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S. 4595119th CongressIn committeeLatest action Jul 21, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
Official title: Mullica River Watershed Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2026
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govThe plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
S 4595 orders a study of the Mullica River watershed in NJ to assess wild and scenic status; no protections take effect yet.
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S 4595 directs the Secretary of the Interior to study the Mullica River watershed in New Jersey to determine whether it qualifies for Wild and Scenic River designation, a federal status that shields rivers from dams and development that could alter their natural character. The study covers the Mullica River and many of its connected streams and tributaries across a large portion of the Pinelands region. The Secretary has three years after funding is provided to complete the study and report findings to Congress.
Residents, landowners, outdoor recreationists, and local governments in Atlantic, Burlington, and Ocean counties would be most directly affected. Environmental researchers, state agencies, and federal land managers would also be involved in conducting the study.
If Congress acts on the study results and grants formal designation, restrictions on development and construction along these waterways could follow. This bill alone creates no new land use or water use restrictions; a separate act of Congress would be required before any protections take effect.
The summary references that the three-year study period begins after funding is provided but does not specify an amount, source, or who pays.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a Senate committee is reviewing it. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.