II 

Calendar No. 598 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3346 

To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain streams 

in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem and Smith River system in the 

State of Montana as components of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 27, 2023 

Mr. TESTER introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

NOVEMBER 21, 2024 

Reported by Mr. MANCHIN, with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

A BILL 

To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate 

certain streams in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem and 

Smith River system in the State of Montana as components of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for 

other purposes. 

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


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•S 3346 RS

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Montana Headwaters 

3 Legacy Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 

5 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 

6 (1) the streams designated as components of 

7 the Wild and Scenic Rivers System by the amend8 ment made by section 4(a) are cherished by the peo9 ple of the State of Montana and visitors from across 

10 the United States and around the world for their 

11 clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, spectacular 

12 natural settings, and outstanding recreational oppor13 tunities; 

14 (2) Indian Tribes have used the streams re15 ferred to in paragraph (1) for hunting, fishing, gath16 ering, and other cultural purposes since time imme17 morial; 

18 (3) recreational activities (including fishing, 

19 hunting, camping, paddling, hiking, swimming, rock 

20 climbing, horseback riding, and wildlife watching) on 

21 the streams referred to in paragraph (1) and the 

22 surrounding land generate billions of dollars annu23 ally for the economy of the State of Montana; 

24 (4) the multi-billion dollar agricultural industry 

25 in the State of Montana thrives on the availability 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•S 3346 RS

1 of clean water that originates in headwaters streams 

2 on Federal public land; 

3 (5) the streams referred to in paragraph (1)— 

4 (A) are national treasures; 

5 (B) possess outstandingly remarkable val6 ues; and 

7 (C) merit the high level of protection af8 forded by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 

9 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.) in order to maintain the 

10 benefits provided by the streams described in 

11 paragraphs (1) through (3) for future genera12 tions to enjoy; and 

13 (6) designation of select public land segments of 

14 the streams referred to in paragraph (1) under the 

15 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.) 

16 would recognize the importance of maintaining the 

17 values of each stream while— 

18 (A) preserving public access; 

19 (B) respecting private property rights; 

20 (C) allowing appropriate maintenance of 

21 existing infrastructure; and 

22 (D) allowing historical uses to continue. 

23 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to des24 ignate certain segments and tributaries of the Missouri 

25 River and Yellowstone River Headwaters in the State of 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•S 3346 RS

1 Montana as components of the National Wild and Scenic 

2 Rivers System to preserve and protect for present and fu3 ture generations the outstandingly remarkable values of 

4 each stream and tributary. 

5 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

6 In this Act: 

7 (1) COVERED SEGMENT.—The term ‘‘covered 

8 segment’’ means a river segment designated by para9 graphs (233) through (252) of section 3(a) of the 

10 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) (as 

11 added by section 4(a)). 

12 (2) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 

13 has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 

14 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 

15 Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 

16 (3) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Sec17 retary concerned’’ means— 

18 (A) the Secretary of the Interior, with re19 spect to a covered segment under the jurisdic20 tion of the Secretary of the Interior; and 

21 (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re22 spect to a covered segment under the jurisdic23 tion of the Secretary of Agriculture. 

24 (4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 

25 of Montana. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
5 

•S 3346 RS

1 SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF WILD AND SCENIC RIVER SEG2 MENTS. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3(a) of the Wild and Sce4 nic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by adding 

5 at the end the following: 

6 ‘‘(233) SMITH RIVER, MONTANA.—The portion 

7 of the Smith River consisting of the approximately 

8 24-mile segment from the confluence of Tenderfoot 

9 Creek downstream to the confluence of Deep Creek, 

10 to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture 

11 as a scenic river. 

12 ‘‘(234) TENDERFOOT CREEK, MONTANA.—The 

13 portion of Tenderfoot Creek consisting of the ap14 proximately 21-mile segment from the confluence 

15 with Iron Mines Creek downstream to the confluence 

16 with the Smith River, to be administered by the Sec17 retary of Agriculture as a scenic river. 

18 ‘‘(235) GALLATIN RIVER, MONTANA.—The por19 tion of the Gallatin River in the State of Montana 

20 consisting of the approximately 39-mile segment 

21 from the Yellowstone National Park boundary down22 stream to the confluence of Spanish Creek, to be ad23 ministered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a rec24 reational river. 

25 ‘‘(236) HYALITE CREEK, MONTANA.—The por26 tion of Hyalite Creek consisting of the approximately 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
6 

•S 3346 RS

1 6-mile segment from the source in the Gallatin 

2 Range downstream to Hyalite Reservoir, to be ad3 ministered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a sce4 nic river. 

5 ‘‘(237) TAYLOR CREEK, MONTANA.—The por6 tion of Taylor Creek consisting of— 

7 ‘‘(A) the approximately 3-mile segment 

8 from the source in the Madison Range down9 stream to the Lee Metcalf Wilderness boundary, 

10 to be administered by the Secretary of Agri11 culture as a wild river; and 

12 ‘‘(B) the approximately 15-mile segment 

13 from the Lee Metcalf Wilderness boundary 

14 downstream to the Gallatin River, to be admin15 istered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a rec16 reational river, with the boundary of the cor17 ridor flowing through the private land of Nine 

18 Quarter Circle Ranch being the ordinary high 

19 water mark. 

20 ‘‘(238) MADISON RIVER, MONTANA.—The por21 tions of the Madison River in the State of Montana, 

22 consisting of— 

23 ‘‘(A) the approximately 42-mile segment 

24 from the confluence of Cabin Creek downstream 

25 to the point at which the river leaves Bureau of 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
7 

•S 3346 RS

1 Land Management land at the north boundary 

2 of T. 8 S., R. 1 W., sec. 10, approximately 1 

3 mile north of the confluence of Cherry Creek, to 

4 be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture 

5 and the Secretary of the Interior as a rec6 reational river; 

7 ‘‘(B) the approximately 7-mile segment 

8 from 800 feet downstream of Madison Dam 

9 Powerhouse downstream to the Lee Metcalf 

10 Wilderness boundary, to be administered by the 

11 Secretary of the Interior as a wild river; and 

12 ‘‘(C) the approximately 7-mile segment 

13 from the Lee Metcalf Wilderness Boundary 

14 downstream to the Bureau of Land Manage15 ment boundary at the Black’s Ford Fishing Ac16 cess Site, to be administered by the Secretary 

17 of the Interior as a recreational river. 

18 ‘‘(239) BEAR CREEK, MONTANA.—The portions 

19 of Bear Creek consisting of— 

20 ‘‘(A) the approximately 2-mile segment 

21 from the source downstream to the Absaroka22 Beartooth Wilderness boundary, to be adminis23 tered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild 

24 river; and 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
8 

•S 3346 RS

1 ‘‘(B) the approximately 7-mile segment 

2 from the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness 

3 boundary to the confluence with the Yellow4 stone River, to be administered by the Sec5 retary of Agriculture as a recreational river. 

6 ‘‘(240) BOULDER RIVER, MONTANA.—The por7 tions of the Boulder River consisting of— 

8 ‘‘(A) the approximately 3-mile segment 

9 from the source in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wil10 derness downstream to the Absaroka-Beartooth 

11 Wilderness boundary, to be administered by the 

12 Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river; and 

13 ‘‘(B) the approximately 30-mile segment 

14 from the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness 

15 boundary downstream to the Custer Gallatin 

16 National Forest boundary downstream of Nat17 ural Bridge Falls, to be administered by the 

18 Secretary of Agriculture as a recreational river. 

19 ‘‘(241) HELLROARING CREEK, MONTANA.—The 

20 portion of Hellroaring Creek consisting of the ap21 proximately 19-mile segment from the source in the 

22 Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness downstream to the 

23 Custer Gallatin National Forest boundary, to be ad24 ministered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild 

25 river. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
9 

•S 3346 RS

1 ‘‘(242) LAKE FORK ROCK CREEK, MONTANA.— 

2 The portions of Lake Fork Rock Creek consisting 

3 of— 

4 ‘‘(A) the approximately 11-mile segment 

5 from the source in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wil6 derness downstream to the Absaroka-Beartooth 

7 Wilderness boundary, to be administered by the 

8 Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river; and 

9 ‘‘(B) the approximately 2-mile segment 

10 from the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness 

11 boundary to the confluence with Rock Creek, to 

12 be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture 

13 as a recreational river. 

14 ‘‘(243) ROCK CREEK, MONTANA.—The portion 

15 of Rock Creek in the State of Montana consisting of 

16 the approximately 14-mile segment from the border 

17 between the States of Montana and Wyoming to the 

18 Custer Gallatin National Forest boundary, to be ad19 ministered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a rec20 reational river. 

21 ‘‘(244) SLOUGH CREEK, MONTANA.—The por22 tion of Slough Creek consisting of the approximately 

23 19-mile segment from the source in the Absaroka24 Beartooth Wilderness downstream to the Custer 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
10 

•S 3346 RS

1 Gallatin National Forest boundary, to be adminis2 tered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river. 

3 ‘‘(245) STILLWATER RIVER, MONTANA.—The 

4 portions of the Stillwater River consisting of— 

5 ‘‘(A) the approximately 26-mile segment 

6 from the source in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wil7 derness downstream to the Wilderness bound8 ary, to be administered by the Secretary of Ag9 riculture as a wild river; and 

10 ‘‘(B) the approximately 3-mile segment 

11 from the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness 

12 boundary downstream to Flume Creek, to be 

13 administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as 

14 a recreational river. 

15 ‘‘(246) WEST BOULDER RIVER, MONTANA.— 

16 The portion of the West Boulder River consisting of 

17 the approximately 15-mile segment from the source 

18 in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness downstream 

19 to the Wilderness boundary, to be administered by 

20 the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river. 

21 ‘‘(247) WEST FORK STILLWATER RIVER, MON22 TANA.—The portion of the West Fork Stillwater 

23 River consisting of the approximately 14-mile seg24 ment from the source in the Absaroka-Beartooth 

25 Wilderness downstream to the Absaroka-Beartooth 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
11 

•S 3346 RS

1 Wilderness boundary, to be administered by the Sec2 retary of Agriculture as a wild river. 

3 ‘‘(248) WEST FORK OF ROCK CREEK, MON4 TANA.—The portions of West Fork of Rock Creek 

5 consisting of— 

6 ‘‘(A) the approximately 9-mile segment 

7 from the source in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wil8 derness downstream to the Absaroka-Beartooth 

9 Wilderness boundary, to be administered by the 

10 Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river; and 

11 ‘‘(B) the approximately 11-mile segment 

12 from the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness 

13 boundary downstream to the Custer Gallatin 

14 National Forest boundary, to be administered 

15 by the Secretary of Agriculture as a rec16 reational river. 

17 ‘‘(249) YELLOWSTONE RIVER, MONTANA.—The 

18 portion of the Yellowstone River in the State of 

19 Montana, consisting of the approximately 19-mile 

20 segment from the Yellowstone National Park bound21 ary in Gardiner, Montana, downstream to the con22 fluence with Rock Creek at the Cabella Fishing Ac23 cess Site, to be administered by the Secretary of Ag24 riculture and the Secretary of the Interior as a rec25 reational river. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
12 

•S 3346 RS

1 ‘‘(250) CABIN CREEK, MONTANA.—The portions 

2 of Cabin Creek in the State of Montana, consisting 

3 of— 

4 ‘‘(A) the approximately 7-mile segment 

5 from the source in the Madison Range down6 stream to the fish barrier, to be administered 

7 by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river; 

8 and 

9 ‘‘(B) the approximately 1-mile segment 

10 from the fish barrier downstream to the con11 fluence with the Madison River, to be adminis12 tered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a rec13 reational river, subject to the condition that the 

14 designation of the segment shall not preclude 

15 maintenance or management of the fish barrier 

16 by cooperating Federal and State agencies. 

17 ‘‘(251) MIDDLE FORK OF CABIN CREEK, MON18 TANA.—The portion of the Middle Fork of Cabin 

19 Creek in the State of Montana, consisting of the ap20 proximately 5-mile segment from the source in the 

21 Madison Range downstream to the confluence with 

22 Cabin Creek, to be administered by the Secretary of 

23 Agriculture as a wild river. 

24 ‘‘(252) CLARKS FORK OF THE YELLOWSTONE

25 RIVER, MONTANA.—The portions of the Clarks Fork 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
13 

•S 3346 RS

1 of the Yellowstone River in the State of Montana, 

2 consisting of— 

3 ‘‘(A) the approximately 1-mile segment 

4 from Broadwater River downstream to the Ab5 saroka-Beartooth Wilderness boundary, to be 

6 administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as 

7 a scenic river; and 

8 ‘‘(B) the approximately 2-mile segment 

9 from Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness boundary 

10 downstream to the Montana-Wyoming State 

11 line, to be administered by the Secretary of Ag12 riculture as a wild river.’’. 

13 (b) CONSENT OF OWNER OF LAND REQUIRED.—No 

14 land or interest in land located within the boundary of 

15 a covered segment may be acquired by the Secretary con16 cerned without the consent of the owner of the land or 

17 interest in land. 

18 (c) EFFECT OF DESIGNATIONS ON WATER

19 RIGHTS.—Nothing in this Act or an amendment made by 

20 this Act affects valid existing rights, including— 

21 (1) Federal, Tribal, and interstate water com22 pacts in existence on the date of enactment of this 

23 Act (including full development of any apportion24 ment made in accordance with the compacts); 

25 (2) water rights in the State; and 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
14 

•S 3346 RS

1 (3) water rights held by the United States. 

2 (d) EFFECT OF DESIGNATIONS ON HEBGEN AND

3 MADISON DEVELOPMENTS.—The designation of a covered 

4 segment by section 4(a) shall not— 

5 (1) prohibit, preempt, or abridge the licensing 

6 by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as a 

7 current or future federally licensed hydroelectric 

8 generation project under part I of the Federal 

9 Power Act (16 U.S.C. 792 et seq.) of any hydro10 electric project (including any aspect of existing or 

11 future facilities, operations, and transmission lines 

12 of the hydroelectric project) constructed on the 

13 Madison River as of the date of enactment of this 

14 Act; 

15 (2) prohibit, preempt, or abridge the licensing 

16 or development by the Federal Energy Regulatory 

17 Commission as a federally licensed generation 

18 project under part I of the Federal Power Act (16 

19 U.S.C. 792 et seq.) of any future hydroelectric gen20 eration that might be added to the Hebgen and 

21 Madison Developments (Federal Energy Commission 

22 project number 2188) (including any aspect of exist23 ing or future facilities, operations, and transmission 

24 lines); or 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
15 

•S 3346 RS

1 (3) affect the operation of, or impose any, flow 

2 release requirements at the Hebgen and Madison 

3 Developments described in paragraph (2) that are 

4 intended to satisfy current or future— 

5 (A) Federal Energy Regulatory Commis6 sion license conditions; or 

7 (B) compliance or management plans ap8 proved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Com9 mission. 

10 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

11 are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec12 essary to carry out this Act (including the amendments 

13 made by this Act). 

14 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

15 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Montana Headwaters 

16 Legacy Act’’. 

17 SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 

18 The purpose of this Act is to designate certain segments 

19 and tributaries of the Missouri River and Yellowstone River 

20 Headwaters in the State of Montana as components of the 

21 National Wild and Scenic Rivers System to preserve and 

22 protect for present and future generations the outstandingly 

23 remarkable values of each stream and tributary. 

24 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

25 In this Act: 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
16 

•S 3346 RS

1 (1) COVERED SEGMENT.—The term ‘‘covered seg2 ment’’ means a river segment designated by para3 graphs (233) through (251) of section 3(a) of the Wild 

4 and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) (as added 

5 by section 4(a)). 

6 (2) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Sec7 retary concerned’’ means— 

8 (A) the Secretary of the Interior, with re9 spect to a covered segment under the jurisdiction 

10 of the Secretary of the Interior; and 

11 (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re12 spect to a covered segment under the jurisdiction 

13 of the Secretary of Agriculture. 

14 (3) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 

15 of Montana. 

16 SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF WILD AND SCENIC RIVER SEG17 MENTS. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic 

19 Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by adding at 

20 the end the following: 

21 ‘‘(233) SMITH RIVER, MONTANA.—The portion of 

22 the Smith River consisting of the approximately 24- 

23 mile segment from the confluence of Tenderfoot Creek 

24 downstream to the confluence of Deep Creek, to be adVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:01 Nov 22, 2024 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S3346.RS S3346

kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
17 

•S 3346 RS

1 ministered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a scenic 

2 river. 

3 ‘‘(234) TENDERFOOT CREEK, MONTANA.—The 

4 portion of Tenderfoot Creek consisting of the approxi5 mately 21-mile segment from the confluence with Iron 

6 Mines Creek downstream to the confluence with the 

7 Smith River, to be administered by the Secretary of 

8 Agriculture as a scenic river. 

9 ‘‘(235) GALLATIN RIVER, MONTANA.—The por10 tion of the Gallatin River in the State of Montana 

11 consisting of the approximately 39-mile segment from 

12 the Yellowstone National Park boundary downstream 

13 to the confluence of Spanish Creek, to be administered 

14 by the Secretary of Agriculture as a recreational 

15 river. 

16 ‘‘(236) HYALITE CREEK, MONTANA.—The portion 

17 of Hyalite Creek consisting of the approximately 5.5- 

18 mile segment from the source in the Gallatin Range 

19 downstream to the bridge over Hyalite Creek leading 

20 to the Window Rock Cabin, to be administered by the 

21 Secretary of Agriculture as a scenic river. 

22 ‘‘(237) TAYLOR CREEK, MONTANA.—The portion 

23 of Taylor Creek consisting of— 

24 ‘‘(A) the approximately 3-mile segment 

25 from the source in the Madison Range downVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:01 Nov 22, 2024 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S3346.RS S3346

kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
18 

•S 3346 RS

1 stream to the Lee Metcalf Wilderness boundary, 

2 to be administered by the Secretary of Agri3 culture as a wild river; and 

4 ‘‘(B) the approximately 15-mile segment 

5 from the Lee Metcalf Wilderness boundary down6 stream to the Gallatin River, to be administered 

7 by the Secretary of Agriculture as a recreational 

8 river, with the boundary of the corridor flowing 

9 through the private land of Nine Quarter Circle 

10 Ranch being the ordinary high water mark. 

11 ‘‘(238) BEAR CREEK, MONTANA.—The portions of 

12 Bear Creek consisting of— 

13 ‘‘(A) the approximately 2-mile segment 

14 from the source downstream to the Absaroka15 Beartooth Wilderness boundary, to be adminis16 tered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild 

17 river; and 

18 ‘‘(B) the approximately 7-mile segment 

19 from the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness bound20 ary to the confluence with the Yellowstone River, 

21 to be administered by the Secretary of Agri22 culture as a recreational river. 

23 ‘‘(239) BOULDER RIVER, MONTANA.—The por24 tions of the Boulder River consisting of— 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
19 

•S 3346 RS

1 ‘‘(A) the approximately 3-mile segment 

2 from the source in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wil3 derness downstream to the Absaroka-Beartooth 

4 Wilderness boundary, to be administered by the 

5 Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river; and 

6 ‘‘(B) the approximately 30-mile segment 

7 from the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness bound8 ary downstream to the Custer Gallatin National 

9 Forest boundary downstream of Natural Bridge 

10 Falls, to be administered by the Secretary of Ag11 riculture as a recreational river. 

12 ‘‘(240) HELLROARING CREEK, MONTANA.—The 

13 portion of Hellroaring Creek consisting of the ap14 proximately 19-mile segment from the source in the 

15 Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness downstream to the 

16 Custer Gallatin National Forest boundary, to be ad17 ministered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild 

18 river. 

19 ‘‘(241) LAKE FORK ROCK CREEK, MONTANA.— 

20 The portions of Lake Fork Rock Creek consisting of— 

21 ‘‘(A) the approximately 11-mile segment 

22 from the source in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wil23 derness downstream to the Absaroka-Beartooth 

24 Wilderness boundary, to be administered by the 

25 Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river; and 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
20 

•S 3346 RS

1 ‘‘(B) the approximately 2-mile segment 

2 from the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness bound3 ary to the confluence with Rock Creek, to be ad4 ministered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a 

5 recreational river. 

6 ‘‘(242) ROCK CREEK, MONTANA.—The portion of 

7 Rock Creek in the State of Montana consisting of the 

8 approximately 14-mile segment from the border be9 tween the States of Montana and Wyoming to the 

10 Custer Gallatin National Forest boundary, to be ad11 ministered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a rec12 reational river. 

13 ‘‘(243) SLOUGH CREEK, MONTANA.—The portion 

14 of Slough Creek consisting of the approximately 19- 

15 mile segment from the source in the Absaroka16 Beartooth Wilderness downstream to the Custer Gal17 latin National Forest boundary, to be administered 

18 by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river. 

19 ‘‘(244) STILLWATER RIVER, MONTANA.—The por20 tions of the Stillwater River consisting of— 

21 ‘‘(A) the approximately 26-mile segment 

22 from the source in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wil23 derness downstream to the Wilderness boundary, 

24 to be administered by the Secretary of Agri25 culture as a wild river; and 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
21 

•S 3346 RS

1 ‘‘(B) the approximately 3-mile segment 

2 from the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness bound3 ary downstream to Flume Creek, to be adminis4 tered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a rec5 reational river. 

6 ‘‘(245) WEST BOULDER RIVER, MONTANA.—The 

7 portion of the West Boulder River consisting of the 

8 approximately 15-mile segment from the source in the 

9 Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness downstream to the 

10 Wilderness boundary, to be administered by the Sec11 retary of Agriculture as a wild river. 

12 ‘‘(246) WEST FORK STILLWATER RIVER, MON13 TANA.—The portion of the West Fork Stillwater River 

14 consisting of the approximately 14-mile segment from 

15 the source in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness 

16 downstream to the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness 

17 boundary, to be administered by the Secretary of Ag18 riculture as a wild river. 

19 ‘‘(247) WEST FORK OF ROCK CREEK, MON20 TANA.—The portions of West Fork of Rock Creek con21 sisting of— 

22 ‘‘(A) the approximately 9-mile segment 

23 from the source in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wil24 derness downstream to the Absaroka-Beartooth 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
22 

•S 3346 RS

1 Wilderness boundary, to be administered by the 

2 Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river; and 

3 ‘‘(B) the approximately 11-mile segment 

4 from the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness bound5 ary downstream to the Custer Gallatin National 

6 Forest boundary, to be administered by the Sec7 retary of Agriculture as a recreational river. 

8 ‘‘(248) YELLOWSTONE RIVER, MONTANA.—The 

9 portion of the Yellowstone River in the State of Mon10 tana consisting of the approximately 19-mile segment 

11 from the Yellowstone National Park boundary in Gar12 diner, Montana, downstream to the confluence with 

13 Rock Creek at the Carbella Fishing Access Site, to be 

14 administered by the Secretary of Agriculture and the 

15 Secretary of the Interior as a recreational river. 

16 ‘‘(249) CABIN CREEK, MONTANA.—The portion of 

17 Cabin Creek in the State of Montana consisting of the 

18 approximately 7-mile segment from the source in the 

19 Madison Range downstream to 100 feet upstream of 

20 the fish barrier, to be administered by the Secretary 

21 of Agriculture as a wild river. 

22 ‘‘(250) MIDDLE FORK OF CABIN CREEK, MON23 TANA.—The portion of the Middle Fork of Cabin 

24 Creek in the State of Montana consisting of the ap25 proximately 5-mile segment from the source in the 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
23 

•S 3346 RS

1 Madison Range downstream to the confluence with 

2 Cabin Creek, to be administered by the Secretary of 

3 Agriculture as a wild river. 

4 ‘‘(251) CLARKS FORK OF THE YELLOWSTONE

5 RIVER, MONTANA.—The portions of the Clarks Fork of 

6 the Yellowstone River in the State of Montana con7 sisting of— 

8 ‘‘(A) the approximately 1-mile segment 

9 from Broadwater River downstream to the Absa10 roka-Beartooth Wilderness boundary, to be ad11 ministered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a 

12 scenic river; and 

13 ‘‘(B) the approximately 2-mile segment 

14 from Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness boundary 

15 downstream to the Montana-Wyoming State line, 

16 to be administered by the Secretary of Agri17 culture as a wild river.’’. 

18 (b) CONSENT OF OWNER OF LAND REQUIRED.—No 

19 land or interest in land located within the boundary of a 

20 covered segment may be acquired by the Secretary con21 cerned without the consent of the owner of the land or inter22 est in land. 

23 (c) EFFECT OF DESIGNATIONS ON WATER RIGHTS.— 

24 Nothing in this Act or an amendment made by this Act 

25 affects valid existing rights, including— 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
24 

•S 3346 RS

1 (1) Federal, Tribal, and interstate water com2 pacts in existence on the date of enactment of this Act 

3 (including full development of any apportionment 

4 made in accordance with the compacts); 

5 (2) water rights in the State; and 

6 (3) water rights held by the United States. 

7 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 

8 authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary 

9 to carry out this Act (including the amendments made by 

10 this Act). 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB

kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
Calendar No. 598 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3346 

A BILL 

To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to desnic Rivers System, and for other purposes. of Montana as components of the Wild and Sce- ecosystem and Smith River system in the State ignate certain streams in the greater Yellowstone 

NOVEMBER 21, 2024 

Reported with an amendment 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB