[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 114 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1783-E1784]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                WEKIVA WILD AND SCENIC RIVER ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL McCOLLUM

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 5, 1999

  Mr. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation, the 
Wekiva Wild and Scenic River Act of 1999, designating the Wekiva River 
and its tributaries of Rock Springs Run and Seminole Creek for 
inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
  In the 104th Congress, legislation was signed into law to authorize a 
study of the Wekiva River by the Department of Interior to determine 
whether it is eligible and suitable for inclusion in the National Wild 
and Scenic Rivers System. The National Parks Service recently completed 
this study and concluded that the Wekiva River system is an excellent 
candidate for receiving this designation.
  This legislation would allow the Wekiva River and its tributaries to 
join the Loxahatchee as Florida's second river to receive this 
designation. The Wekiva Wild and Scenic River Act of 1999 provides 
Congressional designation of 41.6 miles of eligible and suitable 
portions of the Wekiva River, Rock Springs Run, Seminole Creek, and 
Black Water Creek with State management and the establishment of a 
cooridinated Federal, State, and local management committee 
(Alternative C of the study). As the report states, the Wekiva River 
area provides ``outstanding remarkable resources'' which makes it 
eligible for this national designation.
  For more than 30 years, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act has 
been safeguarding some of our most precious rivers across the country. 
In October of 1968, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act pronounced that 
certain selected rivers of the nation which possess outstandingly 
remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, 
cultural or other similar values, shall be preserved in free-flowing 
condition, and that they shall be protected for the benefit and 
enjoyment of present and future generations. Designated rivers receive 
protection to preserve their free-flowing condition, to protect the 
water quality and to fulfill other vital national conservation 
purposes.
  Furthermore, this legislation recognizes the efforts that have been 
initiated at the local and state level through the local coordinated 
management committee. This committee will be responsible for 
determining and implementing the comprehensive management plan for the 
Wekiva River under this designation and will be composed of a 
representative from each of the following agencies: Department of 
Interior, through the National Park Service; The East Central Florida 
Regional Planning Council; The Florida Department of Enviromental 
Protection, Wekiva River GEOPark; The Florida Department of 
Environmental Protection, Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve; The Florida 
Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Ecosystem Planning 
and Coordination; The Florida Department of Agriculture and Community 
Affairs, Seminole State Forest; The Florida Audubon Society; The 
Friends of the Wekiva; The Lake County Water Authority; The Lake County 
Planning Department; The Orange County Parks and Recreational 
Department; The Seminole County Planning Department; The St. Johns 
River Management District; and The Florida Fish and Wildlife 
Conservation Commission.
  Floridians are blessed with some of the most rich and engaging 
natural resources in the world. Every year thousands of people come to 
Florida to enjoy our rivers and oceans. Located in Central Florida, the 
Wekiva River Basin is a complex ecological system of rivers, springs, 
lakes, and streams with many indigenous varieties of vegetation and 
wildlife which are dependent on this water system. Included in this 
area are several distinct recreational, natural, historic and cultural

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resources that make the Wekiva River an excellent addition to the 
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and it is great pride that I 
introduce this legislation for consideration before this body.

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