To designate a portion of the White Salmon River as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

June 10, 2003

Mr. BAIRD (for himself, Mr. INSLEE, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. DICKS, Mr. MCDERMOTT, and Mr. SMITH of Washington) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

To designate a portion of the White Salmon River as a component 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 `Upper White Salmon Wild and Scenic Rivers Act'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:

(1) The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act (16 U.S.C. 544 et seq.) directed the Secretary of Agriculture to study the Upper White Salmon River for possible designation as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

(2) The study, conducted by the Forest Service, included extensive public involvement by a broadly inclusive task force.

(3) The study determined that the Upper White Salmon River and its tributary, Cascade Creek, are eligible for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System based on their free-flowing condition and outstandingly remarkable scenic, hydrologic, geologic, and wildlife values.

SEC. 3. UPPER WHITE SALMON WILD AND SCENIC RIVER.

Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by adding the following new paragraph at the end:

`( ) WHITE SALMON RIVER, WASHINGTON-

`(A) DESIGNATION- Segments of the main stem and Cascade Creek, totaling 20 miles, to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as follows:

`(i) 1.6 mile segment- The 1.6-mile segment of the main stem of the White Salmon River from the headwaters on Mount Adams in Sec. 17, T. 8 N., R. 10 E., downstream to the Mount Adams wilderness boundary shall be administered as a wild river.

`(ii) 5.1-mile segment- The 5.1-mile segment of Cascade Creek from its headwaters on Mount Adams in Sec. 10, T. 8 N., R. 10 E. downstream to the Mount Adams Wilderness boundary shall be administered as a wild river.

`(iii) 1.5-mile segment- The 1.5-mile segment of Cascade Creek from the Mount Adams Wilderness boundary downstream to its confluence with the White Salmon River shall be administered as a scenic river.

`(iv) 11.8-mile segment- The 11.8-mile segment of the main stem of the White Salmon River from the Mount Adams Wilderness boundary downstream to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest boundary shall be administered as a scenic river.'.

SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL SECTIONS.

Nothing in this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, shall limit the suitability of the 18.4-mile segment from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest boundary to the confluence with Gilmer Creek for designation as a wild and scenic river under section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)).

SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT.

The Secretary of Agriculture shall develop and administer the comprehensive management plan required by section 3(d)(1) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(d)(1)) for the designated sections of the Upper White Salmon River in general accordance with that portion of the preferred alternative of the Forest Service Wild and Scenic River Study Report and Final Legislative Environmental Impact Statement for the Upper White Salmon River dated July 7, 1997, addressing only the designated sections.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

END