Sponsors (2)
The bill secures long-term wilderness protection and restorative actions that benefit wildlife, water quality, and outdoor recreation for local communities, but it limits some traditional uses, may temporarily introduce motorized restoration work, and requires federal resource commitments.
Rural communities and visitors gain permanent protection for roughly 1,000 acres now (Rough Mountain Addition) and eventual protection of about 4,600 acres (Rich Hole Addition), reducing development pressure and preserving open space.
Hikers, anglers, and nature visitors retain habitat and scenic recreation opportunities because designated wilderness preserves non‑motorized, natural landscapes.
Local waterways and fisheries benefit from targeted water-quality and aquatic-passage restoration actions that the bill allows, which can improve stream health and fish populations.
Recreational users and some local businesses lose certain traditional uses (e.g., motorized access, logging, roadbuilding) in newly designated wilderness, which can reduce income and access tied to those activities.
Federal land managers and local governments must plan, carry out, and possibly fund restoration and monitoring, imposing resource and administrative burdens or requiring reprioritization of Forest Service activities.
Visitors and nearby communities may temporarily experience reduced non‑motorized character and increased motorized/mechanized activity during restoration projects in areas otherwise managed for wilderness.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Adds ~1,000 acres to Rough Mountain Wilderness and designates ~4,600 acres as a conditional Rich Hole Wilderness addition, becoming official after specified water-quality work or five years.
Introduced May 8, 2025 by Timothy Michael Kaine · Last progress May 8, 2025
Adds about 1,000 acres of George Washington National Forest to the Rough Mountain Wilderness and designates about 4,600 acres as a conditional addition to the Rich Hole Wilderness. The conditional Rich Hole addition will be formally incorporated either when the Secretary of Agriculture publishes a Federal Register notice confirming completion of specified water-quality and aquatic-passage work, or five years after enactment; until then, the area is managed as wilderness but may be subject to limited motorized/mechanized actions strictly to complete the named water-quality improvements.