Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
The Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act would designate a large portion of Olympic National Forest in Washington as wilderness and would add many rivers in and around Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Specifically, about 126,554 acres would be designated as wilderness (creating several new wilderness areas and expanding or incorporating land into existing units). In addition, a long list of river segments across numerous rivers would be protected as wild, scenic, or recreational rivers, with administration split among the Forest Service (Agriculture) and the National Park Service (Interior), and some segments subject to cooperative management with the State of Washington. The bill also authorizes river restoration and ecological/hydrological recovery efforts, requires updates to land and resource management plans, preserves existing rights and treaty rights, and withdraws the designated land from certain forms of disposition to protect its wilderness and river values. The sponsor is Representative Randall, and the bill was introduced and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
Key Points
- 1Designation of approximately 126,554 acres in Olympic National Forest as wilderness, creating new named units (e.g., Lost Creek, Rugged Ridge, Alckee Creek, Gates of the Elwha, Sams River, Canoe Creek) and incorporating additions to existing wilderness areas (e.g., Buckhorn, The Brothers, Mount Skokomish, Wonder Mountain, Moonlight Dome, etc.). Administered as wilderness under the Wilderness Act, with map and legal descriptions filed for public review.
- 2Creation of a “Potential Wilderness” area (about 5,346 acres) that would automatically become wilderness once nonconforming uses terminate, and would be incorporated into adjacent wilderness when designated.
- 3Wild and Scenic River designations for a large set of rivers and river segments in Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park, including the Elwha, Dungeness, Big Quilcene, Dosewallips, Duckabush, Hamma Hamma, South Fork Skokomish, Middle Fork Satsop, West Fork Satsop, Wynoochee, East/West Fork Humptulips, Quinault, Queets, Hoh, Bogachiel, South Fork Calawah, Sol Duc, and Lyre. Segments are classified as wild, scenic, or recreational, and administration may fall to the Interior (NPS) or the Agriculture (USFS), with some segments managed through cooperative state arrangements.
- 4River restoration and conservation authorities: the bill allows activities focused on river restoration, endangered species recovery, or restoring ecological and hydrological function within designated river segments, under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act framework.
- 5Planning and implementation timeline: within three years (or five years if the Forest Service requests funding and Congress approves), the designated lands must be incorporated into updated National Forest System land and resource management plans; updated plans must meet the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act requirements.
- 6Protections and rights: the bill preserves existing private rights and upstream land management by the Washington Department of Natural Resources, withdraws the designated river segments from entry/mining/land disposal, and protects treaty rights of Native American tribes with hunting, fishing, gathering, and cultural rights.
- 7No protective perimeter: unlike some buffer-zone language, the bill specifies no protective perimeter around wilderness areas, and nonconforming uses outside wilderness boundaries would be allowed.