SEATTLE – In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act this October, REI announced its partnership with “5,000 Miles of Wild.” This coalition of brands, NGOs, individuals and businesses are working together to designate and help protect 5,000 new miles of rivers as part of the National Wild and Scenic River System by 2020.
Share your personal river story. Whether in urban or rural environments, big rivers or small creeks, everyone has a river story. The 5,000 Miles of Wild campaign will share these stories with legislators. Use the #MyRiverStory hashtag on photos.
Sign the petition. Ask Congress to protect 5,000 miles of wild and scenic rivers and one million acres of riverside lands. Make your voice heard by lawmakers.
Read Stritzke’s river story on the Co-op Journal.
The National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was created by Congress in 1968 to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations. The designation prohibits construction of new dams or projects that would impede the river’s free-flowing state, water quality or resource values. It also protects a quarter-mile buffer of land along the river and encourages the development of locally-driven management plans for each river. The designation does not change existing river uses, such as fishing, ranching or recreation.
Currently, less than one percent of all American rivers are protected. Two-hundred and eight rivers (12,734 miles of river) make up the National Wild and Scenic River System.
Of the additional 5,000 miles that the coalition plans to designate as part of the National Wild and Scenic River System, protections are already underway for over 1,100 river miles. The remaining river miles have been identified by local community groups and river advocates across the nation or currently run on public lands that are due for land management inventories.
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