the Green River and the 47 miles of the Yampa River are eligible 

 for designation. 



However, in 1983, the Secretary of the Interior recommended to 

 Congress no action on the designation of the Green and the Yampa 

 Rivers until a number of interrelated activities providing water 

 right, a BLM wilderness study, and water developments on a tribu- 

 tary of the Yampa were resolved. Due to lack of active support, 

 there has been no further effort to designate the Green River as 

 part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 



There has been a significant shift in the use of the Green River 

 since 1986. According to Forest Service planning date, in 1986, rec- 

 reational boating constituted 63 percent and fishing 37 percent of 

 river use. 



As the reputation of world class, blue ribbon fishing in the Green 

 River became known, fishing and outfitting and guide use substan- 

 tially increased. A 1991 study concluded that 91 percent of all rec- 

 reational use was related to fishing. 



Social and environmental impacts are in direct proportion to the 

 number of visitors. Use continues to grow on the Green River. Ap- 

 proximately 97,000 people visited the corridor in the 1995 peak use 

 season. 



As a result, displacement of some user groups due to the per- 

 ceived crowding is clearly occurring. In fact, some of the percep- 

 tions are that there is no longer a quality recreational experience, 

 because of the number of people in the river corridor at one time. 



The Flaming Gorge NRA environmental impact statement and 

 management issued in 1977 provided broad guidance on river man- 

 agement. Since the issuance of the wild and scenic river study in 

 1980, the Green River has been managed to protect its outstand- 

 ingly remarkable recreational values and other characteristics as a 

 scenic river, in addition to achieving the purposes for which the 

 NRA was established. 



The Ashley National Forest and resource management plan im- 

 plemented in 1986 provided further direction of management of the 

 Green River corridor. The forest plan called for forest officials to 

 complete a plan for National Forest System Lands within the cor- 

 ridor and define such things as carrying capacity, resource impacts, 

 and management objectives. 



To aid in developing such a plan, forest managers contracted for 

 a study of current use levels and areas of conflict within the Green 

 River corridor. The study, concluded in 1991, is the basis of the 

 draft environmental assessment on a proposed management plan 

 for the Green River which was released in May of 1995, and which 

 generated much public interest. 



The decisionmaking process included extensive public involve- 

 ment and reflects interagency cooperation in establishing carrying 

 capacities, outfitter and guide use allocation, safety and sanitation 

 requirements, and identifying need capacities. 



With regard to the Snake River, in 1975, the Hells Canyon NRA 

 legislation designated the Snake by amending the Wild and Scenic 

 Rivers Act. The Snake flows through the 650,000-acre Hells Can- 

 yon NRA. It has carved the deepest river canyon in North America. 



Mr. Hansen. Go ahead. We want to hear the rest of your state- 

 ment. Don't pay any attention to the red light. 



