I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5102 
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain streams 
in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in the State of Montana as compo-
nents of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 2, 2025 
Mr. ZINKE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate 
certain streams in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem 
in the State of Montana as components of the Wild 
and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Greater Yellowstone 
Recreation Enhancement And Tourism Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
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(1) the streams designated as components of 
the Wild and Scenic Rivers System by the amend-
ment made by section 3(a) are cherished by the peo-
ple of the State of Montana and visitors from across 
the United States and around the world for their 
clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, spectacular 
natural settings, and outstanding recreational oppor-
tunities; 
(2) Indian Tribes have used the streams re-
ferred to in paragraph (1) for hunting, fishing, gath-
ering, and other cultural purposes since time imme-
morial; 
(3) recreational activities (including fishing, 
hunting, camping, paddling, hiking, swimming, rock 
climbing, horseback riding, and wildlife watching) on 
the streams referred to in paragraph (1) and the 
surrounding land generate billions of dollars annu-
ally for the economy of the State of Montana; 
(4) the multi-billion-dollar agricultural industry 
in the State of Montana thrives on the availability 
of clean water that originates in headwaters streams 
on Federal public land; 
(5) facilities on the Madison River, the Hebgen 
and Madison Dams, have been integral in improving 
and maintaining fish populations, enabling its blue- 
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ribbon fishery values, while generating 12 MW of 
carbon free hydropower; 
(6) the streams referred to in paragraph (1)— 
(A) are national treasures; 
(B) possess outstandingly remarkable val-
ues; and 
(C) merit the high level of protection af-
forded by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 
U.S.C. 1271 et seq.) in order to maintain the 
benefits provided by the streams described in 
paragraphs (1) through (3) for future genera-
tions to enjoy; and 
(7) designation of select public land segments of 
the streams referred to in paragraph (1) under the 
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.) 
would maintain the outstandingly remarkable values 
of each stream while— 
(A) preserving public access; 
(B) respecting private property rights; 
(C) allowing appropriate maintenance of 
existing infrastructure, including major repairs 
and safety improvements to roads and bridges; 
(D) allowing for emergency intervention; 
and 
(E) allowing historical uses to continue. 
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(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to des-
ignate certain segments of the Gallatin, Madison, and Yel-
lowstone Rivers and their select tributaries in the Greater 
Yellowstone Ecosystem in the State of Montana as compo-
nents of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System to 
preserve and protect for present and future generations 
the outstandingly remarkable values of each stream and 
tributary. 
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF WILD AND SCENIC RIVER SEG-
MENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3(a) of the Wild and Sce-
nic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(233) MADISON RIVER, MONTANA.—The ap-
proximately 42-mile segment of the Madison River 
in the State of Montana from the confluence of 
Cabin Creek downstream to the point at which the 
river leaves Bureau of Land Management land at 
the north boundary of T. 8 S., R. 1 W., sec. 10, ap-
proximately 1 mile north of the confluence of Cherry 
Creek, to be administered by the Secretary of Agri-
culture as a recreational river. 
‘‘(234) GALLATIN RIVER, MONTANA.—The ap-
proximately 39.5-mile segment of the Gallatin River 
in the State of Montana from the Yellowstone Na-
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tional Park boundary downstream to the confluence 
of Spanish Creek, to be administered by the Sec-
retary of Agriculture as a recreational river. 
‘‘(235) HYALITE CREEK, MONTANA.—The ap-
proximately 4.6-mile segment of Hyalite Creek in 
the State of Montana from the source in the Gal-
latin Range downstream to Grotto Falls Trailhead, 
to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture 
as a scenic river. 
‘‘(236) CABIN CREEK, MONTANA.—The approxi-
mately 7.3-mile segment of Cabin Creek in the State 
of Montana from the source in the Madison Range 
downstream to above the fish barrier, to be adminis-
tered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a scenic 
river. 
‘‘(237) MIDDLE FORK OF CABIN CREEK, MON-
TANA.—The approximately 5.1-mile segment of the 
Middle Fork of Cabin Creek in the State of Montana 
from the source in the Madison Range downstream 
to the confluence with Cabin Creek, to be adminis-
tered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a scenic 
river.’’. 
(b) CONSENT OF OWNER OF LAND REQUIRED.—No 
land or interest in land located within the boundary of 
a covered segment may be acquired by the Secretary of 
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Agriculture without the consent of the owner of the land 
or interest in land. 
(c) 
EFFECT
OF
DESIGNATIONS
ON
WATER 
RIGHTS.—Nothing in this Act or an amendment made by 
this Act affects valid existing rights, including— 
(1) Federal, Tribal, and interstate water com-
pacts in existence on the date of enactment of this 
Act (including full development of any apportion-
ment made in accordance with the compacts); 
(2) water rights in the State of Montana; and 
(3) water rights held by the United States. 
(d) EFFECT OF DESIGNATIONS ON HEBGEN AND 
MADISON DEVELOPMENTS.— 
(1) HEBGEN DAM AND RESERVOIR AND MADI-
SON DAM AND RESERVOIR.—The Hebgen Dam and 
Reservoir and the Madison Dam and Reservoir are 
located entirely outside of the covered segments, and 
these dams (including all aspects of their facilities 
and operations) are compatible with the designation 
made by the amendments made by subsection (a). 
(2) EFFECTS ON CURRENT AND FUTURE HY-
DROELECTRIC FACILITIES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The designation of the 
river segments by the amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall not— 
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(i) impact or alter the existing terms 
of permitting, licensing, or operation of— 
(I) the Hebgen Dam located on 
the Upper Madison River in Montana 
(FERC P–2188); or 
(II) the Madison Dam located 
near Ennis, Montana (FERC P– 
2188); or 
(ii) preclude the Federal Energy Reg-
ulatory Commission from licensing, reli-
censing, or otherwise authorizing the oper-
ation or continued operation of the facili-
ties named in clause (i). 
(B) HYDROPOWER GENERATION.—Nothing 
in this Act abrogates adding hydropower gen-
eration facilities to the Hebgen Dam. 
(3) LICENSING
AND
EXPANSION.—Notwith-
standing Section 7(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers 
Act, section 4(e) of the Federal Power Act shall gov-
ern the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission con-
sideration of licenses, relicenses, or expansion of the 
Hebgen and Madison Developments. 
(4) LIMITATION.—The Hebgen and Madison 
Developments shall not be expanded to the area 
within the covered segments. 
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(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out this Act, including the amendments 
made by this Act. 
(f) COVERED SEGMENT DEFINED.—The term ‘‘cov-
ered segment’’ means a river segment designated by para-
graphs (233) through (237) of section 3(a) of the Wild 
and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) (as amended 
by subsection (a) of this section). 
Æ 
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