Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
Sponsored By: Senator Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced
Summary
Designates about 126,600 acres of Olympic National Forest as wilderness and adds many river segments in Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park to the Wild and Scenic Rivers system. The bill would set who manages each new wilderness and river segment and create rules for restoration and long‑term planning.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Preserve tribal treaty rights
If enacted, the bill would not change or reduce any tribe's reserved treaty rights to hunt, fish, gather, or carry out cultural or religious activities. The provision makes clear those treaty rights remain in force despite the other land and river designations.
Protect private rights and state lands
If enacted, the bill would not affect or cancel existing private rights, privileges, or contracts. It would also not change how the Washington Department of Natural Resources manages state lands held for the State of Washington. This preserves current legal positions for private rights holders and state land management rules.
Add Washington rivers to system
If enacted, the bill would add many river segments in Washington to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. It would list which parts are wild, scenic, or recreational and assign management to either the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the Interior. Federal land inside new river boundaries would be withdrawn from new mining, leasing, and public land entry, subject to valid existing rights. A roughly 5-mile Big Quilcene segment would be subject to federal dam licensing rules, and some recreational segments would use cooperative agreements with the State of Washington.
Create new wilderness areas
If enacted, the bill would designate about 126,554 acres in Olympic National Forest as federal wilderness. It names fourteen units and lists acreage for each, including large additions to Buckhorn and Wonder Mountain. About 5,346 acres would be labeled "Potential Wilderness" and become full wilderness once nonconforming uses end. The Secretary of Agriculture would manage the lands under the Wilderness Act, file maps and legal descriptions with congressional committees, and may fight fires and control pests under that Act's rules. The bill would not create buffer zones outside wilderness boundaries.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Murray, Patty [D-WA]
WA • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov