H. R. 2773
One Hundred Sixth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
the twenty-fourth day of January, two thousand
An Act
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the Wekiva River and
its tributaries of Wekiwa Springs Run, Rock Springs Run, and Black Water
Creek in the State of Florida as components of the national wild and scenic
rivers system.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Wekiva Wild and Scenic River
Act of 2000’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Public Law 104–311 (110 Stat. 3818) amended section
5 of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276) to require
the study of the Wekiva River and its tributaries of Rock
Springs Run and Seminole Creek for potential inclusion in
the national wild and scenic rivers system.
(2) The study determined that the Wekiva River, Wekiwa
Springs Run, Rock Springs Run, and Black Water Creek are
eligible for inclusion in the national wild and scenic rivers
system.
(3) The State of Florida has demonstrated its commitment
to protecting these rivers and streams by the enactment of
the Wekiva River Protection Act (Florida Statute chapter 369),
by the establishment of a riparian wildlife protection zone
and water quality protection zone by the St. Johns River Water
Management District, and by the acquisition of lands adjacent
to these rivers and streams for conservation purposes.
(4) The Florida counties of Lake, Seminole, and Orange
have demonstrated their commitment to protect these rivers
and streams in their comprehensive land use plans and land
development regulations.
(5) The desire for designation of these rivers and streams
as components of the national wild and scenic rivers system
has been demonstrated through strong public support, State
and local agency support, and the endorsement of designation
by the Wekiva River Basin Ecosystem Working Group, which
represents a broad cross section of State and local agencies,
landowners, environmentalists, nonprofit organizations, and
recreational users.
(6) The entire lengths of the Wekiva River, Rock Springs
Run, and Black Water Creek are held in public ownership
H. R. 2773—2
or conservation easements or are defined as waters of the
State of Florida.
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF WEKIVA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES, FLORIDA,
AS COMPONENTS OF NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC
RIVERS SYSTEM.
Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C.
1274(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph:
‘‘(161) WEKIVA RIVER, WEKIWA SPRINGS RUN, ROCK SPRINGS
RUN, AND BLACK WATER CREEK, FLORIDA.—The 41.6-mile segments
referred to in this paragraph, to be administered by the Secretary
of the Interior:
‘‘(A) WEKIVA RIVER AND WEKIWA SPRINGS RUN.—The 14.9
miles of the Wekiva River, along Wekiwa Springs Run from
its confluence with the St. Johns River to Wekiwa Springs,
to be administered in the following classifications:
‘‘(i) From the confluence with the St. Johns River to
the southern boundary of the Lower Wekiva River State
Preserve, approximately 4.4 miles, as a wild river.
‘‘(ii) From the southern boundary of the Lower Wekiva
River State Preserve to the northern boundary of Rock
Springs State Reserve at the Wekiva River, approximately
3.4 miles, as a recreational river.
‘‘(iii) From the northern boundary of Rock Springs
State Reserve at the Wekiva River to the southern
boundary of Rock Springs State Reserve at the Wekiva
River, approximately 5.9 miles, as a wild river.
‘‘(iv) From the southern boundary of Rock Springs State
Reserve at the Wekiva River upstream along Wekiwa
Springs Run to Wekiwa Springs, approximately 1.2 miles,
as a recreational river.
‘‘(B) ROCK SPRINGS RUN.—The 8.8 miles from the confluence
of Rock Springs Run with the Wekiwa Springs Run forming
the Wekiva River to its headwaters at Rock Springs, to be
administered in the following classifications:
‘‘(i) From the confluence with Wekiwa Springs Run
to the western boundary of Rock Springs Run State Reserve
at Rock Springs Run, approximately 6.9 miles, as a wild
river.
‘‘(ii) From the western boundary of Rock Springs Run
State Reserve at Rock Springs Run to Rock Springs,
approximately 1.9 miles, as a recreational river.
‘‘(C) BLACK WATER CREEK.—The 17.9 miles from the con-
fluence of Black Water Creek with the Wekiva River to outflow
from Lake Norris, to be administered in the following classifica-
tions:
‘‘(i) From the confluence with the Wekiva River to
approximately .25 mile downstream of the Seminole State
Forest road crossing, approximately 4.1 miles, as a wild
river.
‘‘(ii) From approximately .25 mile downstream of the
Seminole State Forest road to approximately .25 mile
upstream of the Seminole State Forest road crossing,
approximately .5 mile, as a scenic river.
‘‘(iii) From approximately .25 mile upstream of the
Seminole State Forest road crossing to approximately .25
H. R. 2773—3
mile downstream of the old railroad grade crossing
(approximately River Mile 9), approximately 4.4 miles, as
a wild river.
‘‘(iv) From approximately .25 mile downstream of the
old railroad grade crossing (approximately River Mile 9),
upstream to the boundary of Seminole State Forest
(approximately River Mile 10.6), approximately 1.6 miles,
as a scenic river.
‘‘(v) From the boundary of Seminole State Forest
(approximately River Mile 10.6) to approximately .25 mile
downstream of the State Road 44 crossing, approximately
.9 mile, as a wild river.
‘‘(vi) From approximately .25 mile downstream of State
Road 44 to approximately .25 mile upstream of the State
Road 44A crossing, approximately .6 mile, as a recreational
river.
‘‘(vii) From approximately .25 mile upstream of the
State Road 44A crossing to approximately .25 mile down-
stream of the Lake Norris Road crossing, approximately
4.7 miles, as a wild river.
‘‘(viii) From approximately .25 mile downstream of the
Lake Norris Road crossing to the outflow from Lake Norris,
approximately 1.1 miles, as a recreational river.’’.
SEC. 4. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO WEKIVA RIVER AND
TRIBUTARIES.
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section and section 5:
(1) WEKIVA
RIVER
SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘Wekiva River
system’’ means the segments of the Wekiva River, Wekiwa
Springs Run, Rock Springs Run, and Black Water Creek in
the State of Florida designated as components of the national
wild and scenic rivers system by paragraph (161) of section
3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)),
as added by this Act.
(2) COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Committee’’ means the Wekiva
River System Advisory Management Committee established
pursuant to section 5.
(3) COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The terms ‘‘com-
prehensive management plan’’ and ‘‘plan’’ mean the comprehen-
sive management plan to be developed pursuant to section
3(d) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(d)).
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—
(1) USE AUTHORIZED.—In order to provide for the long-
term protection, preservation, and enhancement of the Wekiva
River system, the Secretary shall offer to enter into cooperative
agreements pursuant to sections 10(e) and 11(b)(1) of the Wild
and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(e), 1282(b)(1)) with the
State of Florida, appropriate local political jurisdictions of the
State, namely the counties of Lake, Orange, and Seminole,
and appropriate local planning and environmental organiza-
tions.
(2) EFFECT OF AGREEMENT.—Administration by the Sec-
retary of the Wekiva River system through the use of coopera-
tive agreements shall not constitute National Park Service
administration of the Wekiva River system for purposes of
H. R. 2773—4
section 10(c) of such Act (10 U.S.C. 1281(c)) and shall not
cause the Wekiva River system to be considered as being a
unit of the National Park System. Publicly owned lands within
the boundaries of the Wekiva River system shall continue to
be managed by the agency having jurisdiction over the lands,
in accordance with the statutory authority and mission of the
agency.
(c) COMPLIANCE REVIEW.—After completion of the comprehen-
sive management plan, the Secretary shall biennially review compli-
ance with the plan and shall promptly report to the Committee
on Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate any deviation
from the plan that could result in any diminution of the values
for which the Wekiva River system was designated as a component
of the national wild and scenic rivers system.
(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
AND OTHER SUPPORT.—The Sec-
retary may provide technical assistance, staff support, and funding
to assist in the development and implementation of the comprehen-
sive management plan.
(e) LIMITATION ON FEDERAL SUPPORT.—Nothing in this section
shall be construed to authorize funding for land acquisition, facility
development, or operations.
SEC. 5. WEKIVA RIVER SYSTEM ADVISORY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish an advisory
committee, to be known as the Wekiva River System Advisory
Management Committee, to assist in the development of the com-
prehensive management plan for the Wekiva River system.
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Committee shall be composed of a rep-
resentative of each of the following agencies and organizations:
(1) The Department of the Interior, represented by the
Director of the National Park Service or the Director’s designee.
(2) The East Central Florida Regional Planning Council.
(3) The Florida Department of Environmental Protection,
Division of Recreation and Parks.
(4) The Florida Department of Environmental Protection,
Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve.
(5) The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services, Division of Forestry, Seminole State Forest.
(6) The Florida Audubon Society.
(7) The nonprofit organization known as the Friends of
the Wekiva.
(8) The Lake County Water Authority.
(9) The Lake County Planning Department.
(10) The Orange County Parks and Recreation Department,
Kelly Park.
(11) The Seminole County Planning Department.
(12) The St. Johns River Water Management District.
(13) The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commis-
sion.
(14) The City of Altamonte Springs.
(15) The City of Longwood.
(16) The City of Apopka.
(17) The Florida Farm Bureau Federation.
(18) The Florida Forestry Association.
H. R. 2773—5
(c) ADDITIONAL MEMBERS.—Other interested parties may be
added to the Committee by request to the Secretary and unanimous
consent of the existing members.
(d) APPOINTMENT.—Representatives and alternates to the Com-
mittee shall be appointed as follows:
(1) State agency representatives, by the head of the agency.
(2) County representatives, by the Boards of County
Commissioners.
(3) Water management district, by the Governing Board.
(4) Department of the Interior representative, by the South-
east Regional Director, National Park Service.
(5) East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, by
Governing Board.
(6) Other organizations, by the Southeast Regional
Director, National Park Service.
(e) ROLE OF COMMITTEE.—The Committee shall assist in the
development of the comprehensive management plan for the Wekiva
River system and provide advice to the Secretary in carrying out
the management responsibilities of the Secretary under this Act.
The Committee shall have an advisory role only, it will not have
regulatory or land acquisition authority.
(f ) VOTING
AND
COMMITTEE
PROCEDURES.—Each member
agency, agency division, or organization referred to in subsection
(b) shall have one vote and provide one member and one alternate.
Committee decisions and actions will be made with consent of
three-fourths of all voting members. Additional necessary Com-
mittee procedures shall be developed as part of the comprehensive
management plan.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may
be necessary to carry out this Act and paragraph (161) of section
3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)), as
added by this Act.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.