This bill would add 34 miles of the Myakka River in Sarasota County, Florida to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Different stretches are labeled “wild,” “scenic,” or “recreational,” covering the river from the Manatee County line down to the Charlotte County line, with mile-by-mile segments listed in the text. The U.S. Department of the Interior would manage it together with the local Myakka River Management Coordinating Council, and the council’s existing river plan would serve as the required federal management plan .

The bill encourages cooperation with Florida agencies, local governments, and nonprofits, and allows the Interior Department to provide technical help and funding. It does not turn the river into a national park unit, does not change how public or private lands are managed by their current agencies, and does not allow land to be taken by condemnation; any land could only be added by donation or with the owner’s consent.

Key points

• Who is affected: Residents, landowners, and visitors along the Myakka River in Sarasota County; local and state agencies that manage nearby lands.
• What changes: 34 miles gain federal wild and scenic status; segments are classified as wild, scenic, or recreational; management is a partnership with the local council using the existing river plan; Interior can assist with funding and expertise; no new federal park unit; no forced land takings; current land management stays in place .
• When: These changes would take effect if the bill becomes law.