Virginia Wilderness Additions Act of 2025
The Virginia Wilderness Additions Act of 2025 proposes two land additions in the George Washington National Forest to advance wilderness protections. First, it adds about 1,000 acres to the Rough Mountain Wilderness, using land and management-plan maps created in 2014. Second, it creates roughly 4,600 acres as a “potential wilderness area” to be incorporated into the Rich Hole Wilderness. The incorporation would occur on the earlier of: (a) the date the Forest Service completes certain water-quality improvement activities documented in a 2015 decision notice, or (b) five years after enactment. While designated wilderness areas are typically managed to preserve natural conditions, this bill allows a temporary carve-out to permit motorized equipment and mechanized transport for specific water-quality projects within the Rich Hole potential wilderness area until full wilderness incorporation. The Secretary of Agriculture would manage these areas in line with the Wilderness Act, with an emphasis on minimizing impacts to wilderness character.
Key Points
- 1Rough Mountain Addition: Adds approximately 1,000 acres in the George Washington National Forest to the Rough Mountain Wilderness, based on 2014 management-planning documents.
- 2Rich Hole Addition (potential wilderness): Adds about 4,600 acres to be designated as wilderness, with incorporation into the Rich Hole Wilderness upon a specified trigger.
- 3Triggers for Rich Hole incorporation: Occurs on the earlier of (i) completion of certain water-quality and aquatic connectivity activities described in the 2015 Decision Notice, or (ii) five years after enactment.
- 4Management standards: The area (before full designation) is to be managed under the Wilderness Act, except for a specified temporary use related to water-quality improvements.
- 5Temporary motorized use: Allowance for motorized equipment and mechanized transport in the Rich Hole potential area to carry out water-quality improvement activities, with a requirement to use the minimum tools and practices necessary to reduce adverse impacts on wilderness character.