Publications of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Council

Most of the publications listed here are written and produced by the Interagency Wild & Scenic Rivers Council (Council). Where an additional paper or reference is provided, the source is specifically noted. The Council does not endorse or ensure accuracy of these additional sources. Caveat emptor.

You can use the form below to navigate around this page (selecting a paper and clicking "GO" will take you to the correct area of this page), or simply scroll through.

ABOUT THE INTERAGENCY COUNCIL

Interagency Wild & Scenic Rivers Coordinating Council Members (50 KB PDF)

Questions & Answers on the Interagency Council (48 KB PDF) — Quick answers to some of the questions we've been asked about ourselves.

WILD & SCENIC RIVERS REFERENCE GUIDE

Reference Guide Contents (106 KB PDF) — The complete Table of Contents of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Reference Guide.

Purpose of the Reference Guide (38 KB PDF)

NATIONAL WILD & SCENIC RIVERS SYSTEM

An Introduction to Wild & Scenic Rivers (76 KB PDF) — A concise primer on wild and scenic rivers and what designation means to you.

Wild & Scenic Rivers Act Abridged (108 KB PDF) — The full act minus the rivers listed in Sections 3(a) and 5(a). The complete text, as well as all the amendments, is available in the table at the bottom of this page. Not a Council product.

Departments of the Interior and Agriculture Guidelines For Eligibility, Classification and Management (1982) - PDF Version (From Federal Register) — Not a Council product.

Wild & Scenic Rivers Table (156 KB PDF) — The full listing of designated wild and scenic rivers, complete with mileage, classifications and managing agencies.

TECHNICAL REPORTS OF THE COUNCIL

A Compendium of Questions & Answers Relating to Wild & Scenic Rivers (317 KB PDF) — Everything you wanted to know about wild and scenic rivers in a Q&A format. These Q&As can also be accessed through a searchable data base.

Designating Rivers Through Section 2(a)(ii) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (416 KB PDF) — This paper describes a process for designating rivers into the National System at the request of a state.

Establishment of Wild & Scenic River Boundaries (52 KB PDF)

Implementing the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act: Authorities and Roles of Key Federal Agencies (167 KB PDF) — What responsibilities do other agencies have for wild and scenic rivers? Here's the answer.

Protecting Resource Values on Non-Federal Lands (193 KB PDF) — How wild and scenic rivers are protected where the federal government doesn't manage the surrounding area.

Water Quantity and Quality as Related to the Management of Wild & Scenic Rivers (580 KB PDF) — How to protect water quality and instream flows.

Wild & Scenic River Management Responsibilities (254 KB PDF) — Considerations in managing—and developing management plans for—wild and scenic rivers.

The Wild & Scenic River Study Process (250 KB PDF) — This paper explains the wild and scenic river study process for congressionally authorized and agency-identified study rivers.

The Wild & Scenic Rivers Act: Section 7 (563 KB PDF) — This paper describes the standards and procedures used in evaluating the effects of proposed water resources projects.

Wild & Scenic Rivers and the Use of Eminent Domain PDF (115 KB PDF)

NON-COUNCIL PAPERS/INFORMATION

The River Partnership Paradigm (384 KB PDF) — Prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Wild & Scenic Rivers Act and Federal Water Rights (114 KB PDF) — Prepared by the Congressional Research Service.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Wild and Scenic Rivers Guide For Riverfront Property Owners (3.02 KB PDF - Color Brochure) — A concise guide for landowners along designated rivers that outlines their responsibility for management, how Section 7 of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act applies to their lands, and how best to protect the value of their lands as well as the values of the river.

Abbreviations & Glossary (51 KB PDF) — The abbreviations and glossary of terms used in the Reference Guide.

Selected Bibliography of Wild & Scenic River Publications (46 KB PDF) — Some of the publications we think are the best at explaining the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and how river protection is accomplished in this country.

National Wild & Scenic Rivers System Logos — Zipped or self-extracting files.