§3203 Wilderness Management

Summary

Only applies in Alaska and does not change how the Wilderness Act works outside Alaska. The Secretary of Agriculture may allow fish research, management, and rebuilding work inside the national forest wilderness and wilderness study areas named by this Act. Basics like fishways, ladders, hatcheries, spawning channels, stream clearing, egg planting, and similar measures can be allowed if needed to keep fish at healthy levels. Any facilities must be kept small, rustic, and run so they do as little harm to the wild character of the area as possible. Temporary motorized access for those jobs is allowed under rules the Secretary sets to protect wilderness character, water quality, and wildlife. Public use cabins that already exist in these wilderness areas may stay and may be fixed or replaced under limits the Secretary decides. The Secretary (or the Secretary of Agriculture, as appropriate) may build a few new safety cabins if needed, using materials that blend in, and must tell the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources before removing or building a cabin. The Secretary of Agriculture must change existing timber sale contracts to substitute similar timber from other national forest lands where practical. The Secretary of Agriculture may also allow or regulate beach log recovery on coastlines in those wilderness areas and national forest monuments.