National Wild and Scenic Rivers Story Map
See a series of interactive maps showing management, classification and river values.
DID YOU KNOW...
Less than 1/4 of 1% of our rivers are protected under the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System.
A National System
In the past 50 years, we have learned—all too slowly, I think—to prize and protect
God's precious gifts. Because we have, our own children and grandchildren will come to know and
come to love the great forests and the wild rivers that we have protected and left to them . . .
An unspoiled river is a very rare thing in this Nation today. Their flow and vitality have been
harnessed by dams and too often they have been turned into open sewers by communities and by
industries. It makes us all very fearful that all rivers will go this way unless somebody acts
now to try to balance our river development.
– President Lyndon Johnson on
signing the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, October 2, 1968.
[Note: This is an historical citation, not an endorsement of religion. These are the historic remarks made by a U.S. President.]
+ FIND OUT MORE
ABOUT THE WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS ACT
The country changed in the 1960s, including our treatment of the environment, leading to the Wilderness, Clean Air, Clean Water and National Environmental Policy Acts – and the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. + FIND OUT MORE
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACT
In 2018, the Wild &
Scenic Rivers Act turns 50. The Wild & Scenic Rivers Council, together with other
partners like American Rivers and the River Management Society, are thinking about the best
way to celebrate this milestone.
To learn about this historic event, please visit
our 50th Anniversary page.
PHOTO CREDITS
Slides, in order: Westfield River (Massachusetts), Au Sable River (Michigan), Black River (Michigan), Crooked River (Oregon), Delta River (Alaska), John Day River (Oregon), Namekagon River (Wisconsin), Ontonagon River (Michigan), Rio Grande (New Mexico), Rio Icacos (Puerto Rico), Wekiva River (Rock Springs Run - Florida), Wolf Creek (Wyoming). All slide photos by Tim Palmer. Others available on our Flickr site: www.flickr.com/photos/wild_rivers. Mule Deer – Chuck & Grace Bartlett.