National Wild & Scenic Rivers Awards nominations are now being accepted for calendar year 2025 accomplishments. These awards provide an opportunity to recognize exemplary efforts to protect and enhance free-flowing condition, water quality, and outstandingly remarkable values of over 5,000 miles of wild and scenic rivers managed by the Forest Service.
USFS units are strongly encouraged to nominate internal and external individuals, groups, and programs that have improved river-related service to the public, championed new and effective approaches to river stewardship, or otherwise displayed noteworthy dedication to a wild and scenic river, wild and scenic river study, or river identified as a candidate for future designation. The National Wild & Scenic Rivers Awards are:
• Outstanding Wild & Scenic Rivers Stewardship
• Outstanding River Manager/River Ranger
• Outstanding Support to the Wild & Scenic Rivers Program
A description of each award and criteria for selection is enclosed along with a nomination form. Units are encouraged to submit succinct nominations that address relevant criteria. Please avoid elaborate nomination packages.
The nomination deadline for 2026 National Wild & Scenic Rivers Awards is July 31, 2026. Please submit nominations and questions electronically to Mary Greenwood, National Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Program Specialist, at mary.greenwood@usda.gov.
In addition, the Interagency Wild and Scenic Rivers Coordinating Council’s Jackie Diedrich Wild and Scenic Rivers Leadership Award is open to Federal and State agency staff responsible for managing wild and scenic rivers. The nomination deadline for this award is the same as stated above. More information about this award and nomination submittal instructions are available at www.rivers.gov/national-awards.
