Wild river

A wild river is a free flowing river system that has all or almost all of its natural features intact. cite web |title=Wild rivers|url=http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/wildrivers/index.html|accessdate=2008-02-04] The [http://www.heritage.gov.au/anlr/wild_riv/guide/parta.html Wild Rivers Project] defines a wild river as "a channel, channel network, or connected network of waterbodies, of natural origin and exhibiting overland flow [which] have not been significantly altered since European settlement"."cite web |title=Part A Wild River Values and Impacts|url=http://www.heritage.gov.au/anlr/wild_riv/guide/parta.html|accessdate=2008-02-04] This usually entails being free of major dams, weirs and pollution from intensive agriculture and land clearing. The term is mostly used in Australia, and includes the use of a river to help sustain healthy ecosystems for native plants and animals and to support sustainable grazing, fishing and eco-tourism. Globally, only about 40% of rivers could be classed as 'wild', as most have been heavily degraded. In Queensland, Australia, the State Government has introduced special legislation (The 'Wild Rivers Act') to protect the remaining free flowing rivers in that State from inappropriate development.

References

External links

* [http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/wildrivers/pdf/wild_rivers_code_2007.pdf The Wild Rivers Code]
* [http://www.nps.gov/rigr/parkmgmt/upload/wsr-act.pdf US "Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 1968"]
* [http://www.wildrivers.org.au The Wilderness Society's Wild Rivers website]
* [http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/wildrivers/index.html The Queensland Government's Wild Rivers website]
* [http://www.heritage.gov.au/anlr/wild_riv/guide/ Conservation Guidelines for Wild River management]