Upper Raritan River Watershed Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2025
Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to study the Upper Raritan River Watershed in New Jersey for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. It designates specific river segments for evaluation: the North Branch Raritan River, South Branch Raritan River, the Lamington-Black River, and all their tributaries from headwaters to their confluences. The study must be completed within 3 years of funding availability, with results reported to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and House Natural Resources Committee.
Who Benefits and How
Residents and communities along the Upper Raritan River watershed benefit from potential federal protection of their local waterways. Environmental and conservation groups benefit from advancing river preservation. Recreational users (kayakers, fishers, hikers) benefit from potential protections that maintain water quality and natural character. New Jersey as a state benefits from potential federal recognition and protection of a significant watershed.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Department of the Interior bears the cost and administrative burden of conducting the comprehensive study within the 3-year timeline. Federal taxpayers fund the study. Landowners and municipalities along the designated river segments may face future land use restrictions if the rivers are ultimately designated as Wild and Scenic, though this bill only authorizes the study, not the designation itself.
Key Provisions
- Adds the Upper Raritan River Watershed as paragraph (147) of Section 5(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
- Designates four specific river segment groups: North Branch Raritan, South Branch Raritan, Lamington-Black River, and all tributaries
- Requires Secretary of the Interior to complete the study within 3 years of funding availability
- Requires a report to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and House Natural Resources Committee
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the Upper Raritan River Watershed in New Jersey for study as a potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, requiring the Secretary of the Interior to complete the study within 3 years.
Key Policy Areas
Environment, Conservation, Natural Resources
Primary Purpose
Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the Upper Raritan River Watershed in New Jersey for study as a potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, requiring the Secretary of the Interior to complete the study within 3 years.
Policy Domains
Whole Bill
Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Upper Raritan watershed communities
- Environmental and conservation organizations
- Recreational users of the watershed
- New Jersey residents
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Department of the Interior (study costs)
- Federal taxpayers
- Potentially affected landowners and municipalities
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Sponsors
Cory A. Booker
D-NJ | Primary Sponsor
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeMr. Booker (for himself and Mr. Kim) introduced the following …
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and …
Introduced in Senate
Impact analysis is available but no clear stakeholder effects identified. View clause-level analysis →
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of the Interior
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology