It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United
States that certain selected rivers of the Nation which, with their immediate
environments, possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic,
fish and wildlife, historic, cultural or other similar values, shall be
preserved in free-flowing condition, and that they and their immediate environments
shall be protected for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.
The Congress declares that the established national policy of dams and other
construction at appropriate sections of the rivers of the United States
needs to be complemented by a policy that would preserve other selected
rivers or sections thereof in their free-flowing condition to protect the
water quality of such rivers and to fulfill other vital national conservation
purposes. Excerpted from http://www.nps.gov/rivers/
Photos courtesy of All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting
On September 28, 1984 the Tuolumne River was added to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act protects river corridors that possess exceptional scenic, recreational, fishery and wildlife values. The preservation of these rivers allows the public to enjoy the benefits of these true Wild and Scenic Rivers.
Since the injunction of the Tuolumne river to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, the Clavey river, a tributary of the Tuolumne has also been up for consideration to be added to the system. The Clavey was being considered for designation to protect it from threats of hydroelectric development. The Clavey is not designated Wild and Scenic, but has been spared from hydroelectric projects. The Clavey was saved with the help of
Friends of the River (FOR); a river conservation organization.
