Deerfield River Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2023

HR 1312 designates the entire Deerfield River in Massachusetts and Vermont - including its North, South, East, and West Branches and major tributaries like the Green River and Cold River - for a study under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to complete this study within three years of funding and submit a report to Congress on the river's suitability for protection. This study would assess the river's natural, cultural, and recreational values but does not immediately protect the river or alter land use. The legislation directly affects communities and ecosystems within the Deerfield River watershed in both states. It is a procedural step to gather data before Congress decides whether to formally designate the river as "Wild and Scenic."