THESECRETARYOFTHEINTERIOR

WASHINGTON

ORDERNO. 3321
SIGNATUREDATE: May24,2012
Subject: EstablishmentofaNationalBluewaysSystem
Sec. 1 Purpose
.
ThisOrderestablishesaprogramtorecognizeriversystemsconservedthrough
diversestakeholderpartnershipsthatuseacomprehensivewatershedapproachtoresource
stewardship. RiversystemsdesignatedasaNationalBluewayshallcollectivelyconstitutea
NationalBluewaysSystem. TheNationalBluewaysSystemwillprovideanewnational
emphasisontheuniquevalueandsignificanceofa headwaterstomouth approachtoriver
managementandcreateamechanismtoencouragestakeholderstointegratetheirlandandwater
stewardshipeffortsbyadoptingawatershedapproach. ThisOrderalsoestablishesanintraagencyNationalBluewaysCommitteetoprovideleadership, direction, andcoordinationtothe
NationalBluewaysSystem. ItfurtherdirectsthebureausoftheDepartmentoftheInterior
Interior) tocollaborateinsupportingtheNationalBluewaysSystem, totheextentpermittedby
lawandconsistentwiththeirmissionsandresources.
Sec. 2 Background
.
RiversplayavitalroleinconnectingAmericanswiththelandsandwaters
thatprovideeconomic, recreational, social,cultural,andecologicalvaluetotheircommunities.
HealthyriversareintegraltothequalityoflifeforallAmericansandtheircommunities.
Resilientriversandwatershedsareessentialsourcesofcleanwatersuppliesforrural,
agricultural, andurbancommunitiesalike. Riversprovideimportanthabitatforfishandwildlife
speciesandactascorridorsfortheirmigrationanddispersal, providingecosystemconnectivity
thatsupportsresiliencetoenvironmentalchange. Riverssupportourrecreationandtourism
economybyprovidingopportunitiesforboating, fishing,hiking,camping, swimming,and
numerousotheractivities. Riversofferafocalpointforenvironmentaleducationandoutreach
thathelpscommunitiesunderstandandconnectwiththegreatoutdoors.
AcrosstheNation,communitiesofstakeholdershaveformedpartnershipsfocusedon
stewardshipandsustainabilityofriversandtheirwatersheds. Whenthesepartnershipswork
successfullyacrossFederalagencies, withstate, local,andtribalgovernments, andwithnonprofitorganizations, privatelandowners,andbusinesses,theyareabletoaccomplishtheirshared
stewardshipandconservationobjectives. NationalrecognitionandFederalagencycoordination
insupportofriversystemswillinspireandhelpstakeholderstoplanandmanageforthe
resiliencyandconnectivityoftheirrivers,toseekcooperationandcollaborationamong
communitiesandacrossjurisdictions, andtostriveforanintegrative, adaptiveapproachfor
sustainingthewholeriversystem.
NationalBluewayswillbenationallyandregionallysignificantriversandtheirwatershedsthat
arehighlyvaluedrecreational, social,economic,cultural,andecologicalassetsforthe
communitiesthatdependonthem. NationalBluewaysencouragealandscape-scaleapproachto

riverconservationthatinvolvesariverfromitsheadwaterstoitsmouthandacrossitswatershed,
ratherthanindividualsegmentsofthechannelandriparianareaalone. Establishmentofa
NationalBluewaysSystemwillhelppromotebestpractices, shareinformationandresources,
andencourageactiveandcollaborativestewardshipofriversacrossthecountry.
Sec. 3 Authority
.
ThisOrderisissuedinaccordancewithauthorityprovidedundertheTake
PrideinAmericaAct,PublicLaw101-628;theOutdoorRecreationAct,PublicLaw87-714;and
theCooperativeWatershedManagementProgramoftheOmnibusPublicLandManagementAct
of2009,PublicLaw111-11. ThebureauswithinInteriorhaveabroadpanoplyoflegalauthority
tocarryouttheirrespectivemissionsthatsupportenhancingriverrecreation, undertakingriver
restoration,andpursuingriverprotectioninitiativestopassonhealthyriverstofuture
generations. TheseauthoritiesincludetheComprehensiveEnvironmentalResponse,
Compensation, andLiabilityAct,42U.S.C.9601etseq.;theFishandWildlifeActof1956,
16U.S.C.742etseq.; theFishandWildlifeCoordinationAct,16U.S.C.661etseq.;theLand
andWaterConservationFundActof1965,16U.S.C.4601-4etseq.;theNationalWildand
ScenicRiversActof1968,16U.S.C.1271-1287;theFederalLandPolicyandManagementAct,
43U.S.C1702etseq.;theReclamationAct,PublicLaw57-161;theOmnibusPublicLand
ManagementActof2009,PublicLaw111-11;andtheNationalTrailsSystemActof1968,
16U.S.C.1241etseq.
Sec. 4 ModelNationalBlueway
.
IherebydesignatetheConnecticutRiverandWatershedas
thefirstNationalBluewayasamodelforfuturedesignations. TheConnecticutRiverWatershed
exemplifiestheNationalBluewaysSystemwithdiversepartnershipsofinterestedcommunities
includingover40partnerorganizations, protectionofover2millionacresofhabitat,
environmentalandeducationaleffortsaimedaturbanandruralpopulations, andrecreational
accesstotheriver,itstributaries, andpubliclands.
Sec. 5 NationalBluewaysCommittee
.
ThisOrderestablishesaNationalBluewaysCommittee
Committee), tobechairedbytheSecretaryorhisorherdesignee.
a.
Membership. MembersoftheCommitteewillincludearepresentativedesignated
bytheDirectorsoftheBureauofLandManagement, NationalParkService, FishandWildlife
Service, U.S.GeologicalSurvey, andtheBureauofIndianAffairs;theCommissionerof
Reclamation; andarepresentativedesignatedbytheAssistantSecretary Policy,Management
andBudget. TheCommitteemayalsoincluderepresentativesofotherFederalagencies,whose
representativesshallparticipatethroughappropriateagreements.
b.

Responsibilities. TheCommitteewill:

i) OverseetheprocessofNationalBluewayscriteriadevelopment,
assessment, anddesignation;
ii)
Blueways;

MakerecommendationstotheSecretaryforthedesignationofNational

iii) OverseesupportprovidedbyInteriortodesignatedNationalBlueways;
and
iv) ReporttotheSecretaryontheprogress,accomplishments, opportunities,
andchallengesoftheNationalBluewaysSystem.
Sec. 6 NationalBluewaysSystem
.
TheNationalBluewaysSystemprogramshallrecognize
andpromotenationallyorregionallysignificantriversandtheirwatersheds.
a.
Nomination. Anyestablishedstakeholderpartnershipmay,incollaborationwith
asponsoringFederalorstateagency, nominateariveranditsassociatedwatershedasaproposed
NationalBluewaybysubmittinganapplicationaccordingtothenominationprocessand
assessmentcriteria.
b.
Assessment. Theassessmentcriteriawillevaluatetheintrinsicvaluesariverand
itswatershedpossessandtheinterestedcommunities recordofcommitmenttolandandwater
managementpracticesthatprovideormaintainoutstandingrecreational, social,and/orecological
benefits.
c.
Designation. Followingconsiderationofrecommendationsmadebythe
Committee, theSecretarymaydesignatetheriveranditsassociatedwatershedasaNational
BluewaythatwillbecomepartoftheNationalBluewaysSystem.
d.
Alignment. BureauswithinInterior,totheextentpermittedbylawandconsistent
withtheirmissions,policies, andresources,shallendeavortoaligntheexecutionofagencyplans
andimplementationofagencyprogramstoprotect,restore,andenhancethenatural,cultural,
and/orrecreationalresourcesassociatedwithdesignatedNationalBlueways.
e.
Coordination. BureauswillcoordinatewithinInteriorandwithotherparticipating
Federal, state,local,andtribalagenciesandpartnerstosupportdesignatedNationalBlueways.
f.
Partnerships. Bureausareencouraged, totheextentpermittedbylaw,todevelop
partnershipswithotherfederal, state,local,andtribalgovernments, waterandpowerauthorities,
andcommunityandnon-governmentalorganizationsinsupportofdesignatedNational
Blueways. Bureauswillberesponsivetothediverseneedsofdifferentkindsofcommunities
from,thecoreofourcitiestotheremoteruralareas, andshallseektoensurethattheroleplayed
bytheFederalGovernmentiscomplementarytotheplansandworkbeingcarriedoutbyother
Federal, state, local,andtribalgovernments. Totheextentpracticable, Federalresourceswillbe
strategicallydirectedtocomplementresourcesbeingspentbythesepartnerentities.
Sec. 7 Disclaimer
.
NothinginthisOrderisintendedtoauthorizeoraffecttheuseofprivate
property. NothinginthisOrderisintendedtobethebasisfortheexerciseofanynewregulatory
authority,norshallthisinitiativeoranydesignationpursuanttothisOrderaffectorinterferewith
anyFederal,state, local,andtribalgovernmentjurisdictionorapplicablelawincludinginterstate
compactsrelatingtowaterorthelawsofanystateortriberelatingtothecontrol,appropriation,
useordistributionofwaterorwaterrights.

Sec. 8 Implementation
.
TheDeputySecretaryisresponsibleforensuringtheimplementation
ofthisOrder. NothinginthisOrdershallbeinterpretedasamending,revising,ormodifying
eitherExecutiveOrder13061ofSeptember11,1997,entitled, FederalSupportofCommunity
EffortsAlongAmericanHeritageRivers orSecretarialOrder3319ofFebruary29,2012,
entitled, EstablishmentofaNationalWaterTrailsSystem.
Sec. 9 ExpirationDate
.
ThisOrderiseffectiveimmediately. Itshallremainineffectuntilits
provisionsareconvertedtotheDepartmentalManualoruntilitisamended,superseded, or
revoked,whichevercomesfirst.

s/KenSalazar
SecretaryoftheInterior
SO #332105/24/2012