H.R. 5102 — Greater Yellowstone Recreation Enhancement And Tourism Act

This section states congressional findings on the outstanding natural, cultural, recreational, and economic values of certain segments of the Gallatin, Madison, and Yellowstone Rivers and their tributaries in Montana's Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. It declares the purpose of the Act to designate specified segments as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System to preserve those values while preserving public access, respecting private property rights, allowing infrastructure maintenance, emergency intervention, and continuation of historical uses.

This section designates five river segments in Montana, totaling approximately 98.5 miles, as components of the national wild and scenic rivers system to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture: (1) approximately 42-mile segment of the Madison River from the Cabin Creek confluence downstream to the north boundary of T. 8 S., R. 1 W., sec. 10 (approx. 1 mile north of Cherry Creek confluence), as recreational; (2) approximately 39.5-mile segment of the Gallatin River from the Yellowstone National Park boundary downstream to Spanish Creek confluence, as recreational; (3) approximately 4.6-mile segment of Hyalite Creek from its Gallatin Range source downstream to Grotto Falls Trailhead, as scenic; (4) approximately 7.3-mile segment of Cabin Creek from its Madison Range source downstream to above the fish barrier, as scenic; and (5) approximately 5.1-mile segment of Middle Fork Cabin Creek from its Madison Range source downstream to the Cabin Creek confluence, as scenic. (The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System protects designated rivers in their free-flowing condition with their outstanding natural, cultural, recreational, and other values.) The section further (1) prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from acquiring nonfederal land or interests within these segments without owner consent; (2) states that the designations do not affect valid existing water rights, including federal, tribal, interstate compacts, Montana state rights, or U.S.-held rights; (3) confirms compatibility of the designations with the Hebgen Dam and Reservoir and Madison Dam and Reservoir (both outside the segments and under FERC Project No. 2188), preserves existing FERC permits and operations, allows FERC licensing or relicensing under section 4(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 797(e)), and permits adding hydropower to Hebgen Dam but prohibits expansion into the segments; and (4) authorizes appropriations as necessary.