Mullica River Watershed Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2026
HB8924, the Mullica River Watershed Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2026, would amend the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to add the Mullica River watershed in New Jersey to the list of river areas designated for study for possible future inclusion in the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The bill identifies specific river segments and tributaries within the watershed, including portions of the Mullica, Wading, and Batsto Rivers and several named creeks and branches.
The measure does not itself designate the watershed as a wild and scenic river. Instead, it directs the Secretary of the Interior to complete a study, once funds are available, within three years and to submit the results to the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. If enacted, it would expand the federal study list under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and could be a precursor to future protection status for the watershed.
The bill would amend 16 U.S.C. 1276, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, by adding a new New Jersey study area and establishing a reporting deadline for the Department of the Interior. Its immediate legal effect would be procedural rather than regulatory: it would not impose new land-use restrictions or conservation status on the Mullica River watershed, but it would require federal evaluation of its eligibility for wild and scenic designation. The principal affected parties would be the Department of the Interior, Congress, and local stakeholders in the Mullica River watershed, including landowners, municipalities, conservation groups, and recreation interests.
Based on the bill text and available context, the bill appears to be framed positively as a conservation and study measure, with bipartisan sponsorship from Representatives Conaway and Van Drew. There is no recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided materials, so no formal opposition or support is documented beyond the introduction and referral stage. The overall tone suggests interest in evaluating the watershed’s scenic, ecological, and recreational value rather than immediately imposing federal protections.
The main point of potential contention is that the bill would initiate a federal study of a river system that could eventually lead to wild and scenic designation, which may raise concerns among local landowners, developers, or officials about future federal oversight, land-use constraints, or property impacts. Supporters are likely to include conservation advocates and those favoring preservation of the watershed’s natural character, while any skeptics would likely focus on the possibility of downstream regulatory consequences even though the bill itself only authorizes a study. No specific objections or amendments are reflected in the provided record.