I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2623

To provide for the expansion of the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge 

in Bibb County, Alabama. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 26, 2003

Mr. BACHUS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Resources 

A BILL

To provide for the expansion of the Cahaba River National 

Wildlife Refuge in Bibb County, Alabama.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Cahaba River National 

5 Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 The Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) The Cahaba River is recognized nationally 

9 for its unique biological diversity, which includes 
2

•HR 2623 IH 

1 habitat for more than 131 species of fish (more than 

2 any other river its size in North America). 

3 (2) The Cahaba River is home to 64 rare and 

4 imperiled species of aquatic plants and animals, in5 cluding fishes, freshwater turtles, mussels, and 

6 snails. 

7 (3) The Cahaba River is home to 12 aquatic 

8 animal species (fish, mussels, and snails) listed as 

9 endangered species or threatened species under the 

10 Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1331 et 

11 seq.). 

12 (4) The Cahaba River harbors the largest popu13 lation in the world of the imperiled shoals lily, 

14 known locally as the Cahaba Lily. 

15 (5) The Cahaba River watershed contains ex16 tremely rare plant communities, including mountain 

17 longleaf pine woodlands, and dolomite glades that 

18 are home to 8 plant species recently discovered as 

19 new to science, and known to exist nowhere else in 

20 the world, as well as more than 70 other rare and 

21 imperiled species of plants. 

22 (6) The Cahaba River is home to at least a 

23 dozen endemic aquatic animals that are found no24 where else in the world. 
3

•HR 2623 IH 

1 (7) The Cahaba River is the longest remaining 

2 free-flowing river in Alabama, flowing through five 

3 counties in central Alabama. 

4 (8) The Cahaba River is recognized as an Out5 standing Alabama Water by the Alabama Depart6 ment of Environmental Management. 

7 (9) The Cahaba River has high recreational 

8 value for hunters, anglers, birdwatchers, canoeists, 

9 nature photographers, and others. 

10 (10) The Cahaba River watershed supports 

11 large populations of game species, including deer, 

12 turkey, quail, and various species of ducks. 

13 (11) The Cahaba River was recognized by the 

14 106th Congress as deserving of inclusion in the Na15 tional Wildlife Refuge System by the establishment 

16 of the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge. 

17 (12) Significant additional recreational, natural 

18 resource conservation and management, and other 

19 public benefits would be realized by the expansion of 

20 the existing Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge. 

21 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

22 In this Act: 

23 (1) REFUGE.—The term ‘‘Refuge’’ means the 

24 Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge. 
4

•HR 2623 IH 

1 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

2 the Secretary of the Interior. 

3 SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF REFUGE. 

4 (a) EXPANSION.—

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Cahaba River National 

6 Wildlife Refuge, located in Bibb County, Alabama, is 

7 expanded to include approximately 30,000 acres of 

8 lands and waters, and interests in lands and waters, 

9 within the boundaries depicted upon the map enti10 tled ‘‘Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge Pro11 posed Expansion’’, and dated June 2, 2003. 

12 (2) BOUNDARY REVISIONS.—The Secretary may 

13 make such minor revisions to the boundaries of the 

14 Refuge as may be appropriate to carry out the pur15 poses of the Refuge or to facilitate the acquisition of 

16 property within the Refuge. 

17 (3) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The Secretary 

18 shall keep the map referred to in paragraph (1) on 

19 file for inspection in appropriate offices of the 

20 United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 

21 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The expansion of the Refuge 

22 under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) shall take effect on 

23 the date of the enactment of this Act. 
5

•HR 2623 IH 

1 SEC. 5. ACQUISITION OF LANDS AND WATERS. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, subject to the 

3 availability of appropriations, may acquire up to 30,000 

4 acres of lands and waters, or interests therein, within the 

5 boundaries of the Refuge described in section 4(a)(1). 

6 (b) INCLUSION IN REFUGE.—Any lands, waters, or 

7 interests acquired by the Secretary under this section shall 

8 be a part of the Refuge. 

9 SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION. 

10 In administering the Refuge, the Secretary shall—

11 (1) conserve, enhance, and restore the native 

12 aquatic and terrestrial community characteristics of 

13 the Cahaba River (including associated fish, wildlife, 

14 and plant species); 

15 (2) conserve, enhance, and restore habitat to 

16 maintain and assist in the recovery of animals and 

17 plants that are listed as endangered species or 

18 threatened species under the Endangered Species 

19 Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.); 

20 (3) in providing opportunities for compatible 

21 use (as that term is defined in section 5 of the Na22 tional Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 

23 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668ee)), ensure that hunting, fish24 ing, wildlife observation and photography, and envi25 ronmental education interpretation are the priority 

26 general public uses of the Refuge, in accordance 
6

•HR 2623 IH 

1 with paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 4(a) of the 

2 National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act 

3 of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668ee(a)(3), (4)); and 

4 (4) encourage the use of volunteers and facili5 tate partnerships among the United States Fish and 

6 Wildlife Service, local communities, conservation or7 ganizations, and other non-Federal entities, to—

8 (A) promote public awareness of the re9 sources of the Refuge and the National Wildlife 

10 Refuge System; and 

11 (B) public participation in the conservation 

12 of those resources.

Æ