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| Spring 1999 Bulletin |
| Forest Service Ordered to Evaluate New Mexico Rivers
Amigos Bravos won a significant victory on March 3, when the US Forest Service finally agreed to comply with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Under the settlement, approved in federal district court, the Forest Service must determine whether rivers on the Carson, Cibola, Gila, and Lincoln National Forests in New Mexico are eligible for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system. Amigos Bravos joined the lawsuit, which was initiated by the Southwest Center for Biological Diversity of Tucson, in 1997 to force the Forest Service to comply with the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and perform the studies required by the Act. The settlement could significantly increase protection for rivers on New Mexico's National Forests. Under the 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the US Forest Service was required to inventory and evaluate all rivers on public lands for possible designation. The four National Forests named in the suit have had 30 years to conduct eligibility studies, but have not. The Southwest Center estimates that more than 300 miles of river are eligible in the four forests. Under the terms of the settlement, the Forest Service has until February 25, 2001, to conduct the eligibility assessments and determine whether candidate rivers should be classified as Wild, Scenic, or Recreational under the Act. Rivers designated as Wild & Scenic receives special protection underfederal law against such activities as damconstruction, roads, mining, grazing, and logging. Wild and Scenic designation does not restrict fishing, hunting, sustainable small-scale logging, or other local resource-use activities. Existing land uses in the four national forests would not be affected. Since its enactment, over 10,500 miles on 150 river segments throughout the nation, have been protected. The Río Grande Gorge and the lower four miles of the Red River were among the first to be designated in the original 1968 Act. If a river is found eligible, a suitability assessment is conducted before Congress can confer Wild and Scenic status. After designation, a management plan is established to protect a river against excessive development or other threats. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and Forest Service policy require the agency to protect rivers eligible for inclusion in the system by managing them to preserve what the law calls their "outstandingly remarkable values." Amigos Bravos believes that public involvement in Wild and Scenic management plans offers a great opportunity to address community concerns while protecting rivers. |