Sponsors (23)
The bill permanently protects substantial wilderness acreage and river segments—benefiting recreation, tourism, ecology, and tribal practices—while trading off expanded land‑use restrictions, added administrative and permitting burdens, and potential complications or costs for firefighting, monitoring, and certain infrastructure or resource uses.
Residents, visitors, and nearby communities gain permanent protection of about 28,871 acres of wilderness and five river segments, preserving scenic, ecological, and recreational values.
Local and state governments (and residents) get stronger wildfire coordination and retained authority to carry out active management (fire, insect/disease control, fish and wildlife management) through updated plans and required pacts with fire responders.
Rural communities and small businesses can benefit from increased recreation and tourism tied to the wilderness and river designations, potentially boosting local revenue.
Mining interests, developers, and some local economic plans lose access and options because thousands of acres and river corridors are withdrawn from entry, new mining claims, and leasing, restricting future resource and development uses.
Taxpayers and local governments may face higher costs or operational limits for large‑scale mechanical fuels treatments and firefighting because wilderness protections can complicate some suppression and fuels‑management methods.
Taxpayers, local governments, and recreation/commercial users could shoulder increased administrative and compliance costs from studies, mapping, Forest Service plan updates, special‑use authorizations, and new permitting requirements.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Introduced December 17, 2025 by Judy Chu · Last progress December 17, 2025
Designates about 28,900 acres of new or expanded wilderness within the Angeles National Forest in California, adds specific Little Rock Creek river segments to the Wild and Scenic Rivers system, and requires study of three San Gabriel River segments for potential protection. It directs the U.S. Forest Service to manage the new wilderness areas under the Wilderness Act, complete maps and management-plan updates, preserve certain existing uses (horseback riding, climbing, existing water facilities, military overflights), authorize limited scientific and emergency work, and set timelines and procedures for fire response and river studies.