The Shoshone National Forest is in the process of revising their Forest Plan.  The Forest covers much of the rugged Wind River Range and portions of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone watershed.  As part of that process USFS staff are selecting which rivers they deem to be eligible for Wild and Scenic River designation.  A finding that a river is eligible offers some interim protection from new dams and other potential impacts.

To be eligible for designation a river reach must have good water quality, no dams, and possess at least one nationally or regionally significant value.  These "Outstanding Remarkable Values" or ORV's generally fit under the categories of: recreation, scenery, biology, geology, and history.  In other words, if a river offers outstanding paddling opportunities then it can be found eligible and offered protection.  The Shoshone National Forest boasts some of the most remote, challenging, and beautiful whitewater in the US.  The problem however is that many of these rivers are little known treasures for backcountry adventurers, which makes it difficult for the US Forest Service to find information on their recreational value.  

The USFS has proposed their draft list of potentially eligible rivers, and then proposed to hone that list based on the presence of an ORV.  Not surprisingly they left out some spectacular whitewater creeks.  American Whitewater wants to compile our own recommendations based on feedback we get from the paddling community and offer it to the USFS.  To help us in this effort we ask that paddlers with experience in this area:

1. Review the USFS Draft Eligibility Evaluation

2. Send photos and brief descriptions of the rivers and creeks you feel offer outstanding paddling opportunies on the Shoshone National Forest to kevin@americanwhitewater.org by Wednesday, November 17.  Your selected creeks do not have to be on the USFS's draft list, and even if they are already on the USFS list we would like to share substantive support for those streams.

3. Send the Shoshone National Forest a comment of your own advocating for the rivers and creeks that you think are worthy by Friday, November 19. 

In addition, if you would like to meet with USFS staff to discuss this or any other matter they are holding open houses in the area on the following dates. 

• Open House in Lander
  Date(s): Nov 16, 2010
• Open House in Dubois
  Date(s): Nov 18, 2010

Thanks!