Wild & Scenic Mokelumne—A River for Everyone

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Act today! Make sure your grandchildren can enjoy our local river. A few seconds of your time can help protect the Mokelumne for generations to come

Lt. Governor John Garamendi supports Mokelumne River protection

New! Mokelumne River Tiger Creek Dam run video by kayaker Evan Lloyd. Shot last June during a whitewater release on the North Fork Mokelumne. See the river from kayak level!

Photos of Mokelumne Electra Run

National Wild and Scenic River Designation for the Mokelumne River: A Closer Look at What’s True—and What’s Not

BLM Recommends 20.2 miles of Mokelumne for Wild and Scenic River designation

"Of all the rivers I've done, the North Fork of the Mokelumne is one of the wildest places I've ever been . . . you get a feeling in there that you're really, really, away from it all, and it's a little scary, and that?s what 'wild' is all about."

We all need water and power. But we also need rivers: places we can take our children to learn about nature, recreate, and enjoy the beauty and wonder of the natural world.

The Mokelumne is a hard-working river, serving the power and water needs of millions of Californians. The remaining free-flowing segments are valuable national resources that should be protected for future generations.

Designating the Mokelumne a National Wild and Scenic River would prevent construction of dams and diversions on the designated section. It would ensure that, in the words of one Amador County resident, future generations "...can see what a river is." It would also ensure continued use of the river for water supply, recreation, and power generation.

Protecting the Mokelumne with Wild and Scenic River designation would keep the river available for local people to use. Wild and scenic designation would prevent thirsty urban water districts from building new dams and reservoirs on our river.

In 2007, the Bureau of Land Management found 20.2 miles of the river eligible and suitable for wild and scenic river designation: roughly the portions of the river from Tiger Creek Dam to Highway 49, with gaps around the PG&E powerhouses. Senator Barbara Boxer's California Wild Heritage Act of 2007 includes National Wild and Scenic designation for nearly 17 miles of the river, from below Salt Springs Dam to just above Tiger Creek Powerhouse.

Families recreate at they Highway 26 crossing and Electra, introducing children to the river, fishing, picnicking, gold panning, bird watching, or just cooling off on a hot day. In addition to fishing and camping, people use the Forest Service sections of the North Fork for whitewater boating, hunting, birdwatching, backpacking, and day hiking. Rock climbers frequent the great granite domes near Salt Spring Dam. Downstream, expert kayakers ply the North Fork’s Tiger Creek dam run, and paddlers learning to kayak use the Electra Run to hone their skills. A portion of the Mokelumne Coast to Crest trail, which will link the East Bay with the Pacific Crest Trail, may be routed through or just above the river canyon.

A kayak braves the Electra run of the Mokelumne River

As our foothill economies further diversify, recreation and tourism are important components of local economic development. Wild and Scenic designation will bring visitors to our area who spend money in local businesses. Wild and Scenic designation can be a powerful recreation marketing tool.

More than 600 people have endorsed National Wild and Scenic River designation for the North Fork of the Mokelumne River. They include people from all walks of life: ranchers, farmers, teachers, medical professionals, business owners, public safety officers, students, retirees, local officials, and more. More than two-thirds of those who have endorsed Wild and Scenic River designation live in our area. The Amador Flyfishers Association and Mountain Miwuk Tribal Council have joined the many individuals who endorse protecting our river.

Sign on now to support Wild and Scenic designation!

The designation would not interfere with the already extensive use of the Mokelumne River as a source of drinking water. The river’s water rights are fully allocated. It now provides drinking water for the East Bay and Amador County and irrigation in the Woodbridge area. Amador County can more than double its existing population using its current water supply. The East Bay Municipal Utility District has secured its future water supplies from the American River. In 1995, FERC rejected a proposal to build a new water supply dam on the North Fork of the Mokelumne as infeasible and unnecessary. Should Amador County ever need additional water, a better and less expensive option would be 1) To develop a comprehensive efficiency and conservation program, then 2) To secure consumptive rights to water from existing PG&E reservoirs. Current plans for regional water supply (Integrated Regional Water Management Plan) would not be affected by the designation.

No. National Wild and Scenic River designation should not affect the way the Forest Service and BLM manage the river corridor for fire prevention or fire suppression.

No. Local governments retain control over local land uses and zoning. Because more than 50 percent of the river corridor is owned by the federal government, the federal government cannot condemn any private land in the designation area. It could buy land and easements, or trade land, but it cannot acquire more than 100 acres per mile in the river corridor.

Common misconceptions about wild and scenic river designation -- and the facts

All photos © 1990-2003, Pete Bell and Katherine Evatt