§544k Tributary rivers and streams

Summary

Makes several Columbia River tributaries and nearby streams follow the same rules as rivers in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System when it comes to licenses, permits, and building water projects. It covers five situations: tributaries that flow in whole or part through a special management area unless a project would have a direct and harmful effect on the area’s scenic, cultural, recreation, or natural resources; rivers in the scenic area that a State has protected or is studying for protection unless State agencies set other conditions; the Wind River in Washington for at least three years after either final approval of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest Plan or completion of certain federal reports and presidential recommendations; the Hood River, Oregon; and the Little White Salmon segment from the Willard National Fish Hatchery to the Columbia—those last two only if a new facility would impound or divert water by means other than a dam or diversion that existed on November 17, 1986. These rules do not apply to parts of tributaries that flow through or border Indian reservations. They also do not affect rivers already designated as wild and scenic or rivers already being studied for that designation.