H.R. 6913 — Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act

This section establishes the South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area, comprising approximately 871,414 acres of Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land as generally depicted on the map titled “South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area” dated May 15, 2020, subject to valid existing rights. The purposes of the restoration area include achieving fire-resilient mature and late successional forests; protecting and restoring aquatic habitat, anadromous fisheries, and water quality; reducing wildfire threats to communities; and providing for scenic, recreational, natural, cultural, and wildlife values. This section directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to jointly submit to Congress, not later than two years after enactment, (1) a plan for restoration activities to improve ecological integrity and (2) an updated fire management plan that includes, to the maximum extent practicable, prescribed fire and shaded fuel breaks (i.e., vegetation treatments that reduce fuels while retaining canopy cover and large trees). In developing the plans, the Secretaries must solicit input from a transparent and inclusive collaborative group that includes state and local government representatives and diverse interests. This section requires the Secretaries to manage the restoration area consistent with the plans; provides that the area’s establishment does not alter the management status of any National Wilderness Preservation System or National Wild and Scenic Rivers System components (with the more restrictive provision controlling in conflicts); and withdraws the area from entry, appropriation, disposal under public land laws; location, entry, and patent under mining laws; and disposition under mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials laws, subject to valid existing rights.

This section establishes the California Public Land Remediation Partnership to coordinate federal, state, Tribal, local, and private sector activities for remediating priority federal lands in California damaged by illegal marijuana cultivation or other illegal activities (i.e., trash removal and ecosystem restoration). Membership includes designees from the Forest Service, Department of the Interior agencies (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service), Office of National Drug Control Policy, California state agencies (Natural Resources Agency, Department of Fish and Wildlife, State Water Resources Control Board, State Sheriffs’ Association), federally recognized Tribes, nongovernmental organizations, local governments, law enforcement from the Departments of Agriculture and Interior, National Guard Counterdrug Program, remediation experts, and others as appropriate. Duties include identifying priority lands, securing federal and nonfederal resources, supporting remediation by agencies and organizations, conducting research and education on illegal activities' impacts, and maximizing public involvement; authorities, subject to Secretary of Agriculture approval, include grants, cooperative agreements, technical assistance, staff hiring, and funding from any source, with the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior providing technical and financial assistance and the Secretary of Agriculture convening meetings.

This section directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in revising a land and resource management plan for the Shasta-Trinity National Forest or the Six Rivers National Forest, to consider the purposes of the South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area established by section 111(b).

This section directs the Secretary, when revising a fire management plan for a wilderness area or wilderness addition designated by section 131(a), to— (1) develop spatial fire management plans in accordance with the Guidance for Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy, dated February 13, 2009 (or any amended, updated, or successor guidance), and other appropriate policies; (2) consider how prescribed or managed fire can achieve ecological management objectives of wilderness and other natural or primitive areas; (3) ensure consistent fire management direction across the entire wilderness area, including any addition under section 131; (4) consult with appropriate state, tribal, and local governmental entities and members of the public; and (5) comply with applicable law (including regulations).

This section directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Secretary of the Interior, to complete not later than 3 years after funds are made available a feasibility study on designating the Bigfoot National Recreation Trail for nonmotorized uses, extending from the Ides Cove Trailhead in the Mendocino National Forest to Crescent City, California, as generally depicted on the map entitled "Bigfoot National Recreation Trail—Proposed" dated July 25, 2018; the study requires consultation with Federal, State, Tribal, regional, and local agencies, adjacent private landowners, nongovernmental organizations, and interested public members. If the study finds the trail feasible and compliant with National Recreation Trail criteria (16 U.S.C. 1243), the Secretary shall designate and administer the trail in accordance with the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.), including by preparing a publicly available map, entering cooperative agreements with State, Tribal, local, and private entities for trail construction, maintenance, or education, and consulting stakeholders. Trail segments on non-Federal land require written landowner consent, the Secretary may not acquire non-Federal land or interests without owner consent, and the provision does not require private landowner public access or alter existing Federal, State, or local private land access laws.

This section directs the Secretary of Agriculture, after public comment, to designate the Elk Camp Ridge Recreation Trail (which may include a system of trails) for off-highway vehicle, mountain bicycle, or both uses, limited to routes already authorized for such uses on Forest Service-managed land in Del Norte County, California, with a map on file in Forest Service offices. The section requires the Secretary to manage the trail in accordance with applicable laws to ensure user safety and minimize damage to sensitive habitats or cultural resources; conduct annual assessments of off-highway vehicle and mountain bicycle impacts on the trail, adjacent lands, plants, wildlife, and habitat; temporarily close, reroute, or permanently reroute portions of the trail for adverse impacts on resources or traditional uses, public safety, or repairs (with permanent reroutes limited to existing open public-land roads or trails without significant length changes); and provide signage, maps, and safety education materials. The section states that the designation does not affect non-Federal land ownership, management, or rights.

This section directs the Secretary of Agriculture to complete a feasibility study for constructing a nonmotorized recreational trail around Trinity Lake not later than three years after enactment of this Act and, if the Secretary determines the trail to be suitable and feasible, to construct it subject to appropriations, including through volunteer services and contributions from non-Federal sources to minimize Federal expenditures. The section requires compliance with National Forest System laws (including regulations) and this Act and specifies that it does not affect ownership, management, or other rights to non-Federal lands.

This section directs the Secretary of Agriculture, not later than three years after funds are made available, to conduct a study in consultation with interested parties—(1) to improve motorized and nonmotorized recreation trail opportunities (including mountain bicycling) on land not designated as wilderness within portions of the Six Rivers, Shasta-Trinity, and Mendocino National Forests located in Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, and Mendocino Counties, California; and (2) of the feasibility of opening a new trail for vehicles measuring 50 inches or less in width connecting Forest Service Highway 95 to the existing off-highway vehicle trail system in the Ballinger Canyon Off-Highway Vehicle Area. In conducting the study, the Secretary must consult with the Secretary of the Interior regarding opportunities to improve recreation trail opportunities on adjacent lands under Interior jurisdiction through increased coordination.

This section directs the Secretary of Agriculture to complete, not later than 3 years after funds are made available, a feasibility study and public interest assessment for constructing recreational trails for mountain bicycling and other nonmotorized uses on routes generally depicted in the 2016 report titled "Trail Study for Smith River National Recreation Area Six Rivers National Forest." If the Secretary determines that construction of one or more such routes is feasible and in the public interest, the section authorizes their construction subject to appropriations, with possible modifications as necessary, through acceptance of volunteer services and non-Federal contributions to minimize Federal costs, and in compliance with applicable National Forest System laws and this Act. The section states that it does not affect ownership, management, or other rights relating to non-Federal land.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior, or both acting jointly, to enter into agreements with qualified private and nonprofit organizations to carry out the following activities on federal land under their jurisdiction in Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, and Del Norte Counties: (1) trail and campground maintenance; (2) public education, visitor contacts, and outreach; and (3) visitor center staffing. Agreements must define the roles and responsibilities of the parties, comply with existing law, and do not diminish secretarial authority to manage land and resources or modify any existing law applicable to such land.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to establish, in cooperation with public or private entities, a visitor center in Weaverville, California, to serve visitors and fulfill the purposes of the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area. The Secretary must ensure the visitor center interprets the area's scenic, biological, natural, historical, scientific, paleontological, recreational, ecological, wilderness, and cultural resources and those of nearby federal lands and may enter into cooperative agreements with the state and other entities to carry out this section.

This section authorizes the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to establish, in cooperation with appropriate public or private entities, a visitor center in Del Norte County, California, to serve visitors and assist in fulfilling the purposes of Redwood National and State Parks, the Smith River National Recreation Area, and nearby federal recreational lands. The Secretaries may act jointly or separately and must ensure the visitor center interprets the scenic, biological, natural, historical, scientific, paleontological, recreational, ecological, wilderness, and cultural resources of those areas.

This section directs the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with Federal, State, Tribal, local entities and private and nonprofit organizations, to conduct a study evaluating the feasibility and suitability of establishing overnight accommodations on federal land outside the boundaries of Redwood National and State Parks but within 20 miles of their northern or southern boundaries. If the study determines such accommodations are feasible and suitable, the section authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with qualified private or nonprofit organizations for their development, operation, and maintenance, with such agreements required to define respective roles and responsibilities and without diminishing the Secretary's land management authority or modifying applicable laws.

This section designates certain federal lands in California as wilderness areas and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System in accordance with the Wilderness Act of 1964, as follows: (1) Black Butte River Wilderness, approximately 11,155 acres in the Mendocino National Forest; (2) approximately 6,382 acres as an addition to the Chanchelulla Wilderness in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest; (3) Chinquapin Wilderness, approximately 31,028 acres in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest; (4) approximately 37 acres administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as an addition to the Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness; (5) English Ridge Wilderness, approximately 6,204 acres administered by BLM; (6) Mad River Buttes Wilderness, approximately 6,097 acres in the Six Rivers National Forest; (7) approximately 1,288 acres as an addition to the Mount Lassic Wilderness in the Six Rivers National Forest; (8) approximately 16,342 acres in the Six Rivers National Forest and administered by BLM as an addition to the North Fork Wilderness; (9) Pattison Wilderness, approximately 29,451 acres in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest; (10) approximately 29,594 acres as an addition to the Siskiyou Wilderness in the Six Rivers National Forest; (11) approximately 603 acres administered by BLM as an addition to the South Fork Eel River Wilderness; (12) South Fork Trinity River Wilderness, approximately 26,562 acres in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest; (13) approximately 62,474 acres in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and administered by BLM as an addition to the Trinity Alps Wilderness; and (14) Underwood Wilderness, approximately 15,068 acres in the Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity National Forests. (Thus, these lands are subject to Wilderness Act management standards prohibiting, among other things, permanent roads, motorized vehicles, and commercial timber harvest.)

This section requires the Secretary concerned to administer lands designated as wilderness by section 131(a) (i.e., components of the National Wilderness Preservation System) in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and this Act, subject to valid existing rights, with any reference in the Wilderness Act to its effective date deemed the date of enactment of this Act and any reference to the Secretary of Agriculture deemed the Secretary of the Interior for lands under Interior jurisdiction. The section further specifies that: (1) the Secretary may conduct fire, insect, and disease control activities per section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)); must promptly revise applicable fire management plans; imposes no limits on fire or fuels funding; and requires the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to establish fire emergency approval procedures (with delegations to field officials) within one year of enactment and to enter agreements with state or local firefighting agencies; (2) pre-existing livestock grazing continues per section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4)), applicable House committee guidelines (H. Rept. 96-617 for Agriculture lands; H. Rept. 101-405, Appendix A, for Interior lands), and other federal grazing laws; (3) state fish and wildlife jurisdiction is unaffected, and the Secretary may take necessary management actions to maintain or restore populations or habitat per applicable wilderness plans, the Wilderness Act, and related policies (e.g., H. Rept. 101-405, Appendix B); (4) no buffer zones are created, and visible or audible nonwilderness activities outside boundaries are allowed; (5) military low-level overflights, special airspace designations, and flight training routes over wilderness areas are permitted; (6) horseback riding and entry of saddle or pack stock are allowed per section 4(d)(5) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(5)) and Secretary terms; (7) recreational rock climbing, including fixed anchors (pre-existing or new), is allowed per the Wilderness Act and other laws, subject to Secretary terms; (8) wilderness areas are withdrawn from public land entry, mining laws, and mineral materials or geothermal leasing, subject to valid existing rights; and (9) acquired lands or interests within boundaries become part of the wilderness area, subject to the same withdrawal and management requirements.

This section designates as potential wilderness (1) approximately 31,000 acres of federal land in Redwood National Park administered by the National Park Service, as generally depicted on the map entitled "Redwood National Park—Potential Wilderness" dated October 9, 2019; and (2) approximately 2,918 acres of federal land administered by the Bureau of Land Management in California, as generally depicted on the map entitled "Yuki Proposed Potential Wilderness" dated May 15, 2020. The Secretary must manage these potential wilderness areas as wilderness, except for using motorized equipment and mechanized transport to the minimum extent practicable for ecological restoration (e.g., nonnative species removal, road decommissioning), until publishing a Federal Register notice that incompatible conditions have been removed, at which point the areas are designated as wilderness components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Upon designation, the Redwood National Park land is administered under the Wilderness Act and applicable National Park System laws, and the BLM land is incorporated into the Yuki Wilderness; every three years until designation, the Secretary must report to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on restoration status and progress toward wilderness designation.

This section designates specified segments of the following 13 rivers and creeks in California's Trinity River watershed as components of the national wild and scenic rivers system: (1) South Fork Trinity River; (2) East Fork South Fork Trinity River; (3) Rattlesnake Creek; (4) Butter Creek; (5) Hayfork Creek; (6) Olsen Creek; (7) Rusch Creek; (8) Eltapom Creek; (9) Grouse Creek; (10) Madden Creek; (11) Canyon Creek; (12) North Fork Trinity River; and (13) East Fork North Fork Trinity River. These segments, with lengths from 0.5 mile to 18.3 miles and classified as wild, scenic, or recreational rivers, are to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture except Olsen Creek (Secretary of the Interior) and Canyon Creek (both Secretaries). (As background, the national wild and scenic rivers system preserves designated rivers in a free-flowing condition, prohibits new dams or federally licensed hydropower, and limits development to protect outstanding natural, cultural, recreational, and other values, with classifications reflecting the extent of existing human impacts.)

This section establishes two special management areas in California national forests, subject to valid existing rights: (1) the Horse Mountain Special Management Area, comprising approximately 7,482 acres of land in the Six Rivers National Forest, to enhance recreational and scenic values while conserving plants, wildlife, and other natural resources; and (2) the Sanhedrin Special Management Area, comprising approximately 12,254 acres of land in the Mendocino National Forest, to conserve ecological, scenic, wildlife, recreational, roadless, cultural, historical, natural, educational, and scientific resources; protect and restore late-successional forest structure, oak woodlands, grasslands, aquatic habitat, and anadromous fisheries; protect undeveloped character; and allow visitor enjoyment of scenic, natural, cultural, and wildlife values. This section directs the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a comprehensive long-term management plan for both areas not later than 5 years after enactment, after consulting State, Tribal, and local governmental entities and the public, ensuring that recreational use does not cause significant adverse impacts on plants and wildlife. This section requires management of the areas in furtherance of their purposes and in accordance with National Forest System laws, this section, and other applicable law; permits only uses that further the purposes; authorizes continued recreational uses (e.g., hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, hang gliding, sightseeing, nature study, horseback riding, rafting, mountain bicycling, motorized recreation on authorized routes) if consistent with the purposes, this section, applicable law, and management plans; limits motorized vehicles to existing roads, trails, and areas as of enactment (with no new or temporary roads except for specified purposes such as resource protection, acquired land route designation within 3 years, temporary roads for vegetation management that must be decommissioned within 3 years, or administrative/emergency use); and generally prohibits timber harvesting except when necessary to further the purposes and conducted consistently therewith.

This section directs the Secretary to prepare, as soon as practicable after enactment, maps and legal descriptions of (1) the South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area, (2) the wilderness areas and additions designated by section 131(a), (3) the potential wilderness areas designated by section 133(a), and (4) the Horse Mountain and Sanhedrin Special Management Areas. The maps and legal descriptions shall have the force of law (except that the Secretary may correct clerical and typographical errors) and be filed and made available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or National Park Service.

This section directs the Secretary to incorporate the designations and studies required by this Act into updated management plans for units covered by this Act, as soon as practicable after enactment and in accordance with applicable law (including regulations).

This section preserves validly issued rights-of-way and utility facilities of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) within the South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area, Bigfoot National Recreation Trail, Horse Mountain Special Management Area, and Sanhedrin Special Management Area from limitations otherwise imposed by this Act, authorizing their customary operation, maintenance, upgrade, repair, replacement, relocation within existing rights-of-way, and related activities (including mechanized vehicle, helicopter, or aerial device use). It further authorizes upgrading or replacement of specified existing PG&E utility facilities (e.g., Gas Transmission Line 177A, Electric Transmission Line Humboldt-Trinity 115 kV) in those areas or adjacent rights-of-way and directs the Secretary, in consultation with PG&E, to publish plans for the company's regular and emergency access to such inholdings and rights-of-way no later than the later of one year after enactment or issuance of a new right-of-way.

This section releases any portion of the Eden Valley Wilderness Study Area not designated as wilderness or a wilderness addition by section 301(a) from the management restrictions of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)). (As background, section 603(c) requires the Secretary of the Interior to manage wilderness study areas—public lands under review for potential wilderness designation—so as not to impair their suitability for preservation as wilderness, pending congressional action; thus, the release allows management under general land management authorities without those restrictions.) It includes a congressional finding that such portions have been adequately studied for wilderness designation.

This section directs the Secretary to ensure Indian tribes' access, consistent with the Wilderness Act, to the South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area, wilderness areas, special management areas, and potential wilderness areas designated by this Act for traditional cultural and religious purposes. The section further authorizes the Secretary, upon an Indian tribe's request, to temporarily close specific portions of such designated wilderness areas or potential wilderness areas to the general public to protect tribal privacy during those activities, with closures limited to the smallest practicable area for the minimum necessary time and consistent with the American Indian Religious Freedom Act and the Wilderness Act.