II 112th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3423 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 23, 2012 Mr. Reed (for himself, Mr. Lieberman, and Mr. Whitehouse) 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 a segment of the Beaver, Chipuxet, Queen, Wood, and Pawcatuck Rivers in the States of Connecticut and Rhode Island for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Protection Act.

2.

Beaver, Chipuxet, Queen, Wood, and Pawcatuck Rivers Study

(a)

Designation for study

Section 5(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: (141)

Beaver, Chipuxet, Queen, Wood, and Pawcatuck Rivers, Rhode Island and Connecticut

The following segments: (A)The approximately 10-mile segment of the Beaver River from the headwaters in Exeter, Rhode Island, to the confluence with the Pawcatuck River. (B)The approximately 5-mile segment of the Chipuxet River from Hundred Acre Pond to the outlet into Worden Pond. (C)The approximately 10-mile segment of the upper Queen River from the headwaters to the Usquepaugh Dam in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, including all tributaries of the upper Queen River. (D)The approximately 5-mile segment of the lower Queen (Usquepaugh) River from the Usquepaugh Dam to the confluence with the Pawcatuck River. (E)The approximately 11-mile segment of the upper Wood River from the headwaters to Skunk Hill Road in Richmond and Hopkinton, Rhode Island, including all tributaries of the upper Wood River. (F)The approximately 10-mile segment of the lower Wood River from Skunk Hill Road to the confluence with the Pawcatuck River. (G)The approximately 28-mile segment of the Pawcatuck River from Worden Pond to Nooseneck Hill Road (Rhode Island Rte 3) in Hopkinton and Westerly, Rhode Island. (H)The approximately 7-mile segment of the lower Pawcatuck River from Nooseneck Hill Road to Pawcatuck Rock, Stonington, Connecticut, and Westerly, Rhode Island. . (b)

Study and report

Section 5(b) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following: (20)

Beaver, Chipuxet, Queen, Wood, and Pawcatuck Rivers, Rhode Island and Connecticut

Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this paragraph, the Secretary of the Interior shall— (A)complete the study of the Beaver, Chipuxet, Queen, Wood, and Pawcatuck Rivers, Rhode Island and Connecticut, described in subsection (a)(141); and (B)submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that describes the results of the study. .