Welcome to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Training Page
This course will familiarize you with one of four programs within the National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS), or National Conservation Lands and program policies issued in 2012. These include the Wilderness Study Area (WSA), National Monument and National Conservation Areas (NM/NCAs), Wild and Scenic River (WSR), and National Scenic and Historic Trail (NSHT) programs.
Course Objectives: Increase participants’ knowledge, skills, and abilities in:
Wild and Scenic Rivers
- Module 1 - History and Importance - of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The key concepts embodied in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and the role of federal land management agencies in implementing the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
- Module 2 - Fundamentals of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, Key Policies, and the Interagency WSR Coordinating Council - Key Provisions of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, as amended, and Federal River Administering Agency Roles. Other laws and regulations, Interagency Wild and Scenic River Guidelines, Interagency Wild and Scenic River Coordinating Council, and the 6400 Manual and BLM's responsibilities.
- Module 3 - Eligibility - Determine whether a stream segment is free-flowing, Identify and describe outstandingly remarkable values (ORVs), determine tentative classification, understand how these concepts fit into the eligibility process and document all findings.
- Module 4 - Suitability - An overview of the suitability analysis, suitability factors to consider during the process, developing a preliminary determination whether a stream segment is suitable or not suitable, suitability report, how suitability is addressed in NEPA, suitability determination in Record of Decision (ROD), and recommendation.
- Module 5 - Protective Management - defining Protective Management, protective management scenarios - on the ground, analyzing protective management in NEPA documents, protective management provisions in BLM Land Use Plans, protective management on Congressionally Authorized Study Rivers.
- Module 6 - Developing the Comprehensive River Management Plan - Immediate actions for a newly designated Wild and Scenic River, requirements and format of the Comprehensive River Management Plan (CRMP), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process requirements for the CRMP, and addressing the key elements of the CRMP.
Target Audience:
Primary: Field Office Managers (w/ National Monument & National Conservation Area units), Monument and National Conservation Area unit managers, local planning lead (NEPA specialists), resource specialists and supervisory staff (e.g. senior ORPs, Field Office staff who work on National Monument & National Conservation Areas), State NLCS Leads, National Program Leads (WO-200, WO-400)
Secondary: State Directors, District Managers, Field Office Managers (w/o National Monument & National Conservation Area units); other NLCS staff (WO-400), Lands and Minerals Staff (WO-300), Public Affairs, Legislative Affairs, and if possible, all BLM employees
Additional Audiences: (not in the target audience): Cooperating Agencies, partners, and collaborators