---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 1284"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "1284"
heading: "Existing State jurisdiction and responsibilities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/1284"
units:
  - "Chapter 28 — Wild and Scenic Rivers"
---

# §1284. Existing State jurisdiction and responsibilities

- (a) **Fish and wildlife—** Nothing in this chapter shall affect the jurisdiction or responsibilities of the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) with respect to [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17). Hunting and fishing shall be permitted on lands and waters administered as parts of the system under applicable [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) and Federal laws and regulations unless, in the case of hunting, those lands or waters are within a national [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) or monument. The administering [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may, however, designate zones where, and establish periods when, no hunting is permitted for reasons of public safety, administration, or public use and enjoyment and shall issue appropriate regulations after consultation with the wildlife agency of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) or [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) affected.
- (b) **Compensation for water rights—** The jurisdiction of the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) and the United States over waters of any stream included in a national wild, scenic or recreational [river](/usc/16/1286.md?p=a) [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) shall be determined by established principles of law. Under the provisions of this chapter, any [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) by the United States of a water right which is vested under either [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) or Federal law at the time such [river](/usc/16/1286.md?p=a) is included in the national wild and scenic [rivers](/usc/16/1286.md?p=a) system shall entitle the [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) thereof to just compensation. Nothing in this chapter shall constitute an express or implied claim or denial on the part of the Federal Government as to exemption from [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) water laws.
- (c) **Reservation of waters for other purposes or in unnecessary quantities prohibited—** Designation of any stream or portion thereof as a national wild, scenic or recreational [river](/usc/16/1286.md?p=a) [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) shall not be construed as a reservation of the waters of such streams for purposes other than those specified in this chapter, or in quantities greater than necessary to accomplish these purposes.
- (d) **State jurisdiction over included streams—** The jurisdiction of the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) over waters of any stream included in a national wild, scenic or recreational [river](/usc/16/1286.md?p=a) [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) shall be unaffected by this chapter to the extent that such jurisdiction may be exercised without impairing the purposes of this chapter or its administration.
- (e) **Interstate compacts—** Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to alter, amend, repeal, interpret, modify, or be in conflict with any interstate compact made by any [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) which contain any portion of the national wild and scenic [rivers](/usc/16/1286.md?p=a) system.
- (f) **Rights of access to streams—** Nothing in this chapter shall affect existing rights of any [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), including the right of access, with respect to the beds of navigable streams, tributaries, or [rivers](/usc/16/1286.md?p=a) (or segments thereof) located in a national wild, scenic or recreational [river](/usc/16/1286.md?p=a) [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
- (g) **Easements and rights-of-way—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior or the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Agriculture, as the case may be, may grant easements and rights-of-way upon, over, under, across, or through any component of the national wild and scenic [rivers](/usc/16/1286.md?p=a) system in accordance with the laws applicable to the national [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) system and the national forest system, respectively: Provided, That any conditions precedent to granting such easements and rights-of-way shall be related to the policy and purpose of this chapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 90–542, § 13, Oct. 2, 1968, 82 Stat. 917.)