River Democracy Act

The bill adds specified segments of rivers and tributaries in Oregon to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, including portions of the Rogue, Snake, Illinois, Owyhee, Chetco, Clackamas, Deschutes, John Day, and other river systems. It also includes a later section titled “Designation of Additional Components,” whose details are not included here.

For river segments designated in Oregon on or after enactment, boundaries would include an average of 640 acres of land per mile, measured from the ordinary high water mark on both sides. Federal land within the boundaries of a Wild and Scenic River component in Oregon would be withdrawn from new entry under public land laws, mining claims, and mineral and geothermal leasing, subject to valid existing rights.

The responsible federal agency would publish an implementation schedule for each covered segment and complete a comprehensive river management plan on set timelines. Plans would assess wildfire risks, evacuation routes, invasive species and prescribed fire; at a Tribe’s request, they would also address culturally significant native species.

The bill says it would not cancel existing private rights, water rights, utility activities, or Tribal treaty rights, and federal acquisition of land or an interest in land within a covered segment would require the owner's consent. Tribal land or trust land could not be included in a covered segment without the Tribal government's express consent.

A later section is titled “Protection of Certain Areas.” The section heading identifies the topic, but the text describing those protections is not included here.