Utah has no rivers protected under the 1968 federal
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, but that might change. This month, the
Forest Service released a draft report on recommendations for
possible wild and scenic designation within the Uinta National
Forest. This forest alone has 92 small sections of rivers eligible
for designation, but the agency plans to recommend only four.
Zachary Frankel, executive director of the nonprofit Utah Rivers
Council, fears the agency is saving the remaining river sections
for development. But Reese Pope, forest planner for the Uinta and
Wasatch-Cache national forests, says only four river segments were
picked because they represent “the best of the best sections of
river,” which the agency interprets as the intention of the act. A
wild and scenic designation allows rivers to be protected in their
existing state and does not apply to private holdings. To be
eligible, a section of river must be “free flowing” and possess one
or more qualities of outstanding value, such as wildlife, or scenic
or geologic features. A 45-day public comment period, ending Nov.
21, will be held before a final inventory is
determined.
To become involved, contact Reese
Pope at the Uinta National Forest office, 88 West 100 North, Provo,
UT 84601 (801/377-5780); or the Utah Rivers Council at
801/486-4776.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline A chance to go wild.
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