This bill, titled the "Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act," focuses on the restoration, economic development, recreation, and conservation of Federal lands in Northern California. It outlines a comprehensive strategy to manage these lands, addressing issues from wildfire resilience to recreational access and ecological preservation. Title I establishes the South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area , spanning approximately 871,414 acres. Its purposes include restoring fire-resilient forests, protecting aquatic habitats and water quality, reducing wildfire threats, and allowing for recreational enjoyment. The bill mandates collaborative restoration and fire management plans for this area, emphasizing the use of prescribed fire and shaded fuel breaks. Additionally, Title I creates the California Public Land Remediation Partnership to coordinate efforts among Federal, State, Tribal, and local authorities, as well as the private sector. This partnership aims to remediate Federal lands degraded by illegal marijuana cultivation and other illicit activities, including removing trash and restoring ecological processes. Title II significantly expands recreational opportunities. It mandates a feasibility study for the Bigfoot National Recreation Trail , a nonmotorized trail extending from Ides Cove to Crescent City, with potential for National Recreation Trail designation. The bill also directs the designation of the Elk Camp Ridge Recreation Trail for off-highway vehicles and mountain bikes in Del Norte County, and a suitability study for a nonmotorized trail around Trinity Lake. Further recreational provisions include a broader study to improve motorized and nonmotorized trail opportunities in several National Forests and the authorization for constructing new mountain bicycling routes. The bill also facilitates the establishment of new visitor centers at Trinity Lake and in Del Norte County, and a study on the feasibility of establishing overnight accommodations near Redwood National and State Parks. Title III focuses on conservation, designating substantial new wilderness areas and additions to existing ones across various National Forests and Bureau of Land Management lands. These designations include the new Black Butte River Wilderness , Chinquapin Wilderness , English Ridge Wilderness , Mad River Buttes Wilderness , Pattison Wilderness , South Fork Trinity River Wilderness , and Underwood Wilderness , alongside numerous additions to existing wilderness areas like Chanchelulla, Elkhorn Ridge, Mount Lassic, North Fork, Siskiyou, South Fork Eel River, Trinity Alps, Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel, and Yuki Wilderness areas. The bill also designates several segments of rivers as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System , including significant portions of the South Fork Trinity River, Middle Fork Eel River, Redwood Creek, and many of their tributaries. These rivers are categorized as wild, scenic, or recreational, with specific administration guidelines. Furthermore, Title III establishes two Special Management Areas : the Horse Mountain Special Management Area and the Sanhedrin Special Management Area. These areas are designed to enhance recreational and scenic values while conserving natural resources, with specific management plans for motorized vehicles, timber harvest, and grazing. Finally, Title IV includes miscellaneous provisions, such as requiring the preparation of maps and legal descriptions for all designated areas and updating land and resource management plans. It also addresses the continued operation of Pacific Gas and Electric Company utility facilities and rights-of-way within these newly designated areas, and ensures access for Indian Tribes for traditional cultural and religious purposes.
Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act
USA119th CongressHR-6913| House
| Updated: 12/19/2025
This bill, titled the "Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act," focuses on the restoration, economic development, recreation, and conservation of Federal lands in Northern California. It outlines a comprehensive strategy to manage these lands, addressing issues from wildfire resilience to recreational access and ecological preservation. Title I establishes the South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area , spanning approximately 871,414 acres. Its purposes include restoring fire-resilient forests, protecting aquatic habitats and water quality, reducing wildfire threats, and allowing for recreational enjoyment. The bill mandates collaborative restoration and fire management plans for this area, emphasizing the use of prescribed fire and shaded fuel breaks. Additionally, Title I creates the California Public Land Remediation Partnership to coordinate efforts among Federal, State, Tribal, and local authorities, as well as the private sector. This partnership aims to remediate Federal lands degraded by illegal marijuana cultivation and other illicit activities, including removing trash and restoring ecological processes. Title II significantly expands recreational opportunities. It mandates a feasibility study for the Bigfoot National Recreation Trail , a nonmotorized trail extending from Ides Cove to Crescent City, with potential for National Recreation Trail designation. The bill also directs the designation of the Elk Camp Ridge Recreation Trail for off-highway vehicles and mountain bikes in Del Norte County, and a suitability study for a nonmotorized trail around Trinity Lake. Further recreational provisions include a broader study to improve motorized and nonmotorized trail opportunities in several National Forests and the authorization for constructing new mountain bicycling routes. The bill also facilitates the establishment of new visitor centers at Trinity Lake and in Del Norte County, and a study on the feasibility of establishing overnight accommodations near Redwood National and State Parks. Title III focuses on conservation, designating substantial new wilderness areas and additions to existing ones across various National Forests and Bureau of Land Management lands. These designations include the new Black Butte River Wilderness , Chinquapin Wilderness , English Ridge Wilderness , Mad River Buttes Wilderness , Pattison Wilderness , South Fork Trinity River Wilderness , and Underwood Wilderness , alongside numerous additions to existing wilderness areas like Chanchelulla, Elkhorn Ridge, Mount Lassic, North Fork, Siskiyou, South Fork Eel River, Trinity Alps, Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel, and Yuki Wilderness areas. The bill also designates several segments of rivers as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System , including significant portions of the South Fork Trinity River, Middle Fork Eel River, Redwood Creek, and many of their tributaries. These rivers are categorized as wild, scenic, or recreational, with specific administration guidelines. Furthermore, Title III establishes two Special Management Areas : the Horse Mountain Special Management Area and the Sanhedrin Special Management Area. These areas are designed to enhance recreational and scenic values while conserving natural resources, with specific management plans for motorized vehicles, timber harvest, and grazing. Finally, Title IV includes miscellaneous provisions, such as requiring the preparation of maps and legal descriptions for all designated areas and updating land and resource management plans. It also addresses the continued operation of Pacific Gas and Electric Company utility facilities and rights-of-way within these newly designated areas, and ensures access for Indian Tribes for traditional cultural and religious purposes.