U.S. FOREST SERVICE ADVANCES UPDATED NEZ PERCE-CLEARWATER FOREST PLAN, UNDERCUTTING THE WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS ACT
Kelly Creek is a tributary to the Clearwater River in Idaho, which is home to some of the healthiest habitat for fish and home to substantial recreation opportunities. Photo credit: Lisa Ronald, American Rivers
Contacts: Nick Kunath, Conservation Director, Idaho Rivers United, (208) 908-9232, Lisa Ronald, Associate Conservation Director, American Rivers, (406) 317-7757, Kevin Colburn, National Stewardship Director, American Whitewater, (828) 712-4825
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Friday, January 10, 2025
BOISE, ID – On January 10th, the U.S. Forest Service released the Final Record of Decision (ROD) for the updated Nez Perce-Clearwater Forest Management Plan. Idaho Rivers United, American Rivers, American Whitewater, and several other coalition partners submitted administrative objections to the draft Plan in January 2024, arguing against the Forest’s approach to managing Wild and Scenic Rivers and riparian buffer zones.
The new plan strips protections afforded to eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers on more than 320 miles of previously protected reaches, resulting in the loss of over 100,000 acres of protected riparian areas. Although the planning process substantially increased the number of rivers eligible for protection from 29 to 88, the final decision arbitrarily found only 12 worthy of protection.
“We are deeply concerned that the Forest ignored our requests to, at the very least, retain the eligibility status of the rivers that were arbitrarily found to be “unsuitable” for inclusion,” said Nick Kunath, Conservation Director with Idaho Rivers United. “The Forest’s approach during this plan revision is a stark departure from previous processes and severely undermines one of our nation’s most powerful and important river conservation tools.”
The rivers of Nez Perce-Clearwater Forest provide an incredible diversity of recreational opportunities and abundant critical habitat for ESA-listed Chinook salmon, steelhead, and bull trout. Despite having the opportunity to take meaningful action to expand permanent protections for the Clearwater Basin, the Forest’s decision is a step in the opposite direction.
“The Forest Service should be protecting Idaho’s iconic rivers like the North and South Forks of the Clearwater River for anglers, paddlers, and endangered fish, but instead, they are abandoning protections that have been in place for nearly 30 years,” said Lisa Ronald, Associate Conservation Director with American Rivers. “By prioritizing extractive industry over river protection, the Forest is shortchanging the next generation.”
“There was overwhelming public support for protection of rivers and streams throughout the planning process but the Forest Service didn’t seem to care – instead they went backwards and stripped protections from rivers,” said Kevin Colburn, National Stewardship Director of American Whitewater. “These are some of the most incredible rivers in the United States, and the Forest Service has let Americans down by planning actions that would impact them. It’s reckless and short sighted.”
While receiving several amendments, the Forest's existing management plan has been in place since 1987, with the current revision process spanning more than a decade. In addition to administrative designations under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the new plan dictates timber harvest targets, motorized trails, recommended wilderness areas, and standards and guidelines for all future activities.
“Forest Management Plans essentially provide the framework and guardrails for what activities can be permitted and what standards are applied to any project or activity that occurs within the Forest’s boundaries,” continued Kunath. “Considering the decades passing between plan revisions, any negative changes can be extremely consequential for conservation goals, recreational opportunities, and everything in between.”
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Idaho Rivers United’s mission is to protect and restore the rivers and fisheries of Idaho.
American Rivers is the only national organization dedicated entirely to protecting and restoring the rivers on which all life depends.
American Whitewater strives to protect and restore our nation’s whitewater rivers while enhancing opportunities to enjoy them safely.
