Sponsors (2)
The bill locks in stronger protections for forests, rivers, wildlife, recreation, and tribal cultural uses in portions of Oregon—improving conservation and outdoor access—but does so at the cost of higher federal spending, greater administrative burdens, and tighter limits on some local economic activities and land uses.
Residents, rural communities, wildlife, and downstream users gain permanent protection for forests, wetlands, tributaries and river corridors (including continued Roadless/Northwest Forest Plan protections), reducing development and preserving habitat and water quality.
Outdoor recreation users (hikers, anglers, paddlers) and visitors benefit from preserved scenic, undeveloped river segments and recreation areas that improve opportunities for current and future noncommercial outdoor use.
Tribal communities gain formal access and cultural-use recognition as the Secretary must seek memoranda of understanding and provide interpretive materials to support tribal historical and noncommercial forest product collection.
Landowners, timber operators, and local governments near designated areas face new restrictions on logging, development, road work, and other economic activities along protected forests and waterways, which could reduce local economic activity and timber receipts.
Federal acquisition of land, mandated inventories, plan revisions, and ongoing management/enforcement will increase federal costs and could require additional appropriations, raising taxpayer spending or diverting other Forest Service funds.
New roadless/wilderness-style management and limits on vegetation management could constrain fuel-reduction or other vegetation projects in some areas, potentially complicating wildfire mitigation and infrastructure maintenance.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Expands and clarifies management and boundaries of the Smith River National Recreation Area, requires a 5-year study and plan updates to protect aquatic/biological values, and adds many Smith River tributaries to the Wild and Scenic Rivers system.
Introduced August 26, 2025 by Val Hoyle · Last progress August 26, 2025
Updates management and boundaries for the Smith River National Recreation Area and extends Wild and Scenic Rivers protections to many tributaries in the Smith River watershed. It directs the Forest Service to study proposed additions within five years, protect inventoried aquatic and biological values by updating management plans, preserve roadless and Northwest Forest Plan protections in Oregon, require Kalmiopsis Wilderness be managed under the Wilderness Act, expand land-acquisition authorities, and seek memoranda of understanding with tribes to allow cultural access and interpretive cooperation. Adds numerous tributary segments of the Smith River and its North Fork to the Wild and Scenic Rivers system, assigning wild, scenic, or recreational classifications and specifying administration by the Secretary of Agriculture for those segments.