This bill would add about 34 miles of the Myakka River to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The river segments lie within Sarasota County and would be managed by the Secretary of the Interior in partnership with the Myakka River Management Coordinating Council. The bill lists eight specific river segments with their approximate lengths and classifies each as scenic, wild, or recreational. It allows cooperative agreements with the State Department of Environmental Protection, local governments, and nonprofit organizations. The bill says the Council's existing Myakka River Wild and Scenic Management Plan will meet the federal planning requirement. The Secretary may give technical help, staff support, and funds for plan updates and implementation. The Secretary may only acquire land by donation or with the owner's consent and may not use condemnation. The Secretary will add a National Park Service representative to the Council and may allow other interested parties to join.
If you visit or live near the designated Myakka River segments, the river would be officially protected under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Management would follow the Council's plan and involve state, local, and nonprofit partners. Landowners would not face federal condemnation for land in the designated areas; federal land purchases would require owner consent or donation.
No publicly available information on the bill's costs or budgetary effects is included in the provided text.
The bill text says a prior federal study found the Myakka River eligible for designation. It notes state law and local plans already support protection, and that there has been strong public and local agency support. The Myakka River Management Coordinating Council, which includes many stakeholders, endorsed designation. Supporters see the Council's management plan as meeting federal planning needs.
No publicly available information on opposition or objections is included in the provided text.