What is a Partnership Wild & Scenic River?
The National Wild & Scenic River Program, created in 1968, includes over 200 rivers and river segments throughout the country. While the vast majority of these rivers are in the west and flow through federal land - National Forests, National Parks etc. - a small subset of Partnership Rivers have been designated since 1992, based on the local partnership model.
Starting in 1992, a new category of Wild & Scenic Rivers began in the Northeast Region that would become known as Partnership Wild & Scenic Rivers (sometimes known as PWSR). Unlike the more traditional federally owned and managed Wild & Scenic Rivers, local river protection advocates motivate Congress to study and designate these "private land" rivers that will then be protected and managed locally in partnership with Congress and the National Park Service.
Partnership Rivers flow through a patchwork of private and public lands. Many flow through local communities and are the centerpiece of community life, both past and present. The National Park Service now recognizes more than a dozen Partnership Rivers and Study Rivers. While the National Park Service maintains administrative responsibilities for the rivers, they are managed in partnership with local communities and organizations. Each river has a local committee, created by legislation, to work with and advise NPS on protection of the outstanding resources of the river.
This model has been very successful. In 2007, the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation named the Partnership Wild & Scenic model one of the top 50 government innovations linking citizens with important public services.
Starting in 1992, a new category of Wild & Scenic Rivers began in the Northeast Region that would become known as Partnership Wild & Scenic Rivers (sometimes known as PWSR). Unlike the more traditional federally owned and managed Wild & Scenic Rivers, local river protection advocates motivate Congress to study and designate these "private land" rivers that will then be protected and managed locally in partnership with Congress and the National Park Service.
Partnership Rivers flow through a patchwork of private and public lands. Many flow through local communities and are the centerpiece of community life, both past and present. The National Park Service now recognizes more than a dozen Partnership Rivers and Study Rivers. While the National Park Service maintains administrative responsibilities for the rivers, they are managed in partnership with local communities and organizations. Each river has a local committee, created by legislation, to work with and advise NPS on protection of the outstanding resources of the river.
This model has been very successful. In 2007, the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation named the Partnership Wild & Scenic model one of the top 50 government innovations linking citizens with important public services.
Steps of the Study & Designation Process
- Identify the "outstandingly remarkable resource values" of the rivers considering its ecological attributes as well as its recreational use, scenery, geology, and cultural features.
- Determine the eligibility of these Rivers. Free-flowing rivers (or segments of rivers) with at least one "outstandingly remarkable resource value" are eligible for designation.
- Identify the issues and threats to the river and watershed.
- Gather community input and establish goals and broad objectives for the rivers and watershed within each town and for all towns together.
- Evaluate all existing means of resource protection and determine gaps between existing protection and protection needed. Propose appropriate measures to address these gaps.
- Voluntary management plan prepared.
- Prepare a Wild and Scenic Study Report. Address the question of suitability - is there enough local support for protection and designation to warrant becoming a wild and scenic river?
- If both eligible and suitable, a bill can be introduced into Congress for a Wild and Scenic River designation.
- Towns vote on whether to request designation or not.
Contact Us
Copyright © 2023