{"id":15184,"date":"2018-02-01T10:00:40","date_gmt":"2018-02-01T18:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=15184"},"modified":"2018-04-25T08:59:48","modified_gmt":"2018-04-25T15:59:48","slug":"wild-scenic-rivers-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2018\/02\/01\/wild-scenic-rivers-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Wild & Scenic Rivers 101"},"content":{"rendered":"

Knowledge is power. Wild & Scenic Wednesdays are just one way we’re hoping to spread knowledge in 2018 about our rivers. Since this year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, we’re sharing 5 fun facts about a new Wild & Scenic River each Wednesday throughout the year. The first set of rivers spans from Wisconsin to Wyoming, Utah to Oregon and California. Learn more about how you can celebrate the 50th Anniversary and help NRS, American Rivers, American Whitewater, OARS, Yeti, Chacos and REI fight for 5,000 more miles of designated Wild & Scenic rivers at\u00a05000miles.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wolf River, WI (Wild & Scenic circa: 1968)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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1. The Wolf River is part of the original eight rivers designated 50 years ago in 1968.<\/p>\n

2. \u201cOutstanding Remarkable Values\u201d (ORVs) are the qualities found in each protected river that must be addressed in management plans. The Wolf River may be the only designated Wild & Scenic River to not have any ORVs identified.<\/p>\n

3. Menominee Tribal lands completely encompass the Wild & Scenic portion of the Wolf River, making it the only river in the system to be completely managed by the tribes.<\/p>\n

4. For many years, the Wolf River\u2019s Wild & Scenic stretch was the only designated river that was off-limits to the public. The Menominee Tribe recently began allowing boaters to float the W&S Section IV with a permit which is sold by the tribe. The tribe also operates outfitted trips. The permit cost inspires paddlers to go slowly, lap rapids, and enjoy the river\u2019s awesome whitewater for a whole day.<\/p>\n

5. The granite bedrock seen along the river, most noticeably in the narrow canyon housing Lower Dells Rapid, is 150 million-year-old Wolf River Batholith.<\/p>\n

Metolius River, OR (Wild & Scenic circa 1988)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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1. The source of the Metolius is often falsely attributed to aquifers in Black Butte, a small mountain peak that rises above the springs\u2019 outlet. However, geologists believe the actual source originates in the Cascade Range to the west of the watershed. A fault line likely funnels the underground flow from these more distant peaks into the Metolius drainage basin and allows them to rise to the surface.<\/p>\n

2. Just a half-mile upstream from the first put-in option at Riverside Campground, the Metolius river flows from a spring at a rate of 50,000 gallons per minute (roughly 110 cfs). By the take-out, tributaries contribute to the flow volume that maintains a steady 1,300 – 2,000 cfs throughout the year.<\/p>\n

3. The Metolius joined fifty-two other rivers and tributaries in the single-largest river conservation legislation effort ever known. Oregon\u2019s Omnibus Bill passed in 1988 and made Oregon the state with the most designated rivers in the national Wild & Scenic system.<\/p>\n

4. Fly-fishermen covet the upper stretches of the Metolius\u2019s populations of rainbow and bull trout. In an effort to maintain the resource, only barbless hooks can be used and all fish are catch-and-release. The Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery also raises kokanee salmon and mountain whitefish for fishermen.<\/p>\n

5. The Metolius flows through the small town of Camp Sherman where a few hundred local residents burgeons into several thousand in the summer. \u201cTown\u201d consists of an elementary school, a post office, a general store and numerous recreation facilities like campgrounds and RV parks.<\/p>\n

Virgin River, UT (Wild & Scenic circa 2009)<\/strong><\/p>\n