Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act
House Committee Reviews Northwest California Wilderness Act to Restore 871K Acres, Cut Wildfire Risk
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Creates a large restoration area in Northern California (about 871,414 acres) to reduce wildfire risk, protect water, and improve forests and fish habitat.
- Requires federal land agencies to write collaborative restoration and fire plans within 2 years, with input from local governments and the public; plans can include prescribed burns and fuel breaks.
- Sets up a partnership to clean up federal lands damaged by illegal marijuana grows and other illegal activity, including removing trash and restoring land and water.
- Expands outdoor recreation by studying and building new trails and bike routes, and allowing new visitor centers and partnerships to help maintain sites and educate visitors.
- Designates multiple new wilderness areas and many new wild and scenic river segments, which can limit mining and some development while keeping some existing uses like grazing and certain utility rights-of-way.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
State Impacts
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articles
California Democrats seek to add 535,000 acres of wilderness in state
Rep. Jared Huffman's bill would designate 257,797 acres of wilderness and 480 miles of river in Northern California. It includes a 724,007-acre restoration area in Trinity and Humboldt counties for wildfire mitigation, logging treatments, and habitat restoration for endangered coho salmon.
Bills aim to boost protections for Calif. public lands
Senator Kamala Harris introduced companion legislation to Rep. Jared Huffman's Northwest California Wilderness Act. The measures provide comprehensive protections for public lands, addressing wilderness conservation and supporting local economies through expanded outdoor opportunities.
Big California Public Lands Package Introduced in Congress
A sweeping package of bills, including the Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act, was introduced to protect over a million acres. The bill focuses on forest restoration, wildfire management, and cleaning up lands impacted by illegal trespass marijuana grows.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(3)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.