---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 544k"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "544k"
heading: "Tributary rivers and streams"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/544k"
units:
  - "Chapter 2 — National Forests"
  - "Subchapter II — Scenic Areas"
---

# §544k. Tributary rivers and streams

- (a) **Water resources projects—** The following rivers and streams shall be subject to the same restrictions on the licensing, permitting, and exempting from licensing and the construction of water resource [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) as provided for components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System pursuant to [section 7(a)](/usc/16/7.md) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act ([16 U.S.C. 1278(a)](/usc/16/1278.md?p=a)):
  - (1) any tributary river or stream to the Columbia River not designated in subsections[^1] (c) or (d) of this section or otherwise specified in this subsection which flows in whole or in part through a special management [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), unless the construction of a water resources [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) would not have a direct and adverse effect on the scenic, cultural, recreation, and natural resources of the [scenic area](/usc/16/544.md?p=o);
  - (2) any river or river segment which flows in whole or in part through the [scenic area](/usc/16/544.md?p=o) and which is established pursuant to [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) law as a wild, scenic, or recreation river or which is under study pursuant to [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) law for the potential inclusion in any such [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) protected river system, unless such [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) or [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) meet terms and conditions set by [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) agencies exercising administration over such river or river segment;
  - (3) the Wind River, Washington, for a period not less than three years following the later of—
    - (A) final approval of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest Plan, adopted pursuant to the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (Act of October 22, 1976, Public Law 94–588, as amended) ([16 U.S.C. 1600](/usc/16/1600.md) et seq.); or
    - (B) submittal by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of a report to the President on the suitability or nonsuitability for [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to the national wild and scenic rivers system and a report by the President to the Congress of recommendations and proposals with respect to the designation of such river under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act [[16 U.S.C. 1271](/usc/16/1271.md) et seq.];
  - (4) the Hood River, Oregon, if such facility impounds or diverts water other than by means of a dam or diversion existing as of November 17, 1986; and
  - (5) the segment of the Little White Salmon, Washington, from the Willard National Fish Hatchery to its confluence with the Columbia River if such facility impounds or diverts water other than by means of a dam or diversion existing as of November 17, 1986.
- (b) **Exceptions—** The provisions of [subsection (a)](#a) shall not apply to those portions of tributary rivers or streams to the Columbia River which flow through or border on Indian reservations. Nothing in this section shall apply to or affect any segment of any river designated as a wild and scenic river under [section 3](/usc/16/3.md) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act ([16 U.S.C. 1274](/usc/16/1274.md)) or any river designated for study under [section 5](/usc/16/5.md) of such Act ([16 U.S.C. 1276](/usc/16/1276.md)).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “subsection”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–663, § 13(a), (b), Nov. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 4293, 4294; Pub. L. 111–11, title I, § 1203(b), Mar. 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 1012.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Subsection (c) or (d) of this section, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is subsec. (c) or (d) of section 13 of Pub. L. 99–663, Nov. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 4294, which amended sections 1274(a) and 1276(a), respectively, of this title.

The National Forest Management Act of 1976, referred to in subsec. (a)(3)(A), is Pub. L. 94–588, Oct. 22, 1976, 90 Stat. 2949, which enacted sections 472a, 521b, 1600, and 1611 to 1614 of this title, amended sections 500, 515, 516, 518, 576b, and 1601 to 1610 of this title, repealed sections 476, 513, and 514 of this title, and enacted provisions set out as notes under sections 476, 513, 528, 594–2, and 1600 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1976 Amendment note set out under section 1600 of this title and Tables.

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(3)(B), is Pub. L. 90–542, Oct. 2, 1968, 82 Stat. 906, which is classified generally to chapter 28 (§ 1271 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1271 of this title and Tables.

### Codification

Section 13 of Pub. L. 99–663, which enacted this section, consisted of subsecs. (a) to (d). Subsecs. (a) and (b) of section 13 were classified to this section, and subsecs. (c) and (d) of section 13 amended sections 1274 and 1276 of this title, respectively.

### Amendments

2009—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 111–11 struck out “for a period not to exceed twenty years from November 17, 1986,” before “if such facility”.