Wild and Scenic Rivers Bills Dead in the Water, but...

November 17, 2008 | Wild and Scenic Rivers, Protecting Rivers

David Moryc
Senior Director, River Protection

Today Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid confirmed that the lack of time and pressures to complete an economic stimulus package will prevent Congress from bringing up a bi-partisan omnibus bill that included a raft of Wild and Scenic Rivers and Wilderness bills important for rivers.

This bill would have allowed us to reach the goal of our 40x40 Campaign, to designate 40 new Wild and Scenic Rivers by the 40th Anniversary of the Wild and Scenic RIvers Act. The legislation included new Wild and Scenic designations for portions of the Owyhee River in Idaho and the rivers flowing off of Mt. Hood in Oregon. Perhaps the most important bill included in the package would protect hundreds of miles of the headwaters of the Snake River in Wyoming as a tribute to the late Senator Craig Thomas who first introduced legislation to protect the iconic river.

While the news dashed our hopes for passage this year, we are heartened by word that the Senate and House leadership are committed to making passage of these bills a top priority early next session. Thanks to the local river groups, members of Congress and of course our members and activists that have help us move these river protection bills so close to passage. We'll get em next year.

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