San Gabriel Mountains, Foothills, and Rivers Protection Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
Introduced
Summary
Protects and expands wilderness and wild and scenic river protections in the Angeles National Forest. The bill designates four new or expanded wilderness parcels totaling about 28,900 acres and adds roughly 20.2 miles of river segments to the Wild and Scenic Rivers system.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Protect private water delivery facilities
If enacted, the bill would let the Secretary issue a special use authorization so owners can keep operating, maintaining, or rebuilding water transport or diversion facilities inside the Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness. To qualify the facility must have existed when the land was designated and been in substantially continuous use to deliver water to the owner's non‑Federal land since designation. The owner must hold a valid State water right with a priority date before designation. The Secretary must find relocation outside the wilderness impracticable and can include terms to protect wilderness values. This provision would take effect on enactment.
Stronger wildfire and fuels rules
If enacted, the bill would let the Secretary carry out fire, insect, and disease control work in the new wilderness areas. The Secretary must update local fire information and plans as soon as practicable after enactment. The Secretary must set agency approval procedures for emergency firefighting within 1 year of enactment and may enter into agreements with state and local firefighting agencies. The title says funding priorities for wilderness do not limit funding for fire or fuels work.
New wilderness lands and planning
If enacted, the bill would add about 28,871 acres to the National Wilderness Preservation System in the Angeles National Forest. It would create Condor Peak (~8,207 acres), San Gabriel additions (~2,032 acres), Sheep Mountain additions (~11,938 acres), and Yerba Buena (~6,694 acres). The Secretary must prepare and file maps and legal descriptions (maps dated June 6, 2019 and Nov. 14, 2023) and treat them as law. The Secretary must also incorporate these designations into updated Angeles National Forest management plans. Designations would be managed under the Wilderness Act and remain subject to valid existing rights.
River protections, studies, and Tribal access
If enacted, the bill would add several Little Rock Creek segments (10.3-mile wild and 6.6-mile recreational) and tributary segments of Cooper Canyon and Buckhorn Creek to the Wild and Scenic Rivers system. It would add three San Gabriel River segments to a study list: East Fork (12.7 miles), North Fork (4.3 miles), and West Fork (8.3 miles). The Secretary must finish each study and report to Congress within 3 years after funds are available and identify partnership options. The bill would assure Tribal access for traditional uses and allow narrow, short temporary closures on Tribal request. The Secretary may carry out wildlife and habitat work consistent with wilderness plans and the Wilderness Act.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Cisneros
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Friedman
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Lofgren
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Swalwell
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/19/2025
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov