This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

In 1968, Congress created the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to preserve free-flowing waterways that have outstanding scenic, wildlife and cultural values. You might think that in the 40 years since, some of Utah's magnificent rivers, particularly the Green and the Colorado, would have been protected under this special designation.

Alas, that is not the case. In fact, no Utah river is protected in this way.

However, several federal land management agencies, particularly the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, currently are involved in planning processes that could lead to Congress designating eligible Utah rivers as wild, scenic or recreational under the Act.

It is high time, especially for the Green River. Utah counties and the state have looked with some suspicion on Wild and Scenic River designation, worrying that they could lose water rights or other economic values. They have been particularly concerned about intermittent streams.

But there should be no arguments about certain sections of the Green. The 30-mile segment below Flaming Gorge Dam in northeast Utah is world-renowned as one of the great scenic trout fisheries in the nation. The crystal waters that emerge from the dam join with the magnificent cliff scenery of Red Canyon to make the first seven miles of this stretch an awesome feast for the eyes.

Likewise, the 84 or so miles through Desolation and Gray canyons in central Utah offer one of the nation's premier wilderness recreation experiences, known for its white-water rapids. At one mile deep, Desolation is Utah's deepest canyon, and it is largely undisturbed, looking much as it did when John Wesley Powell explored it in the wake of the Civil War. It is home to abundant wildlife and several endangered fish and bird species.

And the 68 miles of Labyrinth Canyon farther to the south is a smooth section of river that is a haven for canoe paddlers of all abilities.

These waters should be preserved for future generations, free of dams, as the Wild and Scenic River Act envisions. Once the federal land managers deem them suitable through the planning process, Utah's congressional delegation should launch the necessary legislation to designate these segments.

There could be no finer legacy for this generation of Utahns to bequeath to future Americans.