§544k Tributary Rivers and Streams

Summary

Certain tributaries of the Columbia River and a few nearby rivers must follow the same limits on permits, licenses, exemptions, and building of water projects that apply to rivers in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System under section 7(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Covered waters include tributaries that run through special management areas (unless a project would not directly and negatively affect the scenic, cultural, recreational, or natural resources), rivers in the scenic area that a State has named or is studying as wild/scenic/recreational (unless the State sets other conditions), the Wind River in Washington for at least three years after the later of final approval of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest Plan or the Secretary’s and President’s reports on its suitability, the Hood River, Oregon, if a new facility would impound or divert water other than by a dam or diversion that existed on November 17, 1986, and the Little White Salmon segment from Willard National Fish Hatchery to the Columbia River under the same date condition. These rules do not apply to parts of tributaries that flow through or border Indian reservations. They also do not affect any river segment already designated as wild and scenic or any river under study under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.