The National Conservation Lands—a 26-million-acre collection of national monuments, wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, trails, and historic sites—are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to conserve some of the most treasured landscapes in the American West.
Established administratively by the BLM in 2000 and made permanent by Congress through the Omnibus Public Lands Act of 2009, the National Conservation Lands system was created to conserve, protect, and restore nationally significant landscapes with outstanding cultural, ecological, and scientific values for the benefit of current and future generations. The legislation also authorized funding necessary to carry out these goals, ensuring that the system has the resources to preserve these lands over the long term.
American Whitewater was among the recreation organizations directly engaged in advancing the legislation, helping to ensure that rivers and other recreational resources were included in the system. We continue to advocate for adequate funding and support to manage and steward the rivers that are part of the system, ensuring that the public can experience and enjoy the incredible landscapes of the National Conservation Lands.
Of particular importance to the paddling community are the rivers within the National Conservation Lands. The BLM manages portions of 38 Wild and Scenic Rivers, encompassing more than 2,000 river miles. These rivers are protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, which safeguards outstanding scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, and other values while preserving each river’s free-flowing condition.
The BLM manages all National Conservation Lands in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, with a clear mandate to protect the values that make each landscape significant. This framework ensures that these lands remain conserved for future generations while supporting recreation, science, and cultural preservation today.
Wild and Scenic Rivers included in the National Conservation Lands:
Alaska
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Beaver Creek
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Birch Creek
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Delta
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Fortymile
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Gulkana
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Unalakleet
California
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North Fork American
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Eel
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Klamath (also in OR)
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Merced
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Trinity
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Tuolumne
Montana
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Missouri
New Mexico
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Rio Chama
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Rio Grande
Oregon
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Crooked (Middle)
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Crooked (North Fork)
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Deschutes (Lower)
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Donner and Blitzen
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Elkhorn Creek
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Grande Ronde
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John Day (Main Stem)
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John Day (South Fork)
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Klamath (also in CA)
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North Umpqua
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Owyhee
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Owyhee (North Fork)
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Powder
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Quartzville Creek
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Rogue
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Salmon
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Sandy
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Wallowa
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West Little Owyhee
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White
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Wildhorse & Kiger Creeks