Wilderness Bills in the Senate

Introduced in the Senate

Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Wild Pratt River Act [1]
El Rio Grande Del Norte National Conservation Area Establishment Act [2]
Devil’s Staircase Wilderness Act of 2009 [3]
Forest Jobs and Recreation Act [4]
The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Act [5]
The San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act [6]
The California Desert Conservation and Recreation Act [7]
The Cathedral Rock and Horse Heaven Wilderness Act of 2010 [8]

Introduced in the Senate

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.

Rio Grande del Norte National Conservation Area Establishment Act (S. 874)

Ute Mountain; Courtesy NMWA

On April 23, 2009 Senator Jeff Bingaman introduced the El Rio Grande Del Norte National Conservation Area Establishment Act to protect some 235,000 acres northwest of Taos, New Mexico, as a conservation area, including more than 21,000 acres of designated wilderness. Senator Tom Udall is a co-sponsor.

The bill will designate about 13,500 acres of the Ute Mountain area as the Cerro del Yuta wilderness, and 8,000 acres as the San Antonio wilderness.

The legislation will also give protection to the Rio Grande Gorge. It is home to to one of the great migratory routes in the world, offering nesting places to falcons, eagles hawks.

A hearing was held by the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests on June 17, 2009, and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources approved this bill on December 16, 2009.

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.

Forest Jobs and Recreation Act (S. 1470)

Gorge Lake in East Pioneers; © Russell O'Leary

On July 20, 2009, Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act. This bill will protect nearly 700,000 acres of wilderness across the Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Lolo and Kootenai National Forests, including the East and West Pioneers, the Sapphires, Lost Cabin and Lima Peaks, and additions to the Lee Metcalf, Anaconda-Pintlar, and North Fork Blackfoot Monture Creek Wilderness areas.

The bill will also improve forest health and fish and wildlife habitat as well as protect the lands for hunting, fishing, hiking and horseback riding. Along with wilderness protection, the measure will designate areas for backcountry recreation and areas for forest stewardship.

A hearing was held by the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests on December 17, 2009.

The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Act (S. 1689)

Organ Mountains; © Ken Stinnett

On September 17, 2009, Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Tom Udall (D-NM) introduced The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Act. This bill would designate nearly 260,000 acres of wilderness and create just over a 100,000-acre National Conservation Area aroud the Organ and Dona Ana Mountains and parts of Broad Canyon.

This area in Southern New Mexico, near Las Cruces, is known for hiking, hunting, camping, climbing and horseback riding. The Organ Mountains are an icon to New Mexicans with some of the most breathtaking scenic views in the state.

A hearing was held in the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests on October 8, 2009. On February 15, 2010, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a second hearing in the field.

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.

The California Desert Conservation and Recreation Act (S. 2921)

On December 21, 2009, Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced legislation to protect more than two million acres of desert landscape.

This bill will designate more than 346,000 acres of wilderness, create the Desert Trails and Sand to Snow National Monuments, expand existing national parks, and protect vital waterways such as the Amargosa River and Deep Creek.

The legislation will also protect the historical value of these lands including sacred Native American trails and sites and the legendary Route 66.

The Cathedral Rock and Horse Heaven Wilderness Act of 2010 (S. 2963)

©Tyler Roemer

Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced The Cathedral Rock and Horse Heaven Wilderness Act of 2010 on January 28, 2010. This legislation would designate, as wilderness, over 16,000 acres in the Cathedral Rock and Horse Heaven areas near the lower John Day River.

The areas encompass dramatic basalt cliffs and rolling hills of juniper, sagebrush and bluebranch wheatgrass. The landscape also offers key habitat for pygmy rabbit and Ferruginous Hawk and is a critical corridor connecting the habitats of a large number of key wildlife species.