Wild river

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the waterpark in California, see Wild Rivers.

A wild river is a free flowing river system that has all or almost all of its natural features intact. ^[1] The Wild Rivers Project defines a wild river as "a channel, channel network, or connected network of waterbodies, of natural origin and exhibiting overland flow [which] have not been significantly altered since European settlement".^[2] This usually entails being free of major dams, weirs and pollution from intensive agriculture and land clearing. The term is mostly used in Australia, and includes the use of a river to help sustain healthy ecosystems for native plants and animals and to support sustainable grazing, fishing and eco-tourism. Globally, only about 40% of rivers could be classed as 'wild', as most have been heavily degraded. In Queensland, Australia, the State Government has introduced special legislation (The 'Wild Rivers Act') to protect the remaining free flowing rivers in that State from inappropriate development.

[edit] References

1. ^ Wild rivers. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
2. ^ Part A Wild River Values and Impacts. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.

[edit] External links

• The Wild Rivers Code
• US "Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 1968"
• The Wilderness Society's Wild Rivers website
• The Queensland Government's Wild Rivers website
• Conservation Guidelines for Wild River management