What Happened 48 Years Ago on October 2nd?

October 2, 1968: President Lyndon Johnson signed National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which protect selected rivers from development that would substantially change their wild or scenic nature. Selected rivers are preserved for possessing outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values. They are preserved in their free-flowing condition and are not dammed or otherwise impeded. National wild & scenic designation prohibits licensing of new hydropower projects on or directly affecting the river. It also provides very strong protection against bank & channel alterations that adversely affect river values, protects riverfront public lands from oil, gas & mineral development, and creates a federal reserved water right to protect flow-dependent values.