Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, Amendments & Section 2(a)(ii) Additions

The files below represent the original Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, as amended, and the individual amendments since 1968. The amendments to the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act represent 16 USC, Sections 1271-1287. Also included are the Federal Register notices for Section 2(a)(ii) designations.

Section 2(a)(ii) designations are not amendments to the Act; however, these documents represent additions to the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System on an equal basis as those rivers designated through amendments to Section 3 of the Act.  For more information on Section 2(a)(ii) designations, please see our white paper, Designating Rivers Through Section 2(a)(ii) of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act.

Do not rely solely on the text below under P.L. 90-542 (Original Act). Later amendments may have modified a particular section. We encourage you to visit our paper on the Evolution of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act: A History of Substantive Amendments 1968-2013.

1968

The original legislation. It protected the first 8 rivers (Clearwater, Eleven Point, Feather, Rio Grande, Rogue, St. Croix, Salmon (Idaho), and Wolf), and identified 27 additional rivers for study—Allegheny (Pennsylvania); Bruneau, Moyie, Priest, St. Joe, Salmon (Idaho), Buffalo (Tennessee); Chattooga (Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina); Clarion (Pennsylvania); Delaware (New York, Pennsylvania); Flathead (Montana); Gasconade (Missouri); Illinois (Oregon); Little Beaver Creek, Little Miami (Ohio); Maumee (Indiana, Ohio); Missouri (Montana); Obed (Tennssee); Penobscot (Maine); Pere Marquette, Pine (Michigan); Rio Grande (Texas); St. Croix (Minnesota, Wisconsin); Skagit (Washington); Suwannee (Florida, Georgia); Upper Iowa (Iowa); and Youghiogheny (Maryland).

1970

Designated the Allagash Wilderness Waterway in Maine through Section 2(a)(ii).

1972

Designated the lower St. Croix River in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

1974

Designated the Little Miami River in Ohio through Section 2(a)(ii).

Designated the Chattooga River in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

1975

Designated the Rapid River (Idaho) and Snake River (Oregon and Idaho), and added additional segments of the Snake River for study.

1976

Designated the New River in North Carolina through Section 2(a)(ii).

Designated the Flathead River (Montana), Missouri River (Montana), and Obed River (Tennessee). Added the Housatonic River for study. Clarified the Feather River (California) designation and the Piedra River (Colorado) study.

Designated the lower St. Croix River in Minnesota and Wisconsin through Section 2(a)(ii).

Designated the Little Beaver River in Ohio through Section 2(a)(ii).

1978

Designated the Pere Marquette River (Michigan), Rio Grande (Texas), Skagit River (Washington), Middle and Upper Delaware (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania), North Fork of the American River (California), additional segment of the Missouri River (Nebraska, South Dakota), and St. Joe River (Idaho). Added for study the Kern River (California); Loxahatchee and Myakka Rivers (Florida); Ogeechee River (Georgia); Salt, San Francisco, Verde Rivers (Arizona); Fish Creek (New York); Black Creek (Mississippi); Allegheny (Pennsylvania); Bluestone, Cacapon, Gauley, and Greenbrier Rivers (West Virginia); Escatawpa River (Alabama, Mississippi); Soldier Creek (Alabama); and Red River (Kentucky). Made several technical amendments to the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act.

1980

Designated Alagnak, Alatna, Andreafsky, Aniakchak, Beaver Creek, Birch Creek, Charley, Chilikadrotna, Delta, Fortymile, Gulkana, Ivishak, John, Kobuk, Mulchatna, Noatak, North Fork Koyukuk, Nowitna, Salmon, Selawik, Sheenjek, Tinayguk, Tlikakila, Unalakleet, and Wind. Added the Colville, Etivluk-Nigu, Kanektok, Kisaralik, Koyuk, Melozitna, Porcupine, Sheenjek, Situk, Squirrel, Utukok, and Yukon for study. Set special provisions for Alaska (e.g., acres per mile within boundaries).

1981

Designated the American, Eel, Klamath, Smith, and Trinity Rivers in California through Section 2(a)(ii).

Designated an additional segment of the Little Miami River in Ohio through Section 2(a)(ii).

1984

Designated the Illinois and Owyhee Rivers (Oregon); added the North Umpqua River (Oregon) for study.

Designated the Tuolumne River (California).

Designated Au Sable River (Michigan); allowed lamprey control structures on the Pere Marquette River (Michigan).

Designated the Verde River (Arizona).

1985

Designated the Loxahatchee River in Florida through Section 2(a)(ii).

1986

Designated Klickitat and White Salmon Rivers (Washington); added the Klickitat and White Salmon Rivers (Washington) for study.

Designated the Horsepasture River (North Carolina).

Designated the Cache la Poudre River (Colorado), Saline Bayou (Louisiana), and Black Creek (Mississippi); added Farmington (Connecticut) and Great Egg Harbor (New Jersey) for study; made technical amendments.

1987

Designated the Kings River in California.

Designated the Kern River in California.

Designated Merced River and added other parts of the Merced River (California) for study.

1988

Designated the Bluestone River in West Virginia; made technical amendments on acreages.

Designated numerous Oregon rivers—Big Marsh Creek, Chetco, Clackamas, Crescent Creek, Crooked, Deschutes, Donner und Blitzen, Eagle Creek, Elk, Grande Ronde, Imnaha, John Day, Joseph Creek, Little Deschutes, Lostine, Malheur, McKenzie, Metolius, Minam, North Fork Crooked, North Fork John Day, North Fork Malheur, North Fork of the Middle Fork Willamette, North Fork Owyhee, North Fork Smith, North Fork Sprague, North Powder, North Umpqua, Powder, Quartzville Creek, Roaring, Salmon, Sandy, South Fork John Day, Sycan, Upper Rogue, Wenaha, West Little Owyhee, White, and Whychus Creek. Added the Blue, Chewaucan, North Fork Malheur, South Fork McKenzie, Steamboat Creek, and Wallowa for study; and added the Klamath River in Oregon for study under Section 2(a)(ii).

Designated the Sipsey Fork of the West Fork River in Alabama.

Designated the Rio Chama in New Mexico.

Designated the Wildcat River in New Hampshire.

1989

Designated the Vermilion River in Illinois through Section 2(a)(ii).

1990

Designated the Jemez and Pecos Rivers in New Mexico.

Designated the Smith River in California.

Designated the Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone River in Wyoming; added the Sudbury, Assebet and Concrod Rivers (Massachusetts) for study.

1991

Designated Niobrara and Missouri Rivers (Nebraska and South Dakota); added the Niobrara River for study; made technical amendments to the Missouri River designation.

1992

Designated numerous Arkansas rivers—Big Piney Creek, Buffalo, Cossatot, Hurricane Creek, Little Missouri, Mulberry, North Sylamore Creek, and Richland Creek.

Designated numerous Michigan rivers—Bear Creek, Black, Carp, East Branch Tahquamenon, Indian, Manistee, Ontonagon, Paint, Pine, Presque Isle, Sturgeon (Hiawatha National Forest), Sturgeon (Ottawa National Forest), Whitefish, and Yellow Dog. Added the Brule (including Wisconsin), Carp, Little Manistee, Ontonagon, Paint, Presque Isle, Sturgeon (Hiawatha National Forest), Sturgeon (Ottawa National Forest), Tahquamenon, White, and Whitefish for study.

California: Designated Sespe, Sisquoc and Big Sur Rivers; Added Piru, Little Sur, Matilija, and Lopez Rivers, and Sespe Creek for study.

Designated the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania; added the Clarion River and Mill Creek in Pennsylvania for study.

Designated the Great Egg Harbor River in New Jersey.

Designated the Merced River in California; added the North Fork Merced River for study.

1993

Designated the Maurice River in New Jersey.

Designated the Red River in Kentucky.

Designated the Westfield River in Massachusetts through Section 2(a)(ii).

1994

Designated the Rio Grande in New Mexico; added the Rio Grande for study.

Designated the Klamath River in Oregon through Section 2(a)(ii).

Designated the Farmington River in Connecticut.

Designated Big & Little Darby Creeks in Ohio through Section 2(a)(ii).

Designated the Cossatot River in Arkansas through Section 2(a)(ii).

1996

Designated the Clarion River in Pennsylvania.

Designated the Wallowa River in Oregon through Section 2(a)(ii).

Designated the Lamprey River in New Hampshire; put Hanford Reach (Columbia River, Washington) in permanent study status; adjusted Bluestone River (West Virginia) boundaries; made technical amendments.

Designated Elkhorn Creek in Oregon.

1998

Designated the Lumber River in North Carolina through Section 2(a)(ii).

1999

Designated the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Rivers in Massachusetts.

2000

Designated an additional segment of the Lamprey River in New Hampshire.

Designated Donner und Blitzen River and Wildhorse and Kiger Creeks in Oregon.

Designated the Wekiva River in Florida.

Designated the lower Delaware River in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Designated White Clay Creek in Delaware and Pennsylvania.

Designated Wilson Creek in North Carolina.

2002

Designated the Rio Icacos, Rio de la Mina, and Rio Mameyes in Puerto Rico.

2004

Designated an additional segment of the Westfield River in Massachusetts through Section 2(a)(ii).

2005

Designated the White Salmon River in Washington.

2006

Designated the Musconetcong River in New Jersey and allowed for a community vote on another segment of the river (see the 2022 Federal Register notice).

Designated the Black Butte River in California.

2008

Designated the Eightmile River in Connecticut.

2009

Designated the South Fork Clackamas, Eagle Creek, Middle Fork Hood, South Fork Roaring, Zig Zag, Fifteenmile Creek, East Fork Hood, Collawash, and Fish Creek in Oregon; designated Battle Creek, Big Jacks Creek, West Fork Bruneau, Cottonwood Creek, Deep Creek, Jarbidge, Little Jacks Creek, North Fork Owyhee, South Fork Owyhee, Red Canyon, Sheep Creek, and Wickahoney Creek in Idaho; designated Amargosa, Owens Headwaters, Cottonwood Creek, Piru Creek, North Fork San Jacinto, Fuller Mill Creek, Palm Canyon Creek, and Bautista Creek in California; also designated the Virgin River (Utah), Fossil Creek (Arizona), Snake River Headwaters (Wyoming) and Taunton River (Massachusetts); Added to Elk and Owyhee River designations in Oregon; added the Missisquoi and Trout Rivers (Massachusetts) for study.

2014

Designated Cave Creek (River Styx), Middle Fork Snoqualmie, Pratt, and Illabot Creek in Washington; designated Mississquoi & Trout in Vermont; added to the White Clay Creek (Delaware ann Pennsylvania) designation; added Cave Creek, Lake Creek, No Name Creek, Panther Creek, and Upper Cave Creek in Oregon for study; also added for study Beaver, Chipuxet, Queen, Wood, Pawcatuck, Nashua, Squannacook, Nissitissit and York Rivers.

2018

Designated East Rosebud Creek in Montana.

2019

Added Elk Creek, Franklin Creek, Lobster Creek, Molalla River, Nestucca River, North Fork Silver Creek, Spring Creek, Walker Creek, and Wasson Creek (Oregon); Farmington River & Salmon Brook (Connecticut); Wood-Pawcatuck River System (Connecticut/Rhode Island); Nashua (Massachusetts/New Hampshire); and Deep Creek, Surprise Creek, and Whitewater River (California). Designated additional mileage on the Amargosa River (California); West Branch of the Farmington River (Connecticut); and Chetco, Elk, and Rogue Rivers (Oregon). Changed the name of Squaw Creek to Whychus Creek (Oregon). Made classification corrections to the Elk River (Oregon) and other technical amendments.

2022

Designated the Housatonic River (Connecticut) and York (Maine) Rivers; added the Kissimmee and Little Manatee Rivers in Florida for study.

Added an additional segment of the Musconetcong River.