Wilderness Bills in the House of Representatives

Introduced in the House

Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act [1]
Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Wild Pratt River Act [2]
Devil’s Staircase Wilderness Act of 2009 [3]
Pinnacles National Park Act [4]
The San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act [5]
Big Sur Forest Service Management Act of 2009 [6]
Beauty Mountain and Agua Tibia Act of 2009 [7]

Introduced

Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (H.R. 192)

On January 6, 2009, Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) re-introduced an economic development package that designates almost 320,000 acres of wilderness in the Boulder-White Cloud Mountains of Idaho.

Boulder-White Clouds is the largest unprotected wild roadless area in the national forests of the lower 48 states. Its broad range of elevations and habitats gives it enormous biological and geographical diversity. Since the land is uninterrupted by roads, Boulder-White Clouds is a popular hunting and fishing destination, with spawning salmon and big game such as elk, moose, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, black bear, and cougar.

The area boasts tremendous recreation opportunities and spectacular scenery, and is popular with Idahoans as well as thousands of people who come from out-of-state to enjoy these lands.

Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Wild Pratt River Act (S. 721/H.R. 1769)

On March 30, 2009 Rep. David Reichert (R-WA) introduced legislation that would expand the existing 394,000-acre Alpine Lakes Wilderness by 22,100 acres and designate parts of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie and Pratt Rivers as Wild and Scenic.

The additional roadless lands protected by this bill lie in the Pratt River Valley and the Middle and South Fork Snoqualimie River Valleys, an area that includes glacier-cut u-shaped valleys, snow capped peaks, old-growth forests, whitewater rivers and strong native trout runs.

This wilderness area is the closest and most accessible to residents of the greater Seattle Metropolitan area and would preserve existing recreational opportunities for hiking, camping, rafting, kayaking, horseback riding, mountain biking and wildlife viewing.

The Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests held a hearing on this bill on October 29, 2009 and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources approved this bill on December 16, 2009. The House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands held a hearing on this bill on November 5, 2009 and the House Committee on Natural Resources approved this bill on February 24, 2010.

Sen. Patty Murray introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

Devil’s Staircase Wilderness Act of 2009 (S. 1272/H.R. 2888)

Devil's Staircase; © Dave Tvedt

On June 16, 2009, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced the Devil’s Staircase Wilderness Act, a measure that would permanently protect nearly 30,000 acres of wilderness on Wassen Creek in Oregon’s Coast Range.

Considered one of the most secluded locations in Oregon, Devil’s Staircase is home to some of the finest examples of classic old growth forest left in the Coast Range. Many native species are found here, including threatened spotted owls, elk, black bear, mountain lions, river otter and mink.

The bill would also designate more than 14 miles of wild scenic river for Wassen and Franklin Creeks.

A hearing was held in the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests on October 8, 2009 and the House Natural Resources Committee approved this bill on October 28, 2009.

Pinnacles National Park Act (H.R. 3444)

Courtesy National Park Service

On July 31, 2009, Representative Sam Farr (D-CA) introduced the Pinnacles National Park Act. This bill would designate the area around Pinnacles National Monument in California as a National Park. The bill would also expand the existing Pinnacles Wilderness by 2,905 acres and change the name to the Hain Wilderness, after Schuyler Hain, an early homesteader whose efforts to protect the area led to the establishment by Theodore Roosevelt, of Pinnacles National Monument in 1908.

Protection for this area will preserve the chaparral, grasslands, blue oak woodlands, many unique flora and fauna and the ancestral and cultural history of native Americans.

The San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act (H.R. 3914)

On October 22, 2009, Rep. John Salazar (D-CO) introduced legislation to protect more than 61,000 acres of public land in southwest Colorado, including 33,000 acres as wilderness. This addition to the 480,000 acre San Juan National Forest wilderness will provide protection to critical landscape linkages.

The San Juan Mountain range is one of the most geologically diverse mountain ranges in the world and is home to the threatened or endangered Canada lynx, Gunnison sage grouse and Colorado River cuttthroat trout. The wilderness legislation is supported by local communities, elected officials, ranchers and recreation groups.

On November 10, 2009, Sens. Mark Udall (D-CO) and Michael Bennett (D-CO) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

A hearing was held in the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands on January 21, 2010.

Big Sur Forest Service Management Act of 2009 (H.R. 4040)

On November 6, 2009, Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) introduced legislation to expand wilderness in the Los Padres National Forest. The Big Sur Forest Service Management Act would add over 2,000 acres of wilderness to the Ventana Wilderness area and designate segments of the Arroyo Seco, Carmel and San Antonio rivers and the San Carpoforo and Big Creeks as Wild and Scenic.

Beauty Mountain and Agua Tibia Act of 2009 (H.R. 4309)

On December 15, 2009, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) introduced legislation to protect over 21,000 acres of wilderness in north San Diego County. The proposed wilderness sits adjacent to the Beauty Mountain and Agua Tibia wilderness areas located in Riverside County.

The areas are characterized by deep canyons and fascinating rock formations and offer recreation opportunities such as hiking, backpacking and hunting.