For Immediate Release: March 28, 2007

Contact: David Boyd, Public Affairs Specialist, (970) 947-2832
Joe Stout, Kremmling Planning and Environmental Coordinator, (970) 724-3003

Wild and Scenic River Eligibility Study results available for Glenwood and Kremmling Field Offices

Glenwood Springs, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management today released the results of its Wild and Scenic River Eligibility Study for the Glenwood and Kremmling field offices.

The study details which river and stream segments occurring on BLM lands within the two field offices meet the criteria to be eligible for federal Wild and Scenic River designation.

The study, prepared in advance of the two field offices revising their Resource Management Plans, evaluated 244 river and stream segments and found 27 were eligible, including seven segments of the Colorado River. The study is available at http://www.blm.gov/rmp/co/kfo-gsfo

“This eligibility study gives us a list of the river and stream segments within our management boundaries with regionally or nationally significant values,” said Glenwood Springs Field Manager Jamie Connell. “We will now use this information to conduct a suitability study to determine whether a stream segment would make a worthy addition to the national Wild and Scenic Rivers system.”

This next step – the suitability study – will analyze current and future uses of the eligible stream segments with close coordination from a variety of stakeholders. The suitability study will be included in the Resource Management Plan revisions, which will analyze a range of possible alternatives. BLM may or may not actively recommend suitable segments for Wild and Scenic River designation, based on input from stakeholders and the public.

“It’s important to remember that Congress, not BLM, actually makes the decision about including segments in the Wild and Scenic River System,” said Acting Field Office Manager Peter McFadden.

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was passed in 1968 to preserve selected rivers or sections in their free-flowing condition to protect “the water quality of such rivers and to fulfill other vital national conservation purposes.” To be eligible for Wild and Scenic River designation, a river or stream segment must possess one or more “outstandingly remarkable values,” have sufficient water quality to support those values, and be free-flowing.

River segments determined to be eligible are afforded interim protective management under BLM authorities until a suitability study is completed. The Resource Management Plan revision process and suitability analysis is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009.

Public involvement in the suitability study will continue through the Resource Management Plan revision process. More information about this process is available at http://www.blm.gov/rmp/co/kfo-gsfo

The Cache La Poudre River is the only river in Colorado with segments currently included in the Wild and Scenic River system. For more information on Wild and Scenic Rivers, visit http://www.nps.gov/rivers/

-BLM-

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