River Advocates Urge Congress to Designate More Wild and Scenic Waterways

Tribal leaders, small business owners, and others cite value of healthy, free-flowing rivers

Article By: Brett Swift & Patrick Lane
Projects: U.S. Public Lands and Rivers Conservation
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River Advocates Urge Congress to Designate More Wild and Scenic Waterways
Today, less than 1% of the more than 3.5 million miles of rivers in the U.S. are protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The Gila River in New Mexico (above) is among those that should be protected under the law.
Nathan Newcomer

Clean, healthy rivers are important to the natural, cultural, and economic vitality of communities throughout the U.S. To help keep that reality top of mind, dozens of advocates from throughout the country gathered in Washington, D.C., during the annual Wild and Scenic Rivers Hill Week, March 6-10, to urge Congress to permanently protect some of the country’s most vulnerable and remarkable rivers. The group met with more than 30 key lawmakers, congressional staff, and agency officials to call for the enactment of priority wild and scenic river proposals during this session of Congress. 

Rivers provide essential ecosystem services such as clean drinking water, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities. Yet, many rivers in the U.S. are under threat from development, pollution, and climate change. 

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 was intended to safeguard free-flowing waterways with outstanding “scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values.” The act has protected many worthy rivers, but many others that remain unprotected are in danger of being degraded or diverted.

Currently, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System includes more than 200 rivers that total more than 12,000 miles of protection, but this is only a fraction of the 3.5 million miles of rivers throughout the country. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Coalition, of which The Pew Charitable Trusts is a member, is working to secure protection for more of our nation’s rivers.

During the week, the coalition and constituent participants—which included Tribal leaders, small business owners, anglers, and other community members—advocated for 12 bills to expand the wild and scenic rivers network, including these five:

The Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which local advocates are urging U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) to reintroduce in this session of Congress, would designate 126,000 acres in the Olympic Peninsula as wilderness and 19 rivers as wild and scenic—including the Dungeness, pictured above.
Douglas Scott
The River Democracy Act would protect roughly 3,300 miles of rivers in Oregon as wild and scenic, including the 56-mile-long Illinois River (above), which flows through the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest in the southwestern part of the state. The legislation was crafted after U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) asked Oregonians to nominate their favorite waterways for protection. Sens. Wyden and Merkley are expected to reintroduce the legislation soon.
Zachary Collier
The Smith River National Recreation Area Expansion Act would protect 74 river miles in Oregon and permanently withdraw 58,000 acres from new mining claims. The area is a popular destination for fishing, camping, and other recreational activities, and it is home to a diverse array of wildlife, such as coho and Chinook salmon, and coastal cutthroat trout. The bill was recently reintroduced this year by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA).
Greg Shine
The M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act would designate portions of the Gila River in New Mexico as wild and scenic. The bill was recently reintroduced by Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and co-sponsored by the entire New Mexico delegation. For over a decade, local community leaders have been pushing for protection of the Gila and San Francisco Rivers. The Gila River is one of the last free-flowing rivers in the Southwest and provides critical habitat for several threatened and endangered species, including the Gila trout, Chiricahua leopard frog, and yellow-billed cuckoo.
Nathan Newcomer
The Montana Headwaters Legacy Act, introduced last Congress by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), would designate 377 miles of rivers and streams in the state—including segments of the Yellowstone, Gallatin, and Madison rivers—as wild and scenic. These rivers provide essential habitat for several species of fish and wildlife, and they are a significant economic driver for the region.
Preston Keres Department of Agriculture

Pew will continue to work with Congress, Tribes, and stakeholders to pass these locally supported initiatives to safeguard these vital waters.

Brett Swift is a senior manager and Patrick Lane is an officer with The Pew Charitable Trusts’ U.S. public lands and rivers conservation project.