¹

“Rivers are more than an amenity, they are a treasure.”

 Rivers provide many recreational activities that allow people to relax and reflect, including fly-fishing, kayaking, rafting, tubing, and canoeing. Are you aware of the different types of rivers and the laws protecting them?

There are three types of river classifications; 

Wild rivers, are rivers or sections of rivers that are relatively inaccessible and untamed.

Scenic rivers, are free of dams, largely undeveloped, and of great scenic value.

Recreational rivers are rivers or sections of rivers that are readily accessible by roads and may have dams². 

 The West Fork of the Des Moines River that runs through Emmet is an example of a recreational river. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 made is possible to protect segments of rivers from dams, water diversion products and other actions that would harm the beauty of rivers. Just as there are efforts to protect species of animals and to keep our drinking water clean, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act seeks to protect our rivers as well. Currently 165 segments totaling 10,931 miles have been protected by this act.

 According to the National Park Service, “The United States has 3,500,000 miles of rivers. The 600,000 miles of rivers lying behind dams amounts to fully 17% of our river mileage.” Consider the fact that “freshwater animals are disappearing five times faster than land animals,” this serves to show the importance of keeping our river free from pollution. Just so you know the stakes, nearly 40% of the rivers and streams in the U.S. are too polluted for fishing and swimming³. 

 You can help protect and enjoy our river by following the principles of the Leave No Trace philosophy.

 References -
¹ American Rivers Website. Photo by Paul Bannick.  http://amr.convio.net/site/PhotoAlbumUser?view=UserPhotoDetail&PhotoID=10265&position=8&AlbumID=5051&JServSessionIdr004=3xxexn4ia2.app2b
² Chiras, Daniel D. Environmental Science: Creating a Sustainable Future. 6^th Edition. Pp.299-301. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc. © 2001
³ American Rivers Website. “Resouces, River Facts.” http://amr.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=AMR_content_cc04