To help answer the suitability question, the USFS will hold a series of public meetings throughout Utah once it releases its recommendations in draft form in November. The hope, then, is that the final record of decision can be made sometime next summer.

The decision to list the rivers was made this past summer and was prompted by the fact that Utah is one of only 12 states without a single river listed, despite the fact it has some of the most recognized rivers in the country, including the Green and Colorado rivers.

The 7-mile stretch of Green River below the dam is one of the most heavily fished sections of river in Utah and is recognized as one of the best trout-fishing waters in the country. It drew worldwide attention several years ago and continues to draw anglers from all over the world.

All of which has made the Green River trout among the better educated fish. There have been so many flies and lures thrown their way they've come to know artificial from real food. The fish are easily visible in the river's clear water but difficult to catch — which to many fishermen, simply adds to the challenge.

There are few rivers in the world that can teach fishermen as much about throwing flies or artificial lures as fishing the Green River.

There are days when even the oddest-looking fly will attract fish and days when the most popular fly on the river won't attract so much as a glance.

Yet despite all this, there are times when finding enough room to swing a fly rod is the most difficult job an angler faces.

Back in the 1990s, population counts showed there were between 20,000 and 21,000 fish per mile through the 7-mile stretch.

Typically, the preponderance of fish around the dam has been rainbow, where most of those downstream at Little Hole have been browns.

In April there was some concern that an attempt to sell land near Little Hole to a private developer, who had plans to build a lodge and several guest cabins for fishing clients, would threaten the Green's chances of making the final list.

An agreement was reached, however, and the land was eventually purchased by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was passed in 1968.

Kahlow said one reason for releasing the list now is to resolve some of the uncertainties with respect to possible projects, either in the planning stages now or in the future.

"This is an incredible opportunity to permanently protect Utah's rivers. If you love rivers, this is your chance. I urge everyone to submit comments to the Forest Service," said Danenhauer.

It was the staff from each of the six national forests in Utah that compiled a list of eligible waters. Included in the list are the Green, Whiterocks, Rock Creek, Uinta River and Yellowstone Creek within Ashley National Forest; the Virgin River, Steep Creek, Pine Creek and Moody Wash in Dixie; Salina Creek, Fish Creek and Manning Creek in Fishlake; Huntington Creek, Fish and Gooseberry creeks and Dark Canyon in Manti-La Sal; Provo River, American Fork River and Little Provo Deer Creek in Uintah; and 35 sections within Wasatch-Cache, including Henry's Fork, Stillwater Fork, Bear River, Logan River, Weber River, Provo River and Little Cottonwood Creek.

The Utah River Council is endorsing about two dozen, including the Green River, Logan, Upper Yellowstone, sections of the Provo River, Whiterocks, Huntington Creek, Manning Creek and Dark Canyon.

For more information or to get involved, visit www.utahrivers.org or www.fs.fed.us/r4/rivers/ or www.ut.blm.gov/landuseplanning/index.htm.

---

E-mail: grass@desnews.com