Battle Creek, Big Jacks Creek, Bruneau River, West Fork Bruneau, Cottonwood Creek, Deep Creek, Dickshooter Creek, Duncan Creek, Jarbidge River, Little Jacks Creek, North Fork Owyhee River, Owyhee River, Red Canyon, Sheep Creek, South Fork Owyhee, and Wickahoney Creek.
Sponsored by: Sen. Mike Crapo

Massachusetts
Area: Taunton River
Designated River Miles: 40
Rivers: Portions of the Taunton River.
Sponsored by: Rep. Barney Frank and Sen. Ted Kennedy

Oregon
Area: Mt. Hood Wilderness
Designated River Miles: 81
Rivers: Portions of South Fork Clackamas, Eagle Creek, Middle Fork Hood River, South Fork Roaring River, Zig Zag River, Fifteenmile Creek, East Fork Hood River, Collawash, and Fish Creek.
Sponsored by: Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Greg Walden

Area: Copper Salmon Wilderness
Designated River Miles: 11.2
Rivers: Portions of the North Fork Elk and South Fork Elk.
Sponsored by: Rep. Peter DeFazio and Sen. Ron Wyden

Utah
Area: Zion National Park Wild and Scenic Rivers
Designated River Miles: 165
Rivers: Portions of Taylor Creek, North Fork of Taylor Creek, Middle Fork Taylor Creek, South Fork of Taylor Creek, Timber creek and tributaries, Laverkin Creek, Willis Creek, Beartrap Canyon, Hop Valley, Current Creek, Cane Creek, Smith Creek, North Creek, Wildcat Canyon, Little Creek, Russell Gulch, Grapevine Wash, Pinespring Wash, Wolf Springs Wash, Kolok Creek, Oak Creek, Goose Creek, Deep Creek, North Fork of Virgin River, Imlay Canyon, Orderville Canyon, Mystery Canyon, Echo Canyon, Behunin Canyon, Heaps Canyon, Burch Creek, Clear Creek, Pine Creek, East Fork of Virgin River, and Shunes Creek.
Sponsored by: Sen. Robert Bennett

Vermont
Area: Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Study
Rivers: Portions of the Missisqoui and Trout rivers will be studied for Wild and Scenic eligibility.
Sponsored by: Rep. Peter Welch and Sen. Patrick Leahy

Wyoming
Area: Snake River Headwaters
Designated River Miles: 387.5
Rivers: Portions of Bailey Creek, Blackrock Creek, Buffalo Fork of Snake River, Crystal Creek, Granite Creek, Gros Ventre River, Hoback River, Lewis, Pacific Creek, Shoal Creek, Snake River, Willow Creek, and Wolf Creek.
Sponsored by: Sen. John Barrasso