The addition of the Snake River to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was cause for two public celebrations.

In July, the third annual “Legends of the Snake” float trip brought together many of the pioneers of the rafting and fly fishing industry who were integral in the campaign to protect the Snake headwaters. More than 120 guests floated the river on a perfect summer evening to the Barker-Ewing camp below Wilson for dinner, music and story-telling till dark.

Jack Dennis, Frank Ewing, Wayne Johnson, Charlie Sands, Denny Becker, Bill Guheen, John Simms, Dick Barker and Paul Bruun were among the “Legends” gathered for this historic event.

“There’s few places on Earth like the Snake watershed,” said Scott Bosse, former advocate for the Greater Yellowstone Coalition who was instrumental in the bill’s passage. “It was something that was too special to risk.”

Nearly every outfitter from Grand Teton National Park to the Snake River Canyon contributed boats, as an armada of nine rafts, two dories and one tandem kayak weaved through the braided channels toward camp. Jackson Whole Grocer and Snake River Brewing Co. donated food and beer. Phil Round and Ben Winship performed music. Special thanks go to Patagonia for sponsoring the event.

In August, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso and Susan Thomas, wife of the late Sen. Craig Thomas, came to the river to commemorate passage of the Snake Headwaters Legacy Act. Sen. Thomas had introduced the bill before his death, and Sen. Barrasso saw it through in his memory. More than 200 people convened for a riverside barbecue at Dornan’s, put on in conjunction with Friends of Pathways.

“This whole community made all the right moves,” Barrasso said, explaining how residents from all walks joined to support the designation. “What an honor it has been for me.”

Susan Thomas added, “Let the river remind us we all come together in the end.”

Now that the river has been designated Wild and Scenic, federal agencies have three years to catalog the unique and outstanding features of each segment of river and develop a management plan. These agencies will delineate a corridor extending a quarter-mile from the high-water mark on each side of the river and determine what uses will be permitted. Managers will work with landowners, outfitters and other stakeholders during this process.

The Bridger-Teton National Forest has tabbed Dave Cernicek, who serves as liaison to the Fund, to be one of three personnel working on the project. The Fund aims to continue partnering with the Forest Service and will offer Dave support, particularly for public outreach and education.

Filed under: Snake River Fund News, Watershed News, Wild & Scenic News on December 17th, 2009