For over 30 years, the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission has protected and preserved the Illinois River and its tributaries while providing an atmosphere for a safe and healthy out-of-doors recreational experience for millions of visitors wanting to enjoy Oklahoma Scenic Rivers.
The Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Act was passed in 1970, on the heels of the 1968 creation of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. In 1975, the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission came into being. At the time the NWSRA was considered, rivers in the U.S. had little or no federal protections. According to OSRC Administrator Ed Fite, the law covered eight rivers instantly designated as components of the NWSRA, along with listing 27 other rivers marked to study for possible inclusion in the system of protected rivers. “The Illinois River and tributaries were not named on that list at the time, yet their possibility was discussed,” said Fite. “What is interesting is that our [country] has in excess of 10,000 rivers, with stream reaches in excess of 3.5 million miles.” During the late ‘60s, there was talk of adding the Illinois River to the list of nationally protected streams.1
[T]here were approximately 30 states that went about the business of passing some type of local- or state-level wild and scenic rivers protection acts in hopes of diverting any possible use of the NWSRA in their respective states,” said Fite. “Oklahoma was one of those states.”2
The Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission provides many services that are often taken for granted and would be greatly missed if not provided. It would be impossible to continue the level of service based upon bills that cut the budget and move decision-making out of the Illinois River Basin, for reasons set forth in this analysis.
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