Love is flowing for Utah rivers

A new report about whether to federally designate certain Utah waterways as "wild and scenic" starts out by asking the question, "Do you love a Utah river?"

The group Utah Rivers Council adores more than 80 rivers, or segments of rivers, in particular throughout this state, hopeful that at least some of them soon will be listed in the National Wild and Scenic River System.

The new "Renowned Rivers" report singles out 17 of what it calls "Most Beloved Rivers in Utah's National Forests." They include the Green, Uinta, Logan, Whiterocks and Provo rivers and the Huntington, Manning and Death Hollow creeks, to name a few.

Utah Rivers Council's Mark Danenhauer said the U.S. Forest Service will be releasing a final environmental impact statement between now and October, making its recommendation on which rivers in Utah to list. Relying on input from Utah's elected leaders, federal officials are now trying to determine a "suitability" factor for each of the rivers and segments under consideration.

"Ultimately, suitability is a political process — it's very, very political," Danenhauer told the Deseret Morning News editorial board Tuesday.

County commissioners in parts of Utah already have spoken out against the federal protection.

"San Juan County is unbelievably opposed to anything related to 'Wild and Scenic' rivers," Danenhauer said.

Opponents, he added, have deep pockets and more "political sway" and will have resources to fight a federal listing. Danenhauer said his group is right now the only one taking on the issue statewide.

"We're doing all we can, but it's basically fighting this huge, uphill battle," he said. Utah Rivers Council is funded in almost equal parts by foundations, membership dues and a few fund drives during the year.

Support for some segments to make the list has come from commissioners in Summit, Dagget and Carbon counties, he added. His group has met with Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, about the 21 miles of Fish and Gooseberry Creek that flows through Utah, Carbon and Sanpete counties, "and he's noncommittal on it," Danenhauer said.

There are no rivers or creeks in Utah protected under the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act passed by Congress in 1968. Since that time, 165 rivers in 38 states have been listed as protected under the act.

A river's "Wild and Scenic" designation means it's protected from dam, diversion and encroaching development projects. Fears are that a federal designation will stifle development or negatively impact water rights around a listed river.