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Southwestern Rivers > Wild and
Scenic Rivers
Wild and Scenic Rivers
In recognition of the vital role that waterways
have played in our Nation’s history and that uncontrolled dams,
diversions, dredging and other development and water pollution were
threatening rivers, Congress passed the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act
in 1968.
One of the guiding purposes of the law is to
protect the “Outstandingly Remarkable Values” of wild and scenic rivers,
including fish and wildlife, historical and other values. Oftentimes,
federal land and water management agencies that are charged with
managing segments of wild and scenic rivers, fail to protect these
values by blindly permitting development, water diversions, pollution
and livestock grazing to occur. Forest Guardians is working to ensure
that Congressionally designated wild rivers and candidates for inclusion
in the system are protected from activities that threaten their wild and
natural character.
Pecos River
21 miles of the Pecos River from its headwaters
at 12,000’ in the Pecos Wilderness to downstream near the mining town of
Terrero are Congressionally protected as wild & scenic rivers. At its
headwaters the river courses through an alpine environment, where it
harbors one of the populations of genetically pure Rio Grande cutthroat
trout. As it gathers tributaries the river increases in size and becomes
excellent habitat for beaver in places.
The wild and scenic Pecos is threatened both by
being loved to death and by cattle grazing. A Forest Service management
plan, in which Forest Guardians played an active role, attempts to limit
recreational damage, while casting a blind-eye to continued cattle
damage to the fragile stream in its alpine environment.
Read more about this river..
East Fork Jemez River
 11
miles of the East Fork of the Jemez near its headwaters were designated
as a Wild and Scenic River in 1980. The wild and scenic segment is just
downstream of the Valles Caldera National Preserve where the headwaers
of the Jemez begin with Springs in the Valle Grande.
The river has been largely protected from cattle
grazing as a result of numerous challenges by Forest Guardians to Forest
Service plans that would have allowed unrestricted grazing along
portions of the river corridor. Today, much of the riparian corridor is
in good condition ecologically though historic damage due to cattle
grazing is still evident.
Rio Grande
More than 40 miles of the Rio Grande from the
Colorado border downstream to near the small village of Embudo are
Congressionally protected as a wild & scenic river.
Read more about this river..
Verde River
Incredibly the Verde is the only river in Arizona
that is a congressionally designated Wild & Scenic River.
For specific questions about our Southwest river protection efforts,
contact John
Horning,
Executive Director.
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