For Immediate Release: September 28, 1998

Babbitt Announces Designation of Lumber River in
North Carolina as National Wild and Scenic River

Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt today announced the designation of 81 miles of the Lumber River located in North Carolina, as a state and locally managed component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The Lumber River is the fourth river in the state of North Carolina to receive the status of national designation, joining the New River, Horse Pasture River, and a portion of the Chattooga River, which extends to South Carolina and Georgia.

"I congratulate the state of North Carolina, the city of Lumberton, and the town of Fair Bluff in their successful efforts to protect and responsibly manage this magnificent and natural resource," Babbitt said. "We look forward to working with the state to help preserve the river's outstanding character in perpetuity."

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act requires the Secretary of the Interior to: 1) determine if the river possesses values that would qualify it for inclusion in the System; 2) determine that the state has an adequate program to permanently protect the river and adjoining lands, 3) submit the proposal to the federal department and agency head for review and comment and, 4) finally, if the state's request is approved by the Secretary, add the river to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

In 1989, the Lumber River was added to the North Carolina Natural and Scenic Rivers System because of its abundant and wide variety of outstanding resources. Among the important resources associated with the river are endangered species such as the bald eagle, red-cockaded woodpecker, and American alligator; remarkable scenic beauty; outstanding canoeing and fishing opportunities; highly productive fish habitats; and large numbers of rare, threatened, or endangered plant species.

April 1996, North Carolina Governor James Hunt petitioned the Interior Secretary for 115 miles of the Lumber River to be included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system. Under Section 2 (a)(ii) of the Act, the Secretary can designate a river wild and scenic at the request of a governor, provided the river has existing state protection, has resources important to the nation, and can be managed by the state to protect those resources.

The state's application and environmental analysis as required by the National Environmental Policy Act, was reviewed and evaluated against designation criteria. The NPS found that 81 miles of the river met the criteria for designation as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

During the 45-day public review of the NPS eligibility report and environmental assessment, and also during an additional 21-day extended public review period, the NPS reported no objections, all supported designation of the Lumber River into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

The 81 miles of the Lumber River added to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System includes two reaches of the river. The upper reach extends from State Route 1412/1203 to the Scotland/Robeson County lines, at the end of the Maxton Airport Swamp (22 miles) and the lower reach begins at Back Swamp and runs through the town of Fair Bluff and the city of Lumberton, to the North Carolina and South Carolina border (59 miles).

October 2 marks the 30th anniversary of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The Act was passed to preserve, protect, and maintain certain free-flowing rivers and adjacent land for their outstanding, remarkable, natural, scenic, educational, geological, recreational, historical, fish and wildlife, and cultural values. For the past 30 years the Act has helped to safeguard 154 rivers covering 10,764 miles of some of America's most precious waterways for their exceptional qualities and free-flowing conditions.

"These rivers are historical connections to our past and an important part of our future," said Babbitt. "They are a source of history and adventure that represent many things for many people."

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 U.S. Department of the Interior