Smith River National Recreation Area Expansion Act

This bill would expand the Smith River National Recreation Area, now in California, to include land in Oregon shown on a January 23, 2023 map. It would require the Forest Service to study the water features, plants, animals, and other values of the added area within 5 years, change management plans to protect them, and report to Congress. It would direct the purchase of the 555-acre Cedar Creek Parcel in Oregon if the Oregon State Land Board approves and funding is available. It would also designate about two dozen creek segments that feed the North Fork Smith River in Oregon as wild rivers, and add Rowdy Creek to the existing Smith River designation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The bill keeps federal wildfire and vegetation management authority and existing tribal rights in place.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Jeff Merkley Democrat sponsor
• 3 cosponsors