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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 the
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 States, 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 immediate 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 boundaries 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 regulations 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.
History: Amended 1976 Ky. Acts ch. 197, sec. 2. -- Created 1972 Ky. Acts ch. 117,
sec. 3.
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