The
Little River Canyon area together with the whole of Lookout Mountain (Tennessee,
Alabama and Georgia) has long been recognized as an area with important
natural and cultural resources. Together Little River and the Little River
Canyon area form one of the extraordinary natural features of Alabama.
Little River exists in an unpolluted and near pristine condition and flows
unimpeded through five minor impoundments. The river and canyon have a
history dating back several centuries. Little River, its canyon and surrounding
environment, comprise an outstanding and rare natural phenomenon of immeasurable
wealth to residents, national visitors and to future generations.
In
1969, the Alabama Legislature designated Little River, south of the Alabama
State Highway 35 bridge to the mouth of the canyon, as a State Wild and
Scenic River. The Rivers Inventory Study conducted in 1978 by the Heritage
Conservation and Recreation Service concluded that this section of the
Little River is truly an outstanding area and well worth inclusion in the
National Wild and Scenic River System. It is unique because it is the only
river that forms and flows for almost all of its entire length on the top
of a mountain. The Alabama Environmental Management Commission on April
3, 1991, designated the Little River an "Outstanding National Resource
Water" by amending the State's stream classification regulations. Numerous
small waterfalls and creeks dot the landscape along with massive sandstone
bluffs, large expanses of rocks, rapids and rock outcrops.
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