KRS 146.220: Legislative intent.

The General Assembly hereby recognizes that certain streams of Kentucky possess

outstanding and unique scenic, recreational, geological, fish and wildlife, botanical,

historical, archaeological and other scientific, aesthetic, and cultural values. It is th e

policy of the General Assembly to complement dam construction and development

projects on Kentucky watercourses with other equally important and beneficial uses of

our water resources. Therefore, it is hereby declared that in order to afford the citizens of

the Commonwealth an opportunity to enjoy natural streams, to attract out -of-state

visitors, to assure the well-being of our tourist industry, to preserve for future generations

the beauty of certain areas untrammeled by man, it is in the interest of the Commonwealth

to preserve some streams or portions thereof in their free -flowing condition because their

natural, scenic, scientific, and aesthetic values outweigh their value for water

development and control purposes now and in the future. For aesthetic , as well as

ecological reasons, the foremost priority shall be to preserve the unique primitive

character of those streams in Kentucky which still retain a large portion of their natural

and scenic beauty, and to prevent future infringement on that beauty by impoundments or

other man-made works. Since the stream areas are to be maintained in a natural state, they

will also serve as areas for the perpetuation of Kentucky's wild fauna and flora. Few such

streams remain in the Eastern portion of the United St ates, and the General Assembly

feels a strong obligation to the people of Kentucky to preserve these remnants of their

proud heritage. It is the purpose of KRS 146.200 to 146.360 to establish a Wild Rivers

System by designating certain streams for immediat e inclusion in the system and by

prescribing the procedures and criteria for protecting and administering the system. It is

not the intent of KRS 146.200 to 146.360 to require or to authorize acquisition of all

lands or interests in lands within the bounda ries of the stream areas but to assure

preservation of the scenic, ecological and other values and to provide proper management

of the recreational, wildlife, water and other resources. It is the intent of KRS 146.200 to

146.360 to impose reasonable regula tions as to the use of private and public land within

the authorized boundaries of wild rivers for the general welfare of the people of the

Commonwealth, and where necessary, to enable the department to acquire easements or

lesser interests in or fee title to lands within the authorized boundaries of the wild rivers,

so that the public trust in these unique natural rivers might be kept.