119-hr642

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 642 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 642

To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the portion of the 
 Myakka River lying within Sarasota County, Florida as a component of 
 the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 January 23, 2025

 Mr. Steube (for himself and Mr. Buchanan) introduced the following 
 bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the portion of the 
 Myakka River lying within Sarasota County, Florida as a component of 
 the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Myakka Wild and Scenic River Act of 
2025''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

 The Congress finds the following:

    (1) Public Law 95-625 amended 

section 5 of the Wild and 
 Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276) to require the study of the 
 Myakka River for potential inclusion in the national wild and 
 scenic rivers system.

    (2) The study determined the Myakka River, was eligible for 
 inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

    (3) The State of Florida has demonstrated its commitment to 
 protecting this river by the enactment of the Myakka River Wild 
 and Scenic Designation and Protection Act (Florida Statute 
 Chapter 258.501).

    (4) The Florida county of Sarasota and the cities of Venice 
 and North Port have demonstrated their commitment to protect 
 this river in their comprehensive land use plans, local 
 ordinances, and land development regulations.

    (5) The desire for designation of this river as a component 
 of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System has been 
 demonstrated through strong public support, State and local 
 agency support, and the endorsement of designation by the 
 Myakka River Management Coordinating Council, which represents 
 a broad cross section of State and local agencies, agricultural 
 interests, landowners, environmental, and nonprofit 
 organizations.

    (6) A 12-mile segment of the Myakka River is within the 
 Myakka River State Park with an additional 22-mile segment 
 containing conservation lands held in public ownership or 
 conservation easements within the Myakka River Watershed.

SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF MYAKKA RIVER, FLORIDA, AS A COMPONENT OF THE 
 NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS SYSTEM.

    (a) Section 3

    (a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 
1274

    (a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
 ``(___) Myakka river, florida.--The 34-mile segments, 
 within Sarasota County referred to in this paragraph, to be 
 administered by the Secretary of the Interior, in partnership 
 with the Myakka River Management Coordinating Council.''.

    (b) In General.--The following segments of the Myakka River, within 
Sarasota County, to be administered in the following classifications:
 ``
        (A) The approximately 8.0-mile segment from the 
 Manatee County/Sarasota County line to S.R. 72, as a 
 scenic river.
 ``
        (B) The approximately 11.2-mile segment, from 
 S.R. 72 to Laurel Road, as a wild river.
 ``
            (C) The approximately 1.9-mile segment, from 
 Laurel Road to Border Road, as a scenic river.
 ``
            (D) The approximately 1.5-mile segment, from 
 Border Road to just south of the I-75 Bridge, as a 
 recreational river.
 ``
        (E) The approximately 1.5-mile segment, from 
 south of the I-75 Bridge to Snook Haven, as a scenic 
 river.
 ``
        (F) The approximately 3.2-mile segment, from 
 Snook Haven to Ramblers Rest, as a wild river.
 ``
        (G) The approximately 2.7-mile segment, from 
 Ramblers Rest to U.S. 41, as a scenic river.
 ``
        (H) The approximately 4.0-mile segment, from U.S. 
 41 to the Charlotte County Line, as a scenic river.''.

SEC. 4. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO MYAKKA RIVER.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section and 

section 5:

    (1) Myakka river.--The term ``Myakka River'' means the 
 segments of the Myakka River in the State of Florida designated 
 as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System by 
 paragraph (_) of 

section 3

    (a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 
 (16 U.S.C. 1274

    (a) ), as added by this Act.

    (2) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the Myakka River 
 Management Coordinating Council established pursuant to Florida 
 Statute Chapter 258.501.

    (3) Comprehensive management plan.--The terms 
 ``comprehensive management plan'' and ``plan'' mean the Myakka 
 River Wild and Scenic Management Plan developed by the Council 
 shall be considered to satisfy the requirements for the 
 comprehensive management plan under 

section 3
            (d) of the Wild 
 and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274
            (d) ).

    (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of the Interior.

    (b) Cooperative Agreements.--

    (1) Use authorized.--In order to provide for the long-term 
 protection, preservation, and enhancement of the Myakka River, 
 the Secretary shall coordinate administration responsibilities 
 under this section, and may enter into cooperative agreements 
 pursuant to sections 10

    (e) and 11

    (b)

    (1) of the Wild and Scenic 
 Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281

    (e) , 1282

    (b)

    (1) ) with the State of 
 Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of 
 Recreation and Parks, appropriate local political jurisdictions 
 of the State, the county of Sarasota, City of North Port, City 
 of Venice and appropriate local planning and non-profit 
 organizations.

    (2) Effect of agreement.--Administration of the Myakka 
 River by the Secretary of the Interior through the use of 
 cooperative agreements shall not--
        (A) constitute National Park Service administration 
 of the Myakka River for purposes of 

section 10
            (c) of 
 such Act ( U.S.C. 1281
            (c) ); or
        (B) cause the Myakka River to be considered a unit 
 of the National Park System.

    (3) Publicly owned lands.--Nothing in this Act or an 
 agreement under this Act shall affect the management of 
 publicly or privately owned lands within the boundaries of the 
 Myakka River watershed by the agencies having jurisdiction over 
 the lands, in accordance with the statutory authority of 
 Florida Statute 258.501 and the mission of such agencies.

    (4) Technical assistance and other support.--The Secretary 
 may provide technical assistance, staff support, and funding to 
 assist in the updating and implementation of the comprehensive 
 management plan.

    (5) Acquisition of land.--the authority of the Secretary to 
 acquire land for the Myakka River segments shall be limited to 
 acquisition by donation or acquisition with the consent of the 
 owner thereof.

    (6) No condemnation.--No land or interest in land may be 
 acquired for the Myakka River segments by condemnation.

SEC. 5. MYAKKA RIVER MANAGEMENT COUNCIL.

    (a) Existing Structure.--the Secretary shall coordinate the 
management responsibilities of the Secretary with the Council in the 
updating and implementation of the comprehensive management plan for 
the Myakka River.

    (b) Representative From DOI.--The Secretary shall select a 
representative who shall be added to the Council to represent the 
National Park Service.
            (c) Additional Members.--Other interested parties may be added to 
the Council, in accordance with the statutory authority under Florida 
Statute 258.501.
            (d) Coordination With Council.--The Secretary shall coordinate the 
management responsibilities with the Council in the updating and 
implementation of the Management plan for the Myakka River, to assist 
the Secretary in carrying out the management responsibilities of the 
Secretary under this Act.
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