Wild and Scenic Rivers Management

Course of Study summary:

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Management course of study is designed to help improve knowledge about the BLM management of wild and scenic rivers.

Wild and Scenic Rivers (WSR) are managed to protect and enhance their river values, including free-flow, water quality, and outstandingly remarkable values (ORV). Protecting and enhancing river values involves balancing many complex requirements. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Management course of study explains these requirements through case studies, videos, interactive activities, and informational text.

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Course of Study objectives:

After completing all 13 modules in this course of study, participants should be able to:

1. Discuss the history and significance of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the primary concepts embodied in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and the role of federal land management agencies in implementing the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
2. Discuss the fundamentals of wild and scenic river inventory, evaluation, planning, and management according to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, regulations and policies, and Interagency Guidelines.
3. Determine whether a river segment is eligible for potential inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System given the criteria in Manual 6400: Wild and Scenic Rivers – Policy and Program Direction for Identification, Evaluation, Planning, and Management. Be able to identify all rivers on Bureau of Land Management-administered lands within a planning area that have the potential to meet eligibility requirements. Be able to evaluate BLM-identified and congressionally authorized study rivers for eligibility for potential wild and scenic river designation.
4. Evaluate BLM-identified and congressionally authorized study rivers for suitability and for potential designation through the land use planning process under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
5. Determine appropriate application of protective management requirements on BLM-identified and congressionally authorized study rivers under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and BLM 6400 manual.
6. Describe the immediate actions to be taken for a new wild and scenic river and the process of developing a Comprehensive River Management Plan (CRMP) for all congressionally designated wild and scenic rivers.
7. Explain the responsibilities of river managers and others to manage designated wild and scenic rivers to protect and enhance river values, and explain the hierarchy of management direction to maintain the classification of wild and scenic rivers.
8. Explain the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act’s Section 3(d)(1) user capacities provision and apply the requirements contained in BLM Manual 6400 for a recommended framework to address user capacities.
9. Explain, through a proposed project on a stream protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, how to evaluate a project under the standards specified in Section 7 of the Act.
10. Describe the steps for design and implementation of a monitoring program and explain how monitoring helps implement specific provisions of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and improves wild and scenic river management. Explain the monitoring procedures that follow the proposed monitoring matrix contained in BLM Manual 6400.
11. Describe the history and intent, policy, and process of and management responsibilities under Section 2(a)(ii) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act; and explain how 2(a)(ii) rivers differ from other wild and scenic rivers.
12. Discuss the history, role, benefits, and future of partnerships in wild and scenic river management.
13. Describe the key distinctions of managing wild and scenic rivers in Alaska due to the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), wild and scenic river management under ANILCA, and ANILCA's Conservation System Units (CSUs)