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Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act

USA119th CongressS-888| Senate 
| Updated: 12/2/2025
Ron Wyden

Ron Wyden

Democratic Senator

Oregon

Cosponsors (1)
Jeff Merkley (Democratic)

Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee, Energy and Natural Resources Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act" establishes two new recreation areas in Oregon: the Rogue Canyon Recreation Area , encompassing approximately 98,150 acres, and the Molalla Recreation Area , covering about 29,884 acres. These areas, administered by the Secretary of the Interior, are designated to protect and enhance their unique recreational, ecological, scenic, cultural, watershed, and fish and wildlife values. Management will prioritize conservation and allow only uses consistent with the areas' established purposes. The bill mandates a wildfire risk assessment within 280 days for these recreation areas, the existing Wild Rogue Wilderness, and adjacent federal lands. Following this, a wildfire mitigation plan must be developed within one year, identifying and prioritizing treatments to reduce wildfire risk to nearby communities, including vegetation management and evacuation route planning. New permanent roads are generally prohibited in the recreation areas, though temporary roads may be constructed for wildfire mitigation efforts. Additionally, the legislation expands the Wild Rogue Wilderness Area by approximately 59,512 acres of federal land, which will be managed as part of the existing wilderness. All newly designated recreation areas and wilderness additions are withdrawn from all forms of public land entry, appropriation, disposal, mining laws, and mineral or geothermal leasing. Furthermore, specific federal lands in Curry County and Josephine County are also withdrawn from these activities, subject to valid existing rights. These withdrawals aim to safeguard the natural resources of these areas. However, the bill clarifies that nothing in the legislation affects existing recreational uses, hunting, fishing, or authorized forest management activities on the withdrawn lands, except for the specified prohibitions on new mineral and land development.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-1262
Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-1589
Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-440
Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act
Mar 6, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Mar 6, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Dec 2, 2025
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-1262
    Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-1589
    Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-440
    Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act


  • March 6, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 6, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


  • December 2, 2025
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act

USA119th CongressS-888| Senate 
| Updated: 12/2/2025
The "Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act" establishes two new recreation areas in Oregon: the Rogue Canyon Recreation Area , encompassing approximately 98,150 acres, and the Molalla Recreation Area , covering about 29,884 acres. These areas, administered by the Secretary of the Interior, are designated to protect and enhance their unique recreational, ecological, scenic, cultural, watershed, and fish and wildlife values. Management will prioritize conservation and allow only uses consistent with the areas' established purposes. The bill mandates a wildfire risk assessment within 280 days for these recreation areas, the existing Wild Rogue Wilderness, and adjacent federal lands. Following this, a wildfire mitigation plan must be developed within one year, identifying and prioritizing treatments to reduce wildfire risk to nearby communities, including vegetation management and evacuation route planning. New permanent roads are generally prohibited in the recreation areas, though temporary roads may be constructed for wildfire mitigation efforts. Additionally, the legislation expands the Wild Rogue Wilderness Area by approximately 59,512 acres of federal land, which will be managed as part of the existing wilderness. All newly designated recreation areas and wilderness additions are withdrawn from all forms of public land entry, appropriation, disposal, mining laws, and mineral or geothermal leasing. Furthermore, specific federal lands in Curry County and Josephine County are also withdrawn from these activities, subject to valid existing rights. These withdrawals aim to safeguard the natural resources of these areas. However, the bill clarifies that nothing in the legislation affects existing recreational uses, hunting, fishing, or authorized forest management activities on the withdrawn lands, except for the specified prohibitions on new mineral and land development.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-1262
Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-1589
Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-440
Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act
Mar 6, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Mar 6, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Dec 2, 2025
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-1262
    Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-1589
    Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-440
    Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act


  • March 6, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 6, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


  • December 2, 2025
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
Ron Wyden

Ron Wyden

Democratic Senator

Oregon

Cosponsors (1)
Jeff Merkley (Democratic)

Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee, Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Public Lands and Natural Resources

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted