This page continues to support you as a Wild and Scenic Rivers manager or partner once you are familiar with the material and references provided on the Wild and Scenic River Management 101 page. Included are additional Wild and Scenic Rivers Act links to resources that will help you develop additional familiarity and experience with the system with information about special types of categories of rivers and their unique management requirements, all governed by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and its amendments.
Read on to learn about or schedule training through the River Training Center for your organization. The RMS Video Training Channel offers over 50 videos covering various Wild and Scenic River System from previous training events.
Evaluating Water Resources Project Under Section 7
Developing a Comprehensive River Management Plan
Management of WSRs
The following resources will assist you as you continue your pursuit of confidence as a Wild and Scenic Rivers manager, advocate, and steward!
Additional History and Context for Specialists
In-person Training
Introduction to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (RMS RTC) – An introduction to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and system, including its genesis, history and key provisions, is typically presented as the beginning of each content-based course. Participants gain insight into the key figures, social, environmental and political influences that led to the passage of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Key protections, designation process and management requirements under the act are also reviewed with national and local river examples.
1-day Workshop (can customize for ½ day sessions)
Content is designed for agency staff, stakeholders, students and other interested groups.
For more information or to schedule a workshop please email [email protected].
Additional History and Context for Specialists
In-person Training
Conducting a WSR Study (RMS RTC ) – This course is designed for resource area administrators, resource planners and river advocates who are planning a river inventory analysis or working on a public review of river suitability for Wild and Scenic River designation. The course reviews legislative requirements and agency guidance for assessing river eligibility under the WSR Act including hands-on activities for compiling relevant information on free-flowing status, outstandingly remarkable values (ORVs) and water quality parameters. The course reviews procedural and real-world examples of agency and stakeholder review processes for WSR study of agency identified and congressionally authorized study rivers including public engagement, NEPA, reporting and documentation. Materials on management requirements and resource protection for WSR study rivers is also presented.
2-day Workshop (available on-site or virtually)
Content is designed for agency staff, resource area administrators, resource planners and river advocates .
For more information or to schedule a workshop please email [email protected].
Additional History and Context for Specialists
In-person Training
Section 7 of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (RMS RTC) – This course provides transportation, regulatory and WSR administering agency officials with key concepts about proposed transportation and infrastructure projects proposed on WSRs. Participants will increase their understanding of Section 7 of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act; learn how Section 7 determinations are synchronized with other environmental reviews, such as the Clean Water Act and National Environmental Policy Act; and increase their knowledge about delivery of Section 7 compliant projects. The course content covers activities exempt from Section 7 review; consultation and coordination among transportation, regulatory and river-administering agency officials; and designing or modifying projects to comply with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The knowledge acquired will help participants ensure transportation and infrastructure projects are completed in a timely manner without significant additional costs and achieve greater protection of Wild and Scenic River values.
2-day Workshop (available on-site or virtually)
Content is designed for agency staff, resource area administrators, resource planners and river advocates.
For more information or to schedule a workshop please email[email protected].
WSR Workshop
Additional History and Context for Specialists 201
In-person Training
Developing a Comprehensive River Management Plan (RMS RTC) – Designed to assist a WSR-administering agency and its partners in developing a framework and plan for preparing or revising a comprehensive river management plan (CRMP) for a congressionally designated Wild and Scenic River. Instructors work with planning team to customize course materials on WSR management objectives, boundary assessment, stakeholder engagement, threats and best practices to protect outstandingly remarkable values (ORVs), recreation management and other content specific to the river. Course typically includes a field visit to the project river to experience and better understand key issues to be addressed in the plan.
4-day Workshop (available on-site or virtually)
Course is suitable for WSR managers, planners, resource area administrators, stakeholders and interdisciplinary team (IDT) members engaged in preparing or revising a WSR CRMP.
Managing a Wild and Scenic River (RMS RTC) – Designed for resource managers, management partners and river advocates, this two-day workshop introduces participants to the protection requirements and approaches to managing wild and scenic rivers. Course reviews the history of the Act, core principles, management planning requirements, watershed planning, user capacities, water-resource project assessment and fire management considerations. Basic overview of Comprehensive River Management Planning process, WSR boundary establishment, Section 7 review procedures for water resource projects and river eligibility and suitability analysis procedures are introduced.
2-day Workshop (available on-site or virtually)
Course is suitable for new WSR managers, planners and others responsible for or partnering in the management of Federally designated wild and scenic rivers or considering designation.
Partnership Rivers are managed by locally-driven, collaborative planning between local, state and regional stakeholders and the National Park Service (NPS). This and management approach to river conservation is an effective alternative to direct federal management and administration that provides nationally-designated river protection anchored by federal protection for the water course itself and supported by federal funding. The PWSR Toolkit is designed to provide resources for anyone interested in Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers at any stage of discovery. Will you use it as a reference guide for the Wild and Scenic designation, a how-to guide for understanding and completing a Study, or a cookbook for post-designation success? The path you choose is up to you!
(Video: April 1, 2024) Video Chronicles Florida Community's Success Protecting Wekiva River
(2024 Training Series) Registration open for RMS 2024 Wild and Scenic River Training Series
(Article: Aug. 2023): River Network, supported by the USDA Forest Service, has awarded $150,000 to local organizations
(Article: April 2023) New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Gains Additional Acreage
(Article: April 2023) River group looks to boost river safety, stewardship and citizen science on Three Forks of the Flathead Wild and Scenic River
(2023 Training Series) Registration opens for RMS 2023 Wild and Scenic River Training Series
(Recorded webinars: 2022) Wild and Scenic Rivers Trainings from the 2022 National Wilderness Skills Institute
(Presentation Recording: Oct. 2022) Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes New Cultural Waterways Ordinance
(Article: Sep. 2022) ... Bill Adding Little Manatee River to National Park Service’s Wild and Scenic River System Passes
(Whitepaper: March 2022) Instream Flow Protection Strategies for Wild and Scenic Rivers, A Technical Report of the Interagency Wild and Scenic Rivers Coordinating Council
(Article: June 1, 2022) This Canadian River Just Became a Legal Person
(Article: June 1, 2022) A Historic Chance to Protect America’s Free-Flowing Rivers
(Article: March 1, 2022) Roadblocks on ‘The Oregon Way’ to Protecting State’s Rivers
(Training) Flathead River Group Launches Wild and Scenic River Webinar Series
(NPS Newsletter) The fourth edition of Wild and Scenic River Currents, an annual newsletter designed to share stories about National Park Service wild and scenic rivers and the community of people working to protect and enhance them, is now published.
(Training) RMS Wild and Scenic Webinar Series January - June 2022
(Article Series) Reflections - RMS has partnered with the Interagency Wild and Scenic Rivers Coordinating Council (IWSRCC) to highlight the stories of river managers and their involvement in the development of Comprehensive River Management Plans (CRMPs) in an article series called Reflections.
(Training: May 19, 2021) RMS Wild and Scenic Webinar Series: Outstandingly Remarkable Values
(Article: Feb. 2, 2021) House passes major public lands package
(Article: Jan. 11, 2021) U.S. Forest Service Releases Management Plan For Fossil Creek
(Article: Dec. 22, 2020) Celebrating Little Miami River Success
(Article: Dec. 22, 2020) The Klamath River restoration will be the biggest dam removal in history – but what does this mean for the people who call the river home?
(Article: Dec. 17, 2020) Helen Clough receives Jackie Diedrich Wild and Scenic Rivers Leadership Award
