Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act

Summary

Designates many federal land protections and management actions across parts of northern California: creates a large South Fork Trinity–Mad River Restoration Area, establishes new wilderness areas and additions, adds multiple river segments to the Wild and Scenic Rivers system, and creates two Special Management Areas on National Forest lands. It also sets up a California Public Land Remediation Partnership to remediate lands degraded by illegal cultivation, requires joint restoration and updated fire management plans within two years, and authorizes studies, trail designations, visitor centers, and other recreation projects with specific timelines and consultation requirements. The law directs agencies to update maps and management plans, limits new mining, leasing, and certain land dispositions in designated areas (subject to valid existing rights), preserves tribal access and cultural practices, provides authorities for cooperative agreements and limited grantmaking, and includes rules for fire, grazing, and recreation uses to balance conservation and public access. Many actions require feasibility studies, public and tribal consultation, and implementing plans to be completed within set deadlines (commonly 1–5 years) after enactment or after funds are made available.

• Creates the South Fork Trinity–Mad River Restoration Area and requires a joint restoration and updated fire management plan within two years.
• Forms the California Public Land Remediation Partnership to remediate federal lands damaged by illegal cultivation and other illegal activities, with grant and agreement authority.
• Designates multiple new wilderness areas, wilderness additions, and two potential wilderness areas, and adds numerous river segments to the Wild and Scenic Rivers system.
• Authorizes studies, trail designations, visitor centers, and recreation projects across several northern California counties with specific feasibility study timelines.
• Establishes Horse Mountain and Sanhedrin Special Management Areas with required management plans and limited motorized access rules.
• Withdraws many designated lands from mining, leasing, and public land disposals (subject to valid existing rights) and preserves existing utility rights-of-way.
• Requires maps, legal descriptions, and incorporation of changes into updated land and resource management plans; maps must be filed for public inspection.
• Protects tribal access and cultural uses, allows limited temporary closures to protect tribal privacy, and requires consultation with tribes, local governments, and the public.
• Authorizes cooperative agreements, grants, and acceptance of non‑Federal funds, but many projects remain subject to appropriations and applicable federal law.
• Maintains authorities for fire, insect, and disease control and preserves existing grazing where authorized, with restrictions to protect conservation values.