Assessing Suitability for US National Wild and Scenic River Listing

Under the US National and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, free-flowing segments of outstanding rivers with Outstanding Remarkable Values can be protected from inappropriate federal actions. With funding from the US Park Service and the Massachusetts Woodlands Partnership, the Deerfield River and its tributaries in Massachusetts and Vermont are being assessed for appropriateness for Wild and Scenic status. The assessment will follow the National Park Service’s reconnaissance survey model (for example, National Park Service 2013). This includes identification of Outstanding Remarkable Values (e.g., recreation, scenic, historic and cultural, geologic, and natural resource), eligibility for listing under the Act including free-flowing analysis, and suitability of listing including community supports, partnerships, and existing hydro facilities. This analysis will consider management issues and opportunities, stewardship opportunities, and benefits and suitability of listing in comparison with other options commonly practiced in Massachusetts and Vermont. Those include fee and less-than-fee land preservation efforts, zoning, on-site sewage, stormwater and other local regulatory approaches, stormwater and flood mitigation efforts, and other such approaches. The preliminary analysis is sponsored by a partnership of the Deerfield River Watershed Association, the Connecticut River Conservancy, many of the towns in the watershed, the regional planning agencies, and the funders. Plan Sustain, Inc. and the authors are coordinating the assessment in cooperation with a regional advisory committee.