Mullica River Watershed Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4595 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4595

To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the Mullica River 
 watershed in New Jersey for study for potential designation as a wild 
               and scenic river, and for other purposes.

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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 20, 2026

  Mr. Kim (for himself and Mr. Booker) introduced the following bill; 
   which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the Mullica River 
 watershed in New Jersey for study for potential designation 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Mullica River Watershed Wild and 
Scenic River Study Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF MULLICA RIVER WATERSHED FOR STUDY FOR POTENTIAL 
              DESIGNATION AS WILD AND SCENIC RIVER.

    (a) Designation.--Section 5(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1276(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(147) Mullica river watershed, new jersey.--The segments 
        of the Mullica River, Wading River, Batsto River, and the 
        tributaries of each such river within the Mullica River 
        watershed, including the following segments:
                    ``(A) Mullica River from its headwaters to Great 
                Bay.
                    ``(B) Alquatka Branch from its headwaters to its 
                confluence with Mullica River.
                    ``(C) Albertson Brook from its headwaters to its 
                confluence with Nescochague Creek.
                    ``(D) Great Swamp Branch from its headwaters to its 
                confluence with Nescochague Creek.
                    ``(E) Nescochague Creek from its confluence with 
                Albertson Brook to its confluence with Mullica River.
                    ``(F) Pine Creek from its headwaters to its 
                confluence with Mullica River.
                    ``(G) Landing Creek from its headwaters to its 
                confluence with Mullica River.
                    ``(H) Nacote Creek from its headwaters to its 
                confluence with Mullica River.
                    ``(I) Bass River from its headwaters to its 
                confluence with Mullica River.
                    ``(J) Ballinger Creek from its headwaters to its 
                confluence with Mullica River.
                    ``(K) Roberts Branch from its headwaters to its 
                confluence with Skit Branch.
                    ``(L) Skit Branch from its headwaters to its 
                confluence with Batsto River.
                    ``(M) Batsto River from its headwaters to its 
                confluence with Mullica River.
                    ``(N) Springers Brook from its headwaters to its 
                confluence with Batsto River.
                    ``(O) Deep Run from its headwaters to its 
                confluence with Springers Brook.
                    ``(P) Penn Swamp Branch from its headwaters to its 
                confluence with Batsto River.
                    ``(Q) Tulpehocken Creek from its headwaters to its 
                confluence with West Branch Wading River.
                    ``(R) West Branch Wading River from its headwaters 
                to its confluence with Wading River.
                    ``(S) Hospitality Brook from Hog Wallow Bogs to its 
                confluence with West Branch Wading River.
                    ``(T) Little Hauken Run from Hog Wallow Bogs to its 
                confluence with Hospitality Brook.
                    ``(U) Oswego River from its headwaters to its 
                confluence with West Branch Wading River and Wading 
                River.
                    ``(V) Beaver Run from its headwaters to its 
                confluence with Wading River.
                    ``(W) Wading River from its confluence with West 
                Branch Wading River and Oswego River to its confluence 
                with Mullica River.''.
    (b) Study and Report.--Section 5(b) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1276(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(24) Mullica river watershed, new jersey.--Not later than 
        3 years after the date on which funds are made available to 
        carry out this paragraph, the Secretary of the Interior shall--
                    ``(A) complete the study described in paragraph 
                (147) of subsection (a); and
                    ``(B) submit to the Committee on Natural Resources 
                of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
                Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report 
                describing the results of the study.''.
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