Allagash River (photo Bob Radowicz)
The Allagash, a tributary of the St. John, was designated as a National Wild and Scenic river in 1970. It's the only river in Maine with this designation and is considered a national treasure. The Allagash flows 92 miles through lakes to its confluence with the St. John, offering one of the most popular canoe runs in the state. The State plans to increase access and thus boat traffic by installing a boat ramp at St. John's Bridge.

Are we loving this river to death? A recent report by the Maine Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility address this question. Called "Losing Paradise: The Allagash River Under Attack," the report criticizes proposed management plans for the Allagash.