Wyoming will have say in river designation

Wyoming will get a say over whether the Yellowstone River is given a special federal designation.

Interior Department officials had said that the river might be considered a candidate for the National Blueways System, which is designed to promote conservation and recreation on rivers.

Wyoming's congressional delegation voiced concern that such a designation could limit the river's use.

Sens. Mike Enzi and John Barrasso and Rep. Cynthia Lummis had previously said the National Blueways System was a federal power grab.

But in a statement this week, they said that they received a letter from U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar that promised rivers won't get the federal designation unless states first OK it.

The Yellowstone River has its headwaters in Wyoming.

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