Revised forest plans to bring closure to river designations
Copyright 2000 Associated Press
December 8, 2000
McCALL, Idaho - Nearly 250 miles of rivers and creeks within the Payette and Boise national forests are being recommended to Congress for designation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
It is part of their newly revised forest plans.
The recommendations hopefully bring to a close the issue of suitability for the wild, scenic and recreation designation of two rivers and three creeks which were deemed eligible under the 1988 forest plans.
The recommendations in the 2000 plans are significant because the plan two years ago determined their eligibility but not suitability, Payette Forest Supervisor Dave Alexander said.
Suitable rivers are specifically recommended for wild and scenic designation. Eligible rivers are only identified by the Forest Service for a possible listing without a recommendation to Congress.
In the 1988 plan, the issue of eligibility prompted an appeal by American Rivers conservation group, which wanted the forests to complete a suitability study and provide temporary protection of the rivers.
"I think Wild and Scenic rivers are significant," Alexander said. "We've managed them so as not to preclude their designation and to bring the issue to closure."
The Secesh River, Monumental Creek, Big Creek and French Creeks are on the Payette forest, while the South Fork of the Salmon River crosses both forests. They were studied as a result of the 1989 settlement between the Payette and American Rivers.
The "wild" category means remote rivers in relatively undisturbed physical environments. "Scenic" is for rivers which may be accessible by road and have a fair amount of development largely unnoticeable from the river. "Recreational" is for streams with considerable development such as boat launches or campgrounds.
A mix of the categories may be found on a single river.
Some segments of the rivers pass through private land holdings and the acquisition of easements or titles for some property is recommended to help protect the Wild and Scenic qualities.