A bill to designate a segment of the Kings River in California as a wild and scenic river.
PL 100-150 (H.R.799), enacted 11/03/1987

PUBLIC LAW 100-150—NOV. 3, 1987 
101 STAT. 881 
Public Law 100-150 
100th Congress 
An Act 
To designate a segment of the Kings River in California as a wild and scenic river, 
and for other purposes. 
' 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF KINGS RIVER. 
(a) DESIGNATION.—Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by adding the following new para-
graph at the end: 
"(62) KINGS, CAUPORNIA.—The Middle Fork of the Kings River 
from its headwaters at Lake Helen between Muir Pass and Black 
Giant Mountain to its confluence with the main stem; the South 
Fork, Kings River from its headwaters at Lake 11599 to its con-
fluence with the main stem; and the main stem of the Kings River 
from the confluence of the Middle Fork and the South Fork to the 
point at elevation 1,595 feet above mean sea level. The segments 
within the Kings Canyon National Park shall be administered by 
the Secretary of the Interior. The remaining segments shall be 
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture. After consultation 
with State and local governments and the interested public and 
within one year after the enactment of this paragraph, the respec-
tive Secretaries shall take such action as is required under subsec-
tion (b) of this section. In the case of the segments of the river 
administered by the Secretary of the Interior, the requirements of 
subsection (b) shall be fulfilled through appropriate revisions to the 
general management plan for Kings Canyon National Park, and the 
boundaries, classification, and development plans for such segments 
need not be published in the Federal Register. Such revisions to the 
general management plan for the park shall assure that no develop-
ment or use of park lands shall be undertaken that is inconsistent 
with the designation of the river under this paragraph. For the 
purposes of the segments designated by this paragraph, there are 
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary, but 
not to exceed $250,000, to the Secretary of Agriculture for develop-
ment and land acquisition.". 
(b) RENUMBERING.—Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by redesignating the paragraphs 
relating to the Cache La Poudre River, the Saline Bayou, Black 
Creek, the Klickitat, and the White Salmon as paragraphs (57) 
through (61), respectively. 
SEC. 2. SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—In order to provide for public outdoor recre-
ation use and enjoyment of certain areas within the Sierra National 
Forest and the Sequoia National Forest, to protect those areas' 
natural, archaeological, and scenic resources, and to provide for 
appropriate fish and wildlife management of those areas, there is 
hereby established the Kings River Special Management Area 
Nov. 3, 1987 
[H.R. 799] 
National parks, 
monuments, etc. 
State and local 
governments. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
Conservation. 
16 u s e 539g. 
National Forest 
System. 
8f«iilm ic 
101 STAT. 882 
PUBLIC LAW 100-150—NOV. 3, 1987 
Public 
information. 
National Forest 
System. 
Forests and 
forest products. 
State and local 
governments. 
(hereinafter in this Act referred to as the "special management 
area"). The special management area shall be administered by the 
Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter in this Act referred to as "the 
Secretary") through the Sierra National Forest. 
(b) AREA INCLUDED.—The special management area shall consist 
of the lands, waters, and interests therein within the area generally 
depicted on the map entitled "Boundary Map, Kings River Special 
Management Area", dated April 1987. The map shall be on file and 
available for public inspection in the offices of the National Forest 
Service, Department of Agriculture. The Secretary of Agriculture 
may from time to time make minor revisions of the boundary of the 
special management area. 
(c) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall administer the special 
management area in accordance with this Act and with the provi-
sions of law generally applicable to units of the National Forest 
System. In the case of any conflict between the provisions of such 
Acts, the provisions of this Act shall govern. In the administration 
of the special management area the Secretary may utilize such 
statutory authority as may be available to him for the conservation 
of wildlife and natural resources as he deems necessary to carry out 
the purposes of this Act. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
prohibit grazing within the special management area to the same 
extent, and in accordance with the same rules and regulations as 
applicable in the absence of this Act. The Secretary may permit the 
cutting of timber within the special management area only in those 
cases where in the judgment of the Secretary the cutting of such 
timber is required in order to control the attacks of fire, insects, or 
diseases or to otherwise conserve the scenery or the natural or 
historical objects in the area. 
(d) MINING AND MINERAL LEASING.—Subject to valid existing 
rights, lands within the special management area are withdrawn 
from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws of the 
United States, from the operation of the mineral lesising laws of the 
United States and from operation of the Geothermal Steam Act of 
1970. 
(e) HUNTING AND FISHING.—The Secretary shall permit hunting 
and fishing on lands and waters within the special management 
area in accordance with applicable Federal and State law. The 
Secretary may designate zones where, and establish periods when, 
such activities will not be permitted for reasons of public safety, 
administration, fish and wildlife management or public use and 
enjojnnent. Except in emergencies, regulations issued by the 
Secretary under this subsection shall be put into effect only after 
consultation with the appropriate State agencies responsible for 
hunting and fishing activities. 
(f) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—After consultation with the State of 
California, the Secretary shall publish a management plan for the 
special management area within three years after the enactment of 
this Act. The plan shall provide for public outdoor recreation use 
and enjoyment of the special management area, protect the area's 
natural, archeological, and scenic resources, and provide for appro-
priate fish and wildlife management within the area. The plan shall 
contain provisions for management of vegetation within the area 
designed to enhance the wildlife carrying capacity of the area. The 
plan shall permit off-road vehicular use of off-road trails to the same 
extent and in the same locations as was permitted before enactment 
of this Act. The plan shall provide for the development of hiking 
PUBLIC LAW 100-150—NOV. 3, 1987 
101 STAT. 883 
trails in the special management area and shall include a trail from 
Garlic Creek to Little Tehipite Valley. 
(g) ACCESS TO PRIVATE LANDS.—If any State or privately owned 
land or any valid mining claim or other valid occupancy is within 
the special management area, or if State or private subsurface 
rights underlie public lands within the special management area, the 
Secretary shall provide the State or private owner, claimant, or 
occupier and their successors in interest such rights £is may be 
necessary to assure adequate and feasible access for economic and 
other purposes to the site concerned. Such rights shall be subject to 
reasonable regulations issued by the Secretary to protect the natu-
ral and other values of the special management area, taking into 
- 
- 
,/,f 
account the traditional and customary means of access used prior to 
the enactment of this Act. 
(h) SPECIFIC PROTECTIONS.—In recognition of the dispute that Dams, 
exists over whether a dam project should be constructed in the 
segment of the Main Stem of the Kings River from the point at 
elevation 1,595 feet above mean sea level downstream to the point at 
elevation 990 feet above mean sea level. Congress declares its in-
tention at this time not to designate that segment of the Kings River 
as a component of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, no Federal lands may be used 
for the construction of any dam or diversion within the boundaries 
of the special management area without specific authority of the 
Congress. In order to protect the natural, cultural, recreational, 
fishery, and wildlife values of the river segment referred to in this 
subsection, that segment shall be subject to the provisions of section 
7(a) of the Act of October 2, 1968 (82 Stat. 906), in the same manner 
as if it were designated. Nothing in this Act shall preclude the Kings 
River Conservation District from conducting studies as it may deem 
appropriate. 
Approved November 3, 1987. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 799: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 100-49 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 100-185 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 133 (1987): 
Apr. 21, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 1, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Oct. 13, House concurred in Senate amendments.