To amend the Smith River National Recreation Area Act to include certain additions to the Smith River National Recreation Area, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain wild rivers in the State of Oregon, and for other purposes.
Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill expands the Smith River National Recreation Area from California into Oregon, adding lands depicted on a January 2023 map. It also designates approximately 70 miles of river segments in Oregon—including Baldface Creek, Cedar Creek, Chrome Creek, and their tributaries—as wild rivers under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
Who Benefits and How
Indian Tribes in the region benefit through protected access rights to conduct cultural activities and procure traditional forest products on the expanded recreation area. Conservation and environmental groups benefit as the bill permanently protects sensitive ecosystems, wild rivers, and the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts gain access to expanded protected public lands for hiking, fishing, and nature activities.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The U.S. Forest Service (Secretary of Agriculture) must conduct ecological studies within 5 years, revise management plans, and negotiate MOUs with Tribes—increasing administrative workload. Timber and mining industries face restrictions, as wild river designations and wilderness protections limit extractive activities in the designated areas. Oregon state agencies and local governments may need to coordinate land transfers, including the 555-acre Cedar Creek Parcel.
Key Provisions
- Expands Smith River National Recreation Area into Oregon, adding lands to an existing California-based recreation area
- Designates over 70 miles of Oregon river segments as wild rivers with federal protection
- Requires Secretary to study streams, wetlands, plants, and wildlife within 5 years and update management plans
- Protects tribal rights and requires MOUs for cultural access to recreation areas
- Authorizes acquisition of the 555-acre Cedar Creek Parcel in Oregon
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Expands the Smith River National Recreation Area to include lands in Oregon and designates multiple river segments as wild rivers under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
Key Policy Areas
Public Lands, Environment, Conservation, Tribal Affairs
Primary Purpose
Expands the Smith River National Recreation Area to include lands in Oregon and designates multiple river segments as wild rivers under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
Policy Domains
Section 2 - Additions to the Smith River National Recreation Area
Identified Gains
- Indian Tribes
- Conservation groups
- Outdoor recreation enthusiasts
- Wildlife and ecosystems
Identified Costs
- U.S. Forest Service
- Timber industry
- Mining industry
Section 3 - Wild and Scenic River Designations
Identified Gains
- Conservation groups
- Recreational fishers
- Wildlife (anadromous fish)
- Environmental researchers
Identified Costs
- Hydroelectric development
- Mining industry
- Timber industry
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
ReportedReported by Mr. Manchin, without amendment
Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Wyden, Mrs. Feinstein, and Mr. …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Kayaking and rafting operators, Outdoor recreation and tourism businesses, Recreational fishing guides and outfitters
Timber companies operating in Oregon public lands, Timber companies requiring water access
Mining companies (placer mining, gravel extraction), Mining companies seeking permits in expansion area
Indian Tribes in Oregon/California border region
Wild anadromous fish populations (salmon, steelhead)
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Agriculture (U.S. Forest Service)
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Agriculture
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
Rivers designated under Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274) as free of impoundments and generally inaccessible except by trail, with watersheds essentially primitive
Smith River National Recreation Area as established by the Smith River National Recreation Area Act (16 U.S.C. 460bbb et seq.), now expanded to include Oregon lands
Wilderness area to be managed in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.)
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology