Myakka Wild and Scenic River Act of 2025

Myakka Wild and Scenic River Act of 2025

This bill would designate the Myakka River in Florida as a "Wild and Scenic River" under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, a federal program created in 1968 to protect certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, or recreational value. If passed, the Myakka River — which flows through Sarasota and Charlotte counties in Southwest Florida — would receive formal federal protections designed to preserve its free-flowing condition and the natural areas surrounding it.

Under Wild and Scenic designation, federal agencies would be required to manage the river in a way that protects its special qualities, and new dams, diversions, or other developments that could significantly harm the river would be restricted or prohibited. The designation does not automatically take away private property rights along the river, but it does place limits on certain federal projects or federally permitted activities that could negatively affect the waterway.

The bill would most directly affect residents, landowners, and businesses along the Myakka River corridor, as well as local and state agencies involved in water management and land use decisions. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts, conservation groups, and tourism interests in the region could also be affected. The bill has been introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, where a subcommittee hearing has already been held, meaning it is still in the early stages of the legislative process.