I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3961 
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the 
Kissimmee River and its tributaries in the State of Florida for study 
for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 4, 2017 
Mr. SOTO 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 
segments of the Kissimmee River and its tributaries in 
the State of Florida for study for potential addition 
to the National 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 ‘‘Kissimmee River Wild 
and Scenic River Study Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) The Kissimmee River has undergone, over 
the course of two decades, the largest river restora-
tion effort in the world. 
(2) Extending approximately 105 miles from 
Orlando to Lake Okeechobee, the Kissimmee River 
forms the headwaters of Lake Okeechobee and the 
Everglades and serves as a vital component of eco-
system restoration in South Florida as a whole. 
(3) The Kissimmee River Restoration Project 
has significantly improved approximately 63,000 
acres of wetlands within the Kissimmee River water-
shed and reestablished an environment suitable for 
fish, wildlife, and the wetland plants that existed 
prior to the Kissimmee River’s channelization in the 
1960s. 
(4) The Kissimmee River Restoration Project is 
expected to be completed in 2020, at which point it 
is expected to reestablish historic hydrologic condi-
tions, recreate historic river and floodplain connecti-
vity, recreate the historic mosaic of wetland plant 
communities, and restore historic biological diversity 
and functionality. 
(5) After decades of restoration efforts and the 
expenditure of nearly a billion dollars, upon comple-
tion of the Kissimmee River Restoration Project, a 
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study should be conducted to determine the eligi-
bility of including the fully restored Kissimmee River 
into the National Wild and Scenic River program to 
preserve the fully restored free-flowing condition and 
immediate environment of the river for the benefit 
and enjoyment of present and future generations. 
(6) Inclusion of the Kissimmee River into the 
National Wild and Scenic River program would be a 
fitting tribute to the hard work of the Army Corps 
of Engineers and the South Florida Water Manage-
ment District’s restoration work. 
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION FOR STUDY. 
(a) DESIGNATION FOR POTENTIAL ADDITION.—Sec-
tion 5(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 
1276(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(ll) KISSIMMEE
RIVER, 
FLORIDA.—The 
segment from the southern shore of Lake Kissimmee 
to its confluence with Lake Okeechobee.’’. 
(b) STUDY.—Section 5(b) of the Wild and Scenic Riv-
ers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276(b)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(ll) KISSIMMEE RIVER, FLORIDA.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years 
after the date on which funds are made avail-
able to carry out this paragraph, the Secretary 
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of the Interior shall complete a study of the 
Kissimmee River, as described in subsection 
(a)(ll), and submit a report describing the 
results of such study to the Committee on Nat-
ural Resources of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources of the Senate. 
‘‘(B) REPORT
REQUIREMENTS.—The re-
port required under subparagraph (A) shall— 
‘‘(i) include a discussion of the effect 
of the designation of the segment to be 
studied under subsection (a)(ll) on— 
‘‘(I) existing commercial and rec-
reational activities, such as cattle 
ranching, dairy production, hunting, 
fishing, trapping, recreational shoot-
ing, motor boat use, or bridge con-
struction; 
‘‘(II) the authorization, construc-
tion, operation, maintenance, or im-
provement of energy production and 
transmission infrastructure; and 
‘‘(III) the authority of State and 
local governments to manage the ac-
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