EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT DOI Announces Recommendations for Wild and Scenic River Designations in Arizona Twenty-five Arizona river segments in 13 river areas rivers and scenic rivers. The ROD also releases 19 river seg- have been recommended by the Department of the Interior ments in 14 river areas, totaling 172.3 miles, from further wild and scenic river consideration. However, BLM will con- for wild and scenic river designation according to a recently- tinue to manage these river segments in accordance with signed Record of Decision. This decision culminates a ten-year review of Arizona's rivers by the Bureau of Land existing land use plans. Management (BLM). "Designation of these river segments will conserve impor- The ROD further recommends a Congressional study of tant riparian areas which deserve special recognition and pro- tection." commented BLM Acting Director Mike Dombeck. the entire Virgin River watershed, which flows through Utah, Arizona and Nevada. It also releases 19 Arizona river segments Dombeck noted that the recommendations are the successful from further consideration because they were found to be conclusion of a ten-year study of all potential wild and scenic "nonsuitable" for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic rivers on nearly 14 million acres of BLM-managed land in Rivers Systems. Arizona. The study began in 1986 with "electricity" determi- "I welcome this Record of Decision and see it as an impor- nations required in the resource management plans and end- ed with the Final Environmental Impact Statement in De- tant step in protecting some of the nation's most spectacular rivers," said Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Bob cember 1994. Armstrong. "Adding these segments to the National Wild and The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, approved in 1968, declared Scenic Rivers System will help conserve a valuable river re- it the policy of the United States that certain rivers should be source for future generations. The next step is to forward these preserved in a free-flowing condition. The Act specified that recommendations to Congress. I look forward to their swift ac- these rivers must be both free-flowing and possess scenic, tion on legislation implementing this important environmen- recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, cultural, or similar val- ues. Designated rivers and their immediate environment are tal effort," Armstrong said. The ROD identifies 233.5 miles in Arizona's 25 different protected for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. Currently, there are 159 rivers in the National river segments as suitable for wild and scenic river designa- tion. Together, they cover 65,500 acres of public land. In this Wild and Scenic River System, a total of 10,700 miles. BLM case, Congress has the authority to designate wild and scenic administers 33 of these rivers , or 2,022 miles. SUMMARY OF ARIZONA WILD AND SCENIC RIVER RECORD OF DECISION River Areas of Determined Suitable and Recommended for River Areas Determined Nonsuitable and released from Wild and Scenic River Designation Wild and Scenic River Consideration RIVER AREA MILES SEGMENTS RIVER AREA MILES SEGMENTS Paria River 28 1 Wright Creek 13 1 Big Sandy River 9.2 1 Francis Creek 11.4 1 Burro Creek 24.2 4 Big Sandy River 18.7 1 Bill Williams River 19 3 Burro Creek 26.4 3 Santa Maria River 17.6 1 Bill Williams River 1.5 2 Agua Fria River 22.4 3 Santa Maria River 21.2 3 Gila River (Middle) 17.6 1 Hassayampa River 33.4 3 Aravaipa Creek 10 1 Gila River (Middle) 24.5 1 Bonita Creek 8.1 1 Turkey Creek 3.2 1 Lower San Francisco River 6.4 2 Bonita Creek 6.9 1 Gila River (Gila Box) 26.6 3 Lower San Francisco River 1.6 1 Cienega Creek 10.5 2 Swamp Springs Canyon 2.5 1 San Pedro River 44 2 Hot Springs Canyon 6 1 San Pedro River 2 1 Recommended for Congressional Study: Virgin River and its major tributaries in Utah, Arizona and Nevada. A mERI c.4 OUT. DOORS NEWSLETTER SU R 96 .