California Protects its 15th Wild and Scenic River

Steve Evans reports on the culmination of years of work that has resulted in the newest designation of a Wild and Scenic River in California.

The natural resources budget bill signed by  Governor Jerry Brown in the last week of June also designated the Mokelumne River as a Wild and Scenic River.

The designation protects 37 miles of the river from Salt Springs Dam to a point just upstream of Highway 49. "California Wild and Scenic Rivers are protected against destructive dams and diversion projects and state agencies are required to protect the rivers’ free-flowing character and extraordinary scenic, recreation, fish and wildlife values," explains Evans. A study complete earlier this year enabled the designation, finding the river to be "free-flowing and to possess extraordinary scenic and recreation values."

The designation is the result of work by the Friends of the River, the Foothill Conservancy, Amador and Calaveras counties, East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), and the California Natural Resources Agency.