[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2773 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2773

 To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the Wekiva River 
 and its tributaries of Rock Springs Run and Black Water Creek in the 
 State of Florida as components of the national wild and scenic rivers 
                                system.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 5, 1999

 Mr. McCollum introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the Wekiva River 
 and its tributaries of Rock Springs Run and Black Water Creek in the 
 State of Florida as components of the national wild and scenic rivers 
                                system.

    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 ``Wekiva Wild and Scenic River Act of 
1999''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Public Law 104-311 (110 Stat. 3818) amended section 5 
        of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276) to require 
        the study of the Wekiva River and its tributaries of Rock 
        Springs Run and Seminole Creek, including Wekiwa Springs Run 
        and the tributary of Black Water Creek that connects Seminole 
        Creek to the Wekiva River, for potential inclusion in the 
        national wild and scenic rivers system.
            (2) The study determined that the Wekiva River, Rock 
        Springs Run, and Black Water Creek are eligible for inclusion 
        in the national wild and scenic rivers system.
            (3) The State of Florida has demonstrated its commitment to 
        protecting these rivers and streams by the enactment of the 
        Wekiva River Protection Act (Florida Statute chapter 369), by 
        the establishment of a riparian wildlife protection zone and 
        water quality protection zone by the St. Johns River Water 
        Management District, and by the acquisition of lands adjacent 
        to these rivers and streams for conservation purposes.
            (4) The Florida counties of Lake, Seminole, and Orange have 
        demonstrated their commitment to protect these rivers and 
        streams in their comprehensive land use plans and land 
        development regulations.
            (5) The desire for designation of these rivers and streams 
        as components 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 
        Wekiva River Basin Ecosystem Working Group, which represents a 
        broad cross section of State and local agencies, landowners, 
        environmentalists, nonprofit organizations, and recreational 
        users.
            (6) The entire lengths of the Wekiva River, Rock Springs 
        Run, and Black Water Creek are held in public ownership or 
        conservation easements or are defined as waters of the State of 
        Florida.

SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF WEKIVA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES, FLORIDA, AS 
              COMPONENTS OF NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS SYSTEM.

    (a) Designation.--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:
    ``(161) Wekiva River, Rock Springs Run, and Black Water Creek, 
Florida.--Subject to section 3A, a total of 41.6 miles of the river 
segments referred to in this paragraph, to be administered by the 
Secretary of the Interior:
            ``(A) Wekiva river.--The 14.9 miles of the Wekiva River 
        from its confluence with the St. Johns River to Wekiwa Springs, 
        to be administered in the following classifications:
                    ``(i) From the confluence with the St. Johns River 
                to the southern boundary of the Lower Wekiva River 
                State Preserve, approximately 4.4 miles, as a wild 
                river.
                    ``(ii) From the southern boundary of the Lower 
                Wekiva River State Preserve to the northern boundary of 
                Rock Springs State Reserve at the Wekiva River, 
                approximately 3.4 miles, as a recreational river.
                    ``(iii) From the northern boundary of Rock Springs 
                State Reserve at the Wekiva River to the southern 
                boundary of Rock Springs State Reserve at the Wekiva 
                River, approximately 5.9 miles, as a wild river.
                    ``(iv) From the southern boundary of Rock Springs 
                State Reserve at the Wekiva River upstream along Wekiwa 
                Springs Run to Wekiwa Springs, approximately 1.2 miles, 
                as a recreational river.
            ``(B) Rock springs run.--The 8.8 miles from the confluence 
        of Rock Springs Run with the Wekiwa Springs Run forming the 
        Wekiva River to its headwaters at Rock Springs, to be 
        administered in the following classifications:
                    ``(i) From the confluence with Wekiwa Springs Run 
                to the western boundary of Rock Springs Run State 
                Reserve at Rock Springs Run, approximately 6.9 miles, 
                as a wild river.
                    ``(ii) From the western boundary of Rock Springs 
                Run State Reserve at Rock Springs Run to Rock Springs, 
                approximately 1.9 miles, as a recreational river.
            ``(C) Black water creek.--The 17.9 miles from the 
        confluence of Black Water Creek with the Wekiva River to 
        outflow from Lake Norris, to be administered in the following 
        classifications:
                    ``(i) From the confluence with the Wekiva River to 
                approximately .25 mile downstream of the Seminole State 
                Forest road crossing, approximately 4.1 miles, as a 
                wild river.
                    ``(ii) From approximately .25 mile downstream of 
                the Seminole State Forest road to approximately .25 
                mile upstream of the Seminole State Forest road 
                crossing, approximately .5 mile, as a scenic river.
                    ``(iii) From approximately .25 mile upstream of the 
                Seminole State Forest road crossing to approximately 
                .25 mile downstream of the old railroad grade crossing 
                (approximately River Mile 9), approximately 4.4 miles, 
                as a wild river.
                    ``(iv) From approximately .25 mile downstream of 
                the old railroad grade crossing (approximately River 
                Mile 9), upstream to the boundary of Seminole State 
                Forest (approximately River Mile 10.6), approximately 
                1.6 miles, as a scenic river.
                    ``(v) From the boundary of Seminole State Forest 
                (approximately River Mile 10.6) to approximately .25 
                mile downstream of the State Road 44 crossing, 
                approximately .9 mile, as a wild river.
                    ``(vi) From approximately .25 mile downstream of 
                State Road 44 to approximately .25 mile upstream of the 
                State Road 44A crossing, approximately .6 mile, as a 
                recreational river.
                    ``(vii) From approximately .25 mile upstream of the 
                State Road 44A crossing to approximately .25 mile 
                downstream of the Lake Norris Road crossing, 
                approximately 4.7 miles, as a wild river.
                    ``(viii) From approximately .25 mile downstream of 
                the Lake Norris Road crossing to the outflow from Lake 
                Norris, approximately 1.1 miles, as a recreational 
                river.''.
    (b) Special Requirements.--The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act is 
amended by inserting after section 3 (16 U.S.C. 1274) the following new 
section:

``SEC. 3A. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO WEKIVA RIVER AND 
              TRIBUTARIES, FLORIDA.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Wekiva river system.--The term `Wekiva river system' 
        means the segments of the Wekiva River, Rock Springs Run, and 
        Black Water Creek in the State of Florida designated as 
        components of the national wild and scenic rivers system by 
        section 3(a)(161).
            ``(2) Committee.--The term `Committee' means the Wekiva 
        River System Advisory Management Committee.
            ``(3) Comprehensive management plan.--The terms 
        `comprehensive management plan' and `plan' mean the 
        comprehensive management plan to be developed pursuant to 
        section 3(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 Wekiva 
        river system, the Secretary shall offer to enter into 
        cooperative agreements pursuant to sections 10(e) and 11(b)(1) 
        with the State of Florida, appropriate local political 
        jurisdictions of the State, namely the counties of Lake, 
        Orange, and Seminole, and appropriate local planning and 
        environmental organizations.
            ``(2) Effect of agreement.--Use of a cooperative agreement 
        under paragraph (1) shall not constitute National Park Service 
        administration of the Wekiva river system for purposes of 
        section 10(c) and shall not cause the Wekiva river system to be 
        considered as being a unit of the National Park System. 
        Publicly owned lands within the boundaries of the Wekiva river 
        system shall continue to be managed by the agency having 
        jurisdiction over the lands.
    ``(c) Committee.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an 
        advisory committee, to be known as the Wekiva River System 
        Advisory Management Committee, to assist in the development of 
        the comprehensive management plan for the Wekiva river system. 
        The Committee shall be composed of a representative of each of 
        the following agencies and organizations:
                    ``(A) The Department of the Interior, represented 
                by the Director of the National Park Service or the 
                Director's designee.
                    ``(B) The East Central Florida Regional Planning 
                Council.
                    ``(C) The Florida Department of Environmental 
                Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks, Wekiva 
                River GEOPark.
                    ``(D) The Florida Department of Environmental 
                Protection, Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve.
                    ``(E) The Florida Department of Environmental 
                Protection, Office of Ecosystem Planning and 
                Coordination.
                    ``(F) The Florida Department of Agriculture and 
                Community Affairs, Division of Forestry, Seminole State 
                Forest.
                    ``(G) The Florida Audubon Society.
                    ``(H) The nonprofit organization known as the 
                Friends of the Wekiva.
                    ``(I) The Lake County Water Authority.
                    ``(J) The Lake County Planning Department.
                    ``(K) The Orange County Parks and Recreation 
                Department, Kelly Park.
                    ``(L) The Seminole County Planning Department.
                    ``(M) The St. Johns River Water Management 
                District.
                    ``(N) The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation 
                Commission.
            ``(2) Additional members.--Other interested parties may be 
        added to the Committee by request to the Secretary and 
        unanimous consent of the existing members.
            ``(3) Appointment.--Representatives and alternates to the 
        Committee shall be appointed as follows:
                    ``(A) State agency representatives, by the 
                Governor.
                    ``(B) County representatives, by the Boards of 
                County Commissioners.
                    ``(C) Water management district, by the Governing 
                Board.
                    ``(D) Department of the Interior representative, by 
                the Southeast Regional Director, National Park Service.
                    ``(E) East Central Florida Regional Planning 
                Council, by Governing Board.
                    ``(F) Other organizations, by the Southeast 
                Regional Director, National Park Service.
            ``(4) Voting and committee procedures.--Each member agency, 
        agency division, or organization referred to in paragraph (1) 
        shall have 1 vote and provide 1 member and 1 alternate. 
        Committee decisions and actions will be made with consent of 
        \3/4\ of all voting members. Additional necessary Committee 
        procedures shall be developed as part of the comprehensive 
        management plan.
            ``(5) Role of committee.--The Committee shall serve as an 
        advisory group to the Secretary in determining whether a 
        proposed water resources project for the Wekiva river system 
        would have a direct and adverse effect on the values for which 
        the Wekiva river system was designated as a component of the 
        national wild and scenic rivers system. The Committee shall 
        have an advisory role only, it will not have regulatory or land 
        acquisition authority.
    ``(d) Compliance Review.--After completion of the comprehensive 
management plan, the Secretary shall biennially review compliance with 
the plan and shall promptly report to the Committee on Resources of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate any deviation from the plan that could result 
in any diminution of the values for which the Wekiva river system was 
designated as a component of the national wild and scenic rivers 
system.
    ``(e) Technical Assistance and Other Support.--The Secretary may 
provide technical assistance, staff support, and funding to assist in 
the development and implementation of the comprehensive management 
plan.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section 
and section 3(a)(161).''.
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