Too few 'wild and scenic' waterways in Utah, rivers council asserts

The Utah Rivers Council said Monday that it plans to file an appeal with the U.S. Forest Service over the number of Utah waterways that were included in the federal agency's new "wild and scenic rivers" list.

The designation affords certain protections for waterways throughout the country. Out of 86 rivers and streams, or segments of each, that were eligible to make the Forest Service's Wild and Scenic Rivers list, only 10 made the cut Monday. Pending any changes brought by appeals, that means the final list will include only 108 miles out of 848 miles that had been proposed to be on the list.

Ted Wilson, the council's executive director, said that based on the list, the Forest Service will no longer provide the same level of protection for the 76 rivers, or 740 miles, of rivers in Utah's national forests that it had previously.

"Despite the fact that these rivers have outstanding values and high quality water, which is vital for our growing state, they are now open to threats and pollution," he said.

The biggest winner in the Forest Service's decision this week is the 40 miles of Utah's upper Uinta River, including Gilbert Creek, Center Fork and Painter Draw.

Utah waterways also being recommended for federal protection, each on 10 to 15 miles of river, are the Green River, Death Hollow Creek, Fish Creek and Stillwater Fork. Shorter segments recommended as "wild and scenic" in Utah include Mamie Creek, North Fork Virgin River, Pine Creek, Little Provo Deer Creek (Cascade Springs) and Ostler Fork.

The Forest Service said it considered social, economic and political factors in determining which rivers deserve listing. Congress has the final say on which rivers make the list. Being on the list means a river gets protection from dams, diversions and encroaching development.

Utah Rivers Council spokesman Mark Danenhauer said Monday that people often mistakenly assume that a wild and scenic designation means that a resource is "locked up." Some county commissioners also fear that placing a waterway on the federal list will give power to federal officials to tell Utah how to manage its rivers and streams.

Danenhauer said county commissioners and Forest Service supervisors throughout Utah influenced the recommendations that the Utah Rivers Council will be appealing. If the council isn't satisfied after the 45-day appeal period that began Monday, the group will consider filing a lawsuit, he said.

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