Shawnee National Forest Conservation Act of 2025
Shawnee National Forest Conservation Act of 2025 designates a portion of the Shawnee National Forest in Illinois as federally protected wilderness and creates three Special Management Areas (SMAs) within the same forest. Specifically, about 750 acres are designated the Camp Hutchins Wilderness, making it part of the National Wilderness Preservation System and subject to the Wilderness Act. In addition, roughly 12,708 acres are established as SMAs (Camp Hutchins SMA, Ripple Hollow SMA, and Burke Branch SMA) to conserve ecological, scenic, wildlife, recreational, cultural, historic, educational, and scientific resources, while allowing targeted restoration, research, and certain management activities. The act also outlines road management (closing a named road to vehicles and keeping it as a hiking trail), land withdrawals from several public land and leasing laws, and conditions for administration, planning, and public reporting. The measure relies on a map prepared by the Environmental Law and Policy Center (dated November 23, 2023) to define the boundaries and characteristics of the wilderness area and SMAs. It directs the Forest Service to develop a comprehensive long-term management plan within three years, restricts most motorized vehicle use in the SMAs, permits certain restoration and scientific activities, and provides for private land inholdings to be managed, acquired, or exchanged. Hunting is permitted consistent with Illinois and Forest Service regulations, while trapping is not. Public information about progress must be posted annually on the Shawnee National Forest website.
Key Points
- 1Wilderness designation: Approximately 750 acres in the Shawnee National Forest are designated as Camp Hutchins Wilderness, making them part of the National Wilderness Preservation System and managed under the Wilderness Act, with appropriate protections and restrictions.
- 2Special Management Areas: Establishes three SMAs (Camp Hutchins SMA, Ripple Hollow SMA, Burke Branch SMA) totaling about 12,708 acres to conserve ecological and cultural resources and support restoration and scientific study.
- 3Road and use changes: Forest Road 211 (Hutchins Creek Spur) is closed to public vehicular traffic and maintained as a hiking trail; decommissioning and removal of unnecessary roads within SMAs are required to the extent practicable.
- 4Management and uses: Governing body (Secretary through Forest Service) must manage SMAs to protect conservation values, allow prescribed fire, permit thinning and certain restoration activities, and use best available technology; motorized vehicle use is generally prohibited except for administration, emergencies, or on established roads necessary for access.
- 5Private inholdings: Access to private inholdings within SMAs is preserved, with a mandate to acquire such inholdings by purchase or exchange as soon as feasible.
- 6Hunting and research: Hunting is allowed per state and Forest Service regulations; trapping is prohibited; designated natural areas within SMAs allow for scientific research access; volunteers may participate in restoration activities under guidance.
- 7Administrative framework: A comprehensive long-term management plan must be developed within three years; maps and legal descriptions filed with Congress; ongoing management decisions for designated natural areas within SMAs may be made by the Shawnee National Forest Supervisor under the forest’s land and resource management plan.
- 8Public accountability: Annually, the Secretary must publish information on progress toward management objectives on the Shawnee National Forest website.