History of Wild River and Wilderness
South Baldface by Robert J Kozlow
1800’s
Large, old growth white pines from the Wild River Valley are sent down river
to mills
1903
More than 80,000 acres in the White Mountains are burned in forest fires
attributed to the large amount of slash left after the forestry operations.
1911
The Weeks Act is passed, allowing the creation of the White Mountain
National Forest.
1964
The Wilderness Act is passed, and Great Gulf Wilderness is designated with 5,552 acres.
1975
The Eastern Wilderness Act is passed, and the Presidential Dry River
Wilderness is designated with 20,380 acres
1979
Rare II is released (Roadless Area Review and Evaluation). Wild River is
designated as an area that could be designated as wilderness in future forest
planning cycles. “The area presently offers outstanding opportunities for
solitude and this would be increased if it was designated as wilderness.”
However its final designation was one of a “soft release” area, an area that
could be designated as wilderness in the next forest planning cycle.
1984
The New Hampshire Wilderness Bill is passed, establishing the
Pemigewasset
and Sandwich Range Wilderness Areas, totaling more than 77,000 acres.
TODAY
The Friends of Wild River are working to federally designate Wild River as a
Wilderness area, and you can help!
