Protect Wild and Scenic Rivers in California!

The Forest Service recently released Draft Revisions for the Sequoia and Sierra Forest Plans. As part of this process, they are required to identify eligible rivers for inclusion in the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Rivers found eligible are managed to protect the values that support their inclusion. Over the course of 5 years of engagement, American Whitewater identified 228 river miles with outstandingly remarkable whitewater recreational value in these Forests. This value should qualify these rivers for inclusion into their Eligible Wild & Scenic Rivers Inventory. Yet, thus far, the Forest Service has only evaluated 25% of these river miles for whitewater recreation. Help the Forest Service discover whitewater recreation on rivers in their own backyard by using our super simple form below to submit a comment by September 26, 2019! If you have time please personalize your comment with a brief summary of your boating expertise, where you are from, and which river segments you've experienced and find Wild and Scenic worthy (there is a list of rivers AW considers worthy that have not been evaluated yet in the comment template). Comments detailing experiences on the river help demonstrate the unique, rare or exemplary attraction of the river, i.e. Dinkey Creek – the succession of perfect clean waterfalls and slides.

The good news is most of our favored whitewater resources within the Sequoia National Forest were evaluated and are included in the Wild & Scenic Inventory. The teacups of Dry Meadows, the whitewater races on Brush Creek, and the commercial outfitter use on the Kern were all considered outstandingly remarkable recreational values. However, a glaring shortfall of consideration for whitewater recreation occured within the Sierra National Forest. Approximately 157 river miles were excluded from consideration, including the infinislide and waterfalls of Dinkey Creek, the latter half of Devil's Postpile on the Middle Fork San Joaquin, the boulder gardens of Chawanakee on the San Joaquin, and quality Class IV rapids on Horseshoe Bend of the San Joaquin. Remember, if you have time please personalize your comment and point to the rivers the Forest Service failed to even evaluate. Thank you!

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I am writing to provide comment on the Revisions for the Sequoia and Sierra National Forests Land Management Plans, specifically the Wild & Scenic Rivers Study Process. Thank you for considering whitewater recreation as an outstandingly remarkable value on many of the rivers found within the Sequoia National Forest. It has come to my attention, however, that the majority of whitewater rivers in the Sierra National Forest were not evaluated for their recreational values.  I ask the USFS to consider the following Sierra National Forest rivers for inclusion in the Eligible Wild & Scenic Rivers Inventory based on the unique, rare or exemplary whitewater recreation that they provide.

Bear Creek – Pacific Crest Trail to Bear Diversion Dam 3.11
Big Creek – First 3 Miles Fish Camp to SF Merced 3.20.2
Dinkey Creek – Dinkey Dome to Dinkey Campgrounds 3.68.3
Dinkey Creek – Includes Last Mile to Dinkey Campground to logging spur run 3.68.5
Dinkey Creek – Dinkey Campgrounds to logging spur road 3.68.4
Dinkey Creek– Ross Creek Trail to Confluence of NF Kings 3.68.6
Granite Creek – Strawberry Mine to Near Cassidy Trail 3.107.1
Granite Creek – Strawberry Mine to Near Cassidy Trail 3.107.2
Middle Fork San Joaquin – Devils Postpile Nat'l Monument to Mammoth Pool Reservoir Segment 4
Mono Creek – Mono Diversion to SF San Joaquin 3.166.4
Mono Creek – First Recess to Lake Edison 3.166.2
North Fork Kings – Above Whison Reservoir 3.177.2
North Fork Kings – Balch Afterbay to Confluence w/Dinkey Creek 3.177.8
North Fork Kings – Dinkey Creek to Main Kings Confluence 3.177.8
Piute Creek – Below Golden Trout Lake to Confluence with South Fork San Joaquin 3.199.2
Piute Creek – Below Golden Trout Lake to Confluence with South Fork San Joaquin 3.199.3
San Joaquin  – Part of Devil's Postpile National Monument to Mammoth Pool 3.233.1
San Joaquin  – Chawnankee Gorge 3.233.4
South Fork San Joaquin River – Mono Hot Springs to Middle Fork, to Mammoth Pool 3.260.2
South Fork San Joaquin River – Florence Lake to Mono Hot Springs 3.260.2
South Fork San Joaquin River – Bridge over Piute Creek to Florence Lake Segments 2,3,4
West Fork Granite Creek – Strawberry Mine to Near Cassidy Trail 3.294.2
San Joaquin – Horseshoe Bend 3.233.6

Thank you for the opportunity to comment and I look forward to continuing to paddle on these Wild and Scenic worthy rivers in our National Forests.

Sincerely, [Your information here]