River Democracy Act

This bill would add many river and stream segments in Oregon to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, classifying each as wild, scenic, or recreational. For newly designated Oregon segments, protected boundaries would average 640 acres per river mile, and federal land within Oregon's wild and scenic river areas would be closed to new mining, mineral and geothermal leasing, and land disposal, subject to existing rights. Federal agencies would have to schedule and complete river management plans, including wildfire risk assessments, and could make cooperative agreements with tribes, the state, and local governments. The bill states that it does not affect existing private rights, water rights, utility operations, tribal rights, or wildfire operations, and it allows livestock grazing to continue under existing laws.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Ron Wyden Democrat sponsor
• 1 cosponsors