Reference Manual 46: Wild and Scenic Rivers April 12, 2021 Approved by: ______________________________________________________________ Assistant Director, Partnerships and Civic Engagement, Date ______________________________________________________________ Associate Director, Natural Resources Stewardship and Science, Date Reference Manual 46: Wild and Scenic Rivers 4/12/2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 Purpose.............................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Background....................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Additional Background Resources ................................................................................. 1-3 2 WILD AND SCENIC RIVER STUDIES, DESIGNATION AND PLANNING........... 2-1 2.1 Wild and Scenic River Studies ........................................................................................ 2-1 2.1.1 Eligibility...................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1.1.1 Free-Flowing Condition..................................................................................... 2-2 2.1.1.2 Outstandingly Remarkable Values..................................................................... 2-2 2.1.1.3 River Classification............................................................................................ 2-4 2.1.2 Suitability ..................................................................................................................... 2-5 2.1.3 Administrative Record, Decision File, and Record Management................................ 2-6 2.1.4 Congressionally-authorized Studies under Section 5(a) .............................................. 2-7 2.1.4.1 Staffing, Funding, and Oversight....................................................................... 2-8 2.1.4.2 Study Process and Findings................................................................................ 2-9 2.1.4.3 Coordination..................................................................................................... 2-10 2.1.4.4 National Environmental Policy Act Requirements .......................................... 2-10 2.1.5 Agency-directed Wild and Scenic River Studies under Section 5(d)(1).................... 2-11 2.1.5.1 Considerations Specific to Section 5(d)(1) Studies.......................................... 2-13 2.1.5.2 Protective Management for Eligible Rivers..................................................... 2-15 2.1.5.3 National Park Service River Inventories.......................................................... 2-16 2.1.5.4 Management Considerations for Section 2(a)(ii) Wild and Scenic Rivers ...... 2-18 2.1.6 Secretarial Wild and Scenic River Designation Requests under Section 2(a)(ii) ...... 2-19 2.1.6.1 National Park Service Review Process of Applications by States................... 2-19 2.1.6.2 Wild and Scenic River Reconnaissance Surveys ............................................. 2-22 2.1.6.3 Survey Scope and Findings.............................................................................. 2-22 2.1.6.4 Staffing, Funding, and Oversight..................................................................... 2-23 2.2 Wild and Scenic River Designation .............................................................................. 2-23 2.2.1 Internal Legislative Process........................................................................................ 2-23 2.2.2 Additional Protections Provided by Wild and Scenic River Designation.................. 2-24 2.3 Wild and Scenic River Planning ................................................................................... 2-25 2.3.1 Comprehensive River Management Plans ................................................................. 2-25 2.3.1.1 Contents of a Comprehensive River Management Plan................................... 2-26 2.3.1.2 User Capacity................................................................................................... 2-27 2.3.1.3 Comprehensive River Management Plans for Partnership Rivers................... 2-27 2.3.1.4 National Environmental Policy Act Requirements .......................................... 2-28 2.3.1.5 Updating Comprehensive River Management Plans (under development)..... 2-28 2.3.1.6 Comprehensive River Management Plan Archive........................................... 2-28 2.3.2 Establishing Wild and Scenic River Boundaries........................................................ 2-29 2.3.2.1 Process to Finalize or Amend Boundaries ....................................................... 2-29 TOC-i Reference Manual 46: Wild and Scenic Rivers 4/12/2021 2.3.2.2 Key Points ........................................................................................................ 2-31 3 MANAGEMENT AND STEWARDSHIP........................................................................ 3-1 3.1 Monitoring Programs ...................................................................................................... 3-2 3.2 Monitoring Wild and Scenic River Values .................................................................... 3-3 3.2.1 Streamflow ................................................................................................................... 3-3 3.2.2 Water Quality ............................................................................................................... 3-4 3.2.3 Natural Resources ........................................................................................................ 3-5 3.2.4 Cultural Resources ....................................................................................................... 3-5 3.2.5 Visitor Use Monitoring ................................................................................................ 3-6 3.2.6 Additional Monitoring Resources ................................................................................ 3-6 3.3 River Corridor Stewardship and Best Management Practices.................................... 3-6 3.3.1 Instream Flow Protection ............................................................................................. 3-7 3.3.2 Water Quality Protection.............................................................................................. 3-9 3.3.3 Scenic Resource Management.................................................................................... 3-10 3.3.4 Cultural Resource Management ................................................................................. 3-11 3.3.5 Recreation Management............................................................................................. 3-11 3.3.5.1 User Capacity................................................................................................... 3-12 3.3.5.2 Recreation Facilities......................................................................................... 3-12 3.3.5.3 Additional Recreation Management Resources ............................................... 3-12 3.3.6 Fish and Wildlife Management .................................................................................. 3-13 3.3.7 Stream Channel Stabilization and Restoration........................................................... 3-13 3.3.8 River Access Site Design and Construction............................................................... 3-15 3.3.9 Bridge Construction, Removal, and Replacement ..................................................... 3-15 3.3.10 Projects Subject to Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act ................ 3-17 3.3.11 Corridor Development................................................................................................ 3-18 3.3.11.1 Energy, Communication, and Other Facilities................................................. 3-18 3.3.11.2 Horizontal Directional Drilling ........................................................................ 3-20 3.3.12 Protection of Wild and Scenic Rivers Values in Wilderness ..................................... 3-21 3.3.13 Protection of Wild and Scenic River Values on Non-Federal Lands in the Wild and Scenic River Corridor .................................................................................................... 3-22 3.3.13.1 Voluntary Measures ......................................................................................... 3-23 3.3.13.2 Incentive Programs........................................................................................... 3-23 3.3.13.3 Agreements....................................................................................................... 3-23 3.3.13.4 Land Use Planning ........................................................................................... 3-24 3.3.13.5 State and Local Regulatory Measures.............................................................. 3-24 3.3.13.6 Land Acquisition.............................................................................................. 3-25 3.3.14 Commercial Visitor Services ..................................................................................... 3-26 3.3.14.1 Concession Contracts ....................................................................................... 3-26 3.3.14.2 Commercial Use Authorizations .....................................................................