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Water-Related News

New bill would officially make Little Manatee River “Wild and Scenic”

A bill introduced on Tuesday by Rep. Vern Buchanan would add the Little Manatee River to the National Park Service’s Wild and Scenic River System with the goal of ensuring its preservation.

The roughly 50-mile river borders Manatee and Hillsborough counties and is one of the major tributaries to Tampa Bay. It would be just the third waterway in Florida to gain the National Park Service designation.

At the state level, Little Manatee River is already designated as an “Outstanding Florida Water.” The special state designation allows for extra water quality protections, including stricter regulations for discharges.