Title
Supervisor Santiago recommending the Board adopt a Resolution urging the United States Forest Service to designate the Upper Truckee River as a Wild River in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. (Est. Time: 45 Min.) (Cont'd 9/13/11, Item 37)
Body
In 1998, the U.S. Forest Service recommended protection of seven miles of the Upper Truckee River in the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System.
Today, a coalition of conservation, recreation, and business interests are proposing to protect approximately 32 miles of the Upper Truckee River and its tributaries, including Meiss, Round, Dardanelles, Showers, and Four Lakes, and as a Wild River in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
Access to the Upper Truckee River and its tributaries is provided by segments of the Pacific Crest Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, and Hawley Grade National Recreation Trail, and up to 20,000 people annually visit the Upper Truckee River and its tributaries for non-motorized backcountry recreation, including hiking, backpacking, mountain bike riding, horseback riding, cross country skiing, fishing, hunting, viewing wildflowers and wildlife, and simply enjoying the scenery.
The designation of Wild River is not related to Wilderness Act designation and allows for conservation and preservation, special funding and attention by the U.S. Forest Service, while still allowing all of the current recreational uses.