To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by designating a segment of the Lower Merced River in California as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
PL 102-432 (H.R.2431), enacted 10/23/1992

106 STAT. 2212 
PUBLIC LAW 102-432—CXTT. 23, 1992 
Public Law 102-432 
102d Congress 
An Act 
OcL 23 1992 
"^^ amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by designating a segment of the Lower 
' 
Merced River in CaUfornia as a component of the National Wild and Scenic 
[H.R 2431] 
Rivers System. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF THE LOWER MERCED RIVER FOR INCLU-
SION IN THE WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS SYSTEM. 
Section 3(a)(62) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 
16 use 1274, 
1274(a)(62)) is hereby amended— 
(1) by striking "The main stem" and inserting in Ueu 
thereof, "(A) The main stem"; 
(2) by striking "paragraph" whenever it appears and insert-
ing in lieu thereof "subparagraph"; and 
(3) by adding the following new subparagraph at the end 
thereof: 
"(B)(i) The main stem from a point 300 feet upstream of the 
confluence with Bear Creek downstream to the normal maximum 
operating pool water surface level of Lake McClure (elevation 867 
feet mean sea level) consisting of approximately 8 miles, as gen-
erally depicted on the map entitled 'Merced Wild and Scenic River', 
dated April, 1990. The Secretary of the Interior shall administer 
the segment as recreational, from a point 300 feet upstream of 
the confluence with Bear Creek downstream to a point 300 feet 
west of the boundary of the Mountain King Mine, and as wild, 
from a point 300 feet west of the boundary of the Mountain King 
Mine to the normal maximum operating pool water surface level 
of Lake McClure. The requirements of subsection (b) of this section 
shall be fulflUed by the Secretary of the Interior through appropriate 
revisions to the Sierra Management Framework Plan for the Sierra 
Planning Area of the Folsom Resource Area, Bakersfleld District, 
Bureau of Land Management. There are authorized to be appro-
priated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes 
of this subparagraph. 
"(ii) To the extent permitted by, and in a manner consistent 
with section 7 of this Act (16 U.S.C. 1278), and in accordance 
with other applicable law, the Secretary of the Interior shall permit 
the construction and operation of such pumping facilities and associ-
ated pipelines as identified in the Bureau of Land Management 
right-of-way application CACA 26084, filed by the Mariposa Coiinty 
Water Agency on November 7, 1989, and known as the 'Saxon 
Creek Project', to assure an adequate supply of water from the 
Merced River to Mariposa County. 
"(C) With respect to the segments of the main stem of the 
Merced River and the South Fork Merced River designated as 
recreational or scenic pursuant to this paragraph or by the appro-
priate agency pursuant to subsection (b), the minerals to Federal 
lands which constitute the bed or bank or are situated within 
PUBLIC LAW 102-432—OCT. 23, 1992 
106 STAT. 2213 
one-quarter mile of the bank are hereby withdrawn, subject to 
valid existing rights, from all forms of appropriation under the 
mining laws and from operation of the minercd leasing laws includ-
ing, in both cases, amendments thereto.**. 
SEC. 
2. 
STUDY 
OF 
THE 
NORTH 
FORK 
OF 
THE 
MERCED 
RIVER. 
Section 5(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, as amended 
(16 U.S.C. 1276(a)), is further amended by adding the following 
new paragraph at the end thereof: 
•
*
( ) NORTH FORK MERCED, CAUFORNIA.—The segment from 
its headwaters to its confluence with the Merced River, by the 
Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior.**. 
SEC. 3. NEW EXCHEQUER PROJECT. 
The designation of the river segments referred to in section 
1 of this Act as components of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System 
shall not affect the continued operation and maintenance (including 
flood control operations) of the New Exchequer Project (Project 
No. 2179) as licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
on the date of enactment of this Act or the Commission's authority 
to issue a new license to the existing licensee for such project 
within the project boimdaries set forth in the license on the date 
of enactment of this Act: Provided, That if the Commission issues 
a new license to the existing licensee for such a project, the normal 
maximum operating pool water surface level authorized in the 
project's license shall not exceed elevation 867.0 mean sea level. 
Approved October 23, 1992. 
LEGISLATIVE fflSTORY—H.R. 2431 (S. 549): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 102-349 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 102-231 accompanying S. 549 (Comm. on Energy and 
Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 137 (1991): Nov. 23, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 138 (1992): Mar. 26, S. 549 considered and passed Senate. 
Apr. 9, H.R. 2431 considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Sept. 29, House concurred in Senate amendment with an 
amendment. 
Oct. 7, Senate concurred in House amendment.