{"id":9533,"date":"2021-07-05T11:29:33","date_gmt":"2021-07-05T18:29:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/?p=9533"},"modified":"2026-03-31T18:21:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T01:21:08","slug":"what-is-a-national-wild-scenic-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/what-is-a-national-wild-scenic-river\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a National Wild &#038; Scenic River?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div><p>\r\n<i class=\"fa-regular fa-clock\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i> <span class=\"bsf-rt-reading-time\"><span class=\"bsf-rt-display-label\" prefix=\"Reading Time\">\n\t\t<\/span> <span class=\"bsf-rt-display-time\" reading_time=\"3\"><\/span> \n\t\t<span class=\"bsf-rt-display-postfix\" postfix=\"mins\"><\/span><\/span>\r\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While paddling the Tuolumne River, it is easy to appreciate the vast beauty and power of the river: the cold, clear water, the vistas of granite, the springtime wildflowers. However, the existence of this river as a wild place for generations to explore and appreciate has not always been a guarantee. From the development of the Hetch Hetchy reservoir to the reckoning of industrialization and the environmental movement, the Tuolumne River has been an epicenter for questions of human relationships to and with rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"556\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/tuolumne-wild-scenic-LOU3200.jpg\" alt=\"The Tuolumne River - National Wild and Scenic\" class=\"wp-image-9542\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/tuolumne-wild-scenic-LOU3200.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/tuolumne-wild-scenic-LOU3200-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/tuolumne-wild-scenic-LOU3200-768x427.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-for-the-benefit-and-enjoyment-of-present-and-future-generations\">For the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the 1960s, the American people increasingly saw the need to protect natural places from development. On October 2, 1968 the <strong>National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act*<\/strong> was passed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This act was designed to encourage management of these rivers and the surrounding environments in a way that crosses political boundaries and promotes public participation. The goal was to balance the existing policy of developing rivers for their water, power, and flood control purposes with a new policy of protecting outstanding rivers for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>*This act was to ensure rivers which \u201cpossess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values, 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.\u201d <\/em><br>(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rivers.gov\/sites\/rivers\/files\/2023-01\/2aii.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read the entire 18-page National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-one-battle-lost-but-the-tide-changed-in-time-to-save-the-tuolumne-river\">One battle lost, but the tide changed in time to save the Tuolumne River<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is important to note that this new law and management system did not guarantee the preservation of outstanding rivers, but rather created a set of criteria for which to decide how to develop a particular river. This was evident in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/the-last-lost-river\/\">the fight to preserve the Main Stanislaus River<\/a> from the construction of the New Melones Dam. Though the main objective of activists and environmental groups, including local outfitters and groups like Friends of the River, was to stop the construction of the dam, the avenue for success was to designate the Stanislaus River as \u201cWild and Scenic.\u201d An official designation of Wild and Scenic would have preserved the river in its free-flowing state. Unfortunately, this battle to preserve the Stanislaus River was ultimately lost to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-caption\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"556\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/stanislaus-canyon-before-flooded.jpg\" alt=\"Stanislaus River Before Canyon Flooded\" class=\"wp-image-9576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/stanislaus-canyon-before-flooded.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/stanislaus-canyon-before-flooded-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/stanislaus-canyon-before-flooded-768x427.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Our last rafting trip on the Stanislaus River in 1982, just before reservoir waters flooded the only major limestone canyon in the US.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The loss of the Stanislaus River in the late 1970s was a devastating blow to boaters and environmentalists. However, it fueled the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/river\/conservation.htm\">fight to preserve other rivers<\/a>, including the Tuolumne. In 1981, local whitewater outfitters and activists formed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tuolumne.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tuolumne River Trust<\/a>. A true grassroots effort, the Trust\u2019s goal was to protect the Tuolumne River by designating it a National Wild and Scenic River. In 1984, the efforts culminated in success, and the Tuolumne was added to what is now 208 river units with 12,708.8 miles in 40 states and Puerto Rico of designated Wild and Scenic Rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-river-worth-protecting\">A river worth protecting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because of this protection, the Tuolumne still exists today as a flowing river, ranking high on the bucket list of many whitewater and outdoor enthusiasts. Its incredible beauty and other many wonderful attributes keep people coming back year after year to experience it again and again. Whether it be navigating spectacular whitewater, exploring the many tributaries flowing through unique canyons, or simply gazing up at the night sky amongst friends and loved ones, the Tuolumne has a special place in the hearts of those who experience it. Read the reasons why this is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/the-best-california-multi-day-rafting-trip\/\">The Best California Multi-Day Rafting Trip<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"556\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wild-scenic-tuolumne-collage.jpg\" alt=\"The Wild and Scenic Tuolumne River\" class=\"wp-image-9544\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wild-scenic-tuolumne-collage.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wild-scenic-tuolumne-collage-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wild-scenic-tuolumne-collage-768x427.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The opening statement of the National Wild and Scenic River Act still holds true to this day &#8211; preserving and protecting these beautiful waterways for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. As President Lyndon B. Johnson said as he signed the act into law, \u201cEvery individual and every family should get to know at least one river.\u201d The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/river\/tuolumne\/welcome.htm\">Tuolumne River<\/a> is awaiting your visit&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:40px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"calls-2-action-cpt\">\n    <div class=\"container-fluid\"> \n            \n                <div class=\"row\">   \n            <div class=\"col-sm-8\">\n                <h2>Raft the Tuolumne River!<\/h2>\n                <p><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>This could be you!<\/strong> Remote canyon, powerful rapids, and stunning scenery\u2014rafting the Tuolumne River is an adventure like no other. Are you in?<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"col-sm-4\"> \n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tuolumne-cta-2025-1-300x200.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"Raft the Tuolumne River\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tuolumne-cta-2025-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tuolumne-cta-2025-1.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"col-sm-12\">\n                <div class=\"text-center\">\n                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/go.aorafting.com\/reserve\/tu\" class=\"btn btn-primary\">\n                            Book Online 24\/7                        <\/a>\n                                    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                            <\/div> \n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:40px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"related-posts\">\n   \n<h3>\nKeep Reading &#8211; There Is More to Explore:\n<\/h3> \n <div class=\"container-fluid\">     \n     <div class=\"row\">  \n     \n        <div class=\"col-sm-6\">\n         \n        <div class=\"rp-wrapper\">\n                <div class=\"col-sm-5\"> <div class=\"row\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"172\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/top-5-rapids-tuolumne-rafting-class-4-v1-300x172.jpg\" class=\"alignleft img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/top-5-rapids-tuolumne-rafting-class-4-v1-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/top-5-rapids-tuolumne-rafting-class-4-v1-768x440.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/top-5-rapids-tuolumne-rafting-class-4-v1.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n                <div class=\"col-sm-7\">\n                 <h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/video-top-5-rapids-on-the-tuolumne-river\/\">Ride Along: Top 5 Rapids on the Tuolumne River<\/a><\/h4>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n         <\/div>\n        <\/div> \n       \n        <div class=\"col-sm-6\">\n         \n        <div class=\"rp-wrapper\">\n                <div class=\"col-sm-5\"> <div class=\"row\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"172\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/discovery-the-tuolumne-ft-300x172.jpg\" class=\"alignleft img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"Discover the Tuolumne River\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/discovery-the-tuolumne-ft-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/discovery-the-tuolumne-ft-1024x587.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/discovery-the-tuolumne-ft-768x440.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/discovery-the-tuolumne-ft-1536x880.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/discovery-the-tuolumne-ft.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n                <div class=\"col-sm-7\">\n                 <h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/discover-the-tuolumne-river-beyond-the-rapids\/\">Discover the Tuolumne River Beyond the Rapids<\/a><\/h4>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n         <\/div>\n        <\/div> \n       \n        <div class=\"col-sm-6\">\n         \n        <div class=\"rp-wrapper\">\n                <div class=\"col-sm-5\"> <div class=\"row\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"172\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/tu-first-decent-feature-300x172.jpg\" class=\"alignleft img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/tu-first-decent-feature-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/tu-first-decent-feature-1024x587.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/tu-first-decent-feature-768x440.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/tu-first-decent-feature-1536x880.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/tu-first-decent-feature.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n                <div class=\"col-sm-7\">\n                 <h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/first-to-raft-the-tuolumne-river\/\">First to Raft the Tuolumne River<\/a><\/h4>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n         <\/div>\n        <\/div> \n       \n        <div class=\"col-sm-6\">\n         \n        <div class=\"rp-wrapper\">\n                <div class=\"col-sm-5\"> <div class=\"row\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"172\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/tuolumne-feature-LOU3425-300x172.jpg\" class=\"alignleft img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"California Multi-Day Rafting Trip\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/tuolumne-feature-LOU3425-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/tuolumne-feature-LOU3425-1024x587.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/tuolumne-feature-LOU3425-768x440.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/tuolumne-feature-LOU3425-1536x880.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/tuolumne-feature-LOU3425.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n                <div class=\"col-sm-7\">\n                 <h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/the-best-california-multi-day-rafting-trip\/\">The Best California Multi-Day Rafting Trip<\/a><\/h4>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n         <\/div>\n        <\/div> \n                  <\/div>\n<\/div> \n    <hr \/>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"margin-top: -20px; margin-left: 15px;\"><em><small>Co-authored by Mara MacDonell, AO river guide<\/small><\/em><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-author\">\n      <div class=\"container-fluid\">\r\n    <em><small>Posted on July 5, 2021 by<\/small><\/em>\r\n    <div class=\"author-bio\">\r\n\t    <div class=\"col-sm-3\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/trey-armstrong.jpg\" class=\"author-avatar img-responsive\" alt=\"Trey Armstrong Bio\" \/><\/div>\r\n\t    <div class=\"col-sm-9\">\r\n\t\t    <h3>Trey Armstrong<\/h3>\r\n\t\t    <p>Trey is the grandson of All-Outdoors founder George Armstrong. He is the third generation of Armstrong&#8217;s to guide and manage AO. Trey has a business degree from Biola University and plays many roles within the company, mainly focusing on river operations management. He helps run AO&#8217;s guide school every summer and is a skilled Class V river guide. In his down time you&#8217;ll likely find him in a kayak or on skis, depending on the season.<\/p>\r\n\t    <\/div>\r\n        <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\t  \n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California&#8217;s Tuolumne River is part of the exclusive group of US rivers designated by Congress as &#8220;Wild and Scenic&#8221;. But what does this special status mean and how did this river and the others reach it?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":706,"featured_media":9540,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-california-rivers"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.8 (Yoast SEO v27.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What is a National Wild &amp; Scenic River?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/what-is-a-national-wild-scenic-river\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is a National Wild &amp; Scenic River?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"California&#039;s Tuolumne River is part of the exclusive group of US rivers designated by Congress as &quot;Wild and Scenic&quot;. 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