Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation
 

The wild and scenic river act : problems of implementation in Oregon

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  • In 1968, Congress passed the Wild and Scenic River Act creating a system of rivers protected from dams and other development. By 1987, segments of four Oregon rivers were protected by the Wild and Scenic River System: the Rogue, Illinois, Owyhee, and a portion of the Snake along the Idaho border. Passage of the Oregon Omnibus Rivers Bill in 1988 added 40 rivers to the System and made Oregon the leading state in the number of rivers protected. Prior to passage of the Omnibus Rivers Bill, the effectiveness of the Wild and Scenic River Act as a method of river protection had been questioned. Fewer rivers than anticipated had been protected under the Act, largely because the addition process had proven difficult. River designations had faced opposition from local residents and lacked support from managing agencies and environmental groups. This study identified the problems hindering implementation of the Wild and Scenic River Act in Oregon. Legislative histories of the original Act, the Oregon river additions, and the Omnibus Rivers Bill were studied. The research also reviewed river study reports and management plans, public opinion expressed in the study process and at hearings, and correspondence with the agencies managing the rivers. Three general problem areas were identified. First, conflicts have arisen between Wild and Scenic River designations and traditional water and river corridor uses, including hydroelectric and irrigation development, water rights, mining, and logging. Second, the Wild and Scenic River Act provided for the condemnation of private land to protect the river corridor and imposed federal management in privately owned areas. This has led to conflicts with the traditional values of property owners along the rivers. Third, legitimization of the Act by managing agencies, environmental groups, and the public has been slow. These three problems have hindered implementation of the Act in Oregon. The greatest problem has been the conflict with traditional values. Legitimization has become less of a problem as the Act has gained support in the l980s. Conflicts with traditional water uses have been comparatively few. Observation of the events involved in passage of the Omnibus Rivers Bill suggested that these trends will continue. Most problems, however, will center on conflicts between the traditional values of private property rights and the public good.
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