Wild and Scenic Rivers

Objectives

Manage designated segments of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System by protecting their outstandingly remarkable values, and maintain and enhance the natural integrity of river-related values.

Protect outstandingly remarkable values identified on BLM-administered lands within the study corridors of eligible river segments studied and administratively found suitable for inclusion as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

Provide interim protective management for outstandingly remarkable values identified on BLM-administered lands along river segments determined eligible but not studied for inclusion as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

Manage the natural integrity of river-related values to maintain or enhance the highest tentative classification determined for rivers found eligible or studied for suitability.

Land Use Allocations

Designated River Segments
River Segment	Classification (for BLM segment)	Miles	Approx. BLM Acres
Clackamas River	Recreational	27.0	200
Quartzville Creek	Recreational	9.7	1,600
Salmon River	Recreational Scenic	6.7 11.8	500 (for both segments)
Sandy River	Recreational Scenic	16.6 3.8	500 (for both segments)

River Segments Found Suitable for Inclusion in the National System
River Segment	Tentative Classification	Miles	Approx. BLM Acres	Percent BLM
Nestucca River (segment A)	Recreational	15.3	3,000	72
Molalla River (segment B)	Recreational	12.4	3,300	84

The corridor width for rivers found eligible or studied for suitability is generally defined as one-quarter mile on either side of the river (approximately one-half mile wide corridor). Technically these are not land use allocations at this time. If Congress passes legislation to designate them, they will be automatically added to the allocations of the resource management plan.

See map 7 for segment locations.

Management Actions/Direction

Revise the Salmon River, Sandy River, and Quartzville Creek Wild and Scenic River management plans to address attainment of Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives. Manage these river segments according to the revised management plans.

Provide the following types of interim protection on river segments found eligible or suitable for inclusion as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System:

Eligible and/or suitable recreational rivers: exclude timber harvest in the Riparian Reserves, moderately restrict development of leasable and salable minerals, and protect a segment's free-flowing values and identified outstandingly remarkable values.
Eligible and/or suitable scenic rivers: exclude timber harvest in the Riparian Reserves, provide visual resource management class II management in the one-half mile wide corridor, and protect a segment's free-flowing values and identified outstandingly remarkable values.
Eligible and/or suitable wild rivers: exclude timber harvest and other disturbing activities within the one-half mile wide corridor.
Upon completion of the record of decision for this resource management plan, release from interim protection all river segments found not suitable for inclusion as components of the national system.

Prepare a suitability study report for Elkhorn Creek. This will be done jointly with the Willamette National Forest. In the draft resource management plan, BLM found this stream not suitable for designation as a component of the national system. Based on subsequent public comment and recent Forest Service interest in studying Elkhorn Creek, the BLM will set aside the original suitability finding.