119-s2270

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2270 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 2270

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

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 July 14, 2025

 Mr. Scott of Florida introduced the following bill; which was read 
 twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the portion of the 
 Myakka River in 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.

 Congress finds that--

    (1) section 5

    (a)

    (70) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 
 U.S.C. 1276

    (a)

    (70) ) requires the study of the Myakka River for 
 potential inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers 
 System;

    (2) the study referred to in paragraph

    (1) determined that 
 the Myakka River was eligible for inclusion in the National 
 Wild and Scenic Rivers System;

    (3) the State of Florida has demonstrated the commitment of 
 the State of Florida to protecting the Myakka River by enacting 
 the Myakka River Wild and Scenic Designation and Protection Act 
 (

section 258.501, Florida Statutes);

    (4) Sarasota County, Florida, and the cities of Venice and 
 North Port, Florida, have demonstrated their commitment to 
 protecting the Myakka River in comprehensive land use plans, 
 local ordinances, and land development regulations;

    (5) the desire for designation of the Myakka 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, and environmental and nonprofit 
 organizations; and

    (6) a 12-mile segment of the Myakka River is within the 
 Myakka River State Park, with an additional 22-mile segment 
 containing conservation land 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.

 

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:
 ``

    (233) Myakka river, florida.--The following segments of 
 the Myakka River in Sarasota County, Florida, totaling 
 approximately 34 miles, to be administered by the Secretary of 
 the Interior, in partnership with the Myakka River Management 
 Coordinating Council, in the following classes:
 ``
        (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 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:

    (1) Comprehensive management plan.--The term 
 ``comprehensive management plan'' means the Myakka River Wild 
 and Scenic Management Plan developed by the Council, which 
 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) ).

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

section 258.501, Florida Statutes.

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

    (233) of 

section 3

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

    (a) ) (as added by 

section 3).

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

    (5) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Florida.

    (b) Cooperative Agreements.--

    (1) Use authorized.--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--
        (A) the Division of Recreation and Parks of the 
 Department of Environmental Protection of the State;
        (B) appropriate local political jurisdictions of 
 the State;
            (C) Sarasota County, Florida;
            (D) the city of North Port, Florida;
        (E) the city of Venice, Florida; and
        (F) appropriate local planning and nonprofit 
 organizations.

    (2) Effect of agreement.--The administration of the Myakka 
 River by the Secretary through the use of cooperative 
 agreements entered into under paragraph

    (1) shall not--
        (A) constitute National Park Service administration 
 of the Myakka River for purposes of 

section 10
            (c) of 
 the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281
            (c) ); or
        (B) cause the Myakka River to be considered a unit 
 of the National Park System.

    (3) Publicly or privately owned land.--Nothing in this 
 section or a cooperative agreement entered into under paragraph

    (1) affects the management of publicly or privately owned land 
 within the boundaries of the Myakka River watershed by an 
 agency having jurisdiction over the land, in accordance with 
 

section 258.501, Florida Statutes, and the mission of the 
 applicable agency.

    (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.--
        (A) In general.--The authority of the Secretary to 
 acquire land for the Myakka River shall be limited to--
            (i) acquisition by donation; and
            (ii) acquisition with the consent of the 
 owner of the land.
        (B) No condemnation.--No land or interest in land 
 may be acquired for the Myakka River by condemnation.
            (c) Myakka River Management Council.--

    (1) In general.--The Secretary shall coordinate the 
 management responsibilities of the Secretary with the Council 
 in the updating and implementation of the comprehensive 
 management plan.

    (2) Representative from nps.--The Secretary shall select a 
 representative to be added to the Council to represent the 
 National Park Service.

    (3) Other additional members.--Nothing in this section 
 affects the authority to add other interested representatives 
 to the Council in accordance with 

section 258.501, Florida 
 Statutes.
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