146.220 Legislative intent.
The General Assembly hereby recognizes that certain streams of Kentucky possess <br>outstanding and unique scenic, recreational, geological, fish and wildlife, botanical, <br>historical, archaeological and other scientific, aesthetic, and cultural values. It is the <br>policy of the General Assembly to complement dam construction and development <br>projects on Kentucky watercourses with other equally important and beneficial uses of <br>our water resources. Therefore, it is hereby declared that in order to afford the citizens of <br>the Commonwealth an opportunity to enjoy natural streams, to attract out-of-state <br>visitors, to assure the well-being of our tourist industry, to preserve for future generations <br>the beauty of certain areas untrammeled by man, it is in the interest of the Commonwealth <br>to preserve some streams or portions thereof in their free-flowing condition because their <br>natural, scenic, scientific, and aesthetic values outweigh their value for water <br>development and control purposes now and in the future. For aesthetic, as well as <br>ecological reasons, the foremost priority shall be to preserve the unique primitive <br>character of those streams in Kentucky which still retain a large portion of their natural <br>and scenic beauty, and to prevent future infringement on that beauty by impoundments or <br>other man-made works. Since the stream areas are to be maintained in a natural state, they <br>will also serve as areas for the perpetuation of Kentucky's wild fauna and flora. Few such <br>streams remain in the Eastern portion of the United States, and the General Assembly <br>feels a strong obligation to the people of Kentucky to preserve these remnants of their <br>proud heritage. It is the purpose of KRS 146.200 to 146.360 to establish a Wild Rivers <br>System by designating certain streams for immediate inclusion in the system and by <br>prescribing the procedures and criteria for protecting and administering the system. It is <br>not the intent of KRS 146.200 to 146.360 to require or to authorize acquisition of all <br>lands or interests in lands within the boundaries of the stream areas but to assure <br>preservation of the scenic, ecological and other values and to provide proper management <br>of the recreational, wildlife, water and other resources. It is the intent of KRS 146.200 to <br>146.360 to impose reasonable regulations as to the use of private and public land within <br>the authorized boundaries of wild rivers for the general welfare of the people of the <br>Commonwealth, and where necessary, to enable the department to acquire easements or <br>lesser interests in or fee title to lands within the authorized boundaries of the wild rivers, <br>so that the public trust in these unique natural rivers might be kept.
History: Amended 1976 Ky. Acts ch. 197, sec. 2. -- Created 1972 Ky. Acts ch. 117,
sec. 3.
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