Bill · S. 1737· Senate(119-S-1737)
Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
- Introduced
- 5/13/2025
- Last activity
- 12/2/2025 — Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-237.
- Sponsored by
- Patty Murray
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act," seeks to designate and expand various wilderness areas within the Olympic National Forest in Washington. It also designates several river segments in the Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park as wild, scenic, or recreational rivers. The legislation outlines management responsibilities for the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior. Additionally, it provides for potential wilderness designations once certain nonconforming uses end. The act also includes provisions for river restoration and updates to land management plans.
Yes· 3 of 4
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+10
The bill designates over 126,000 acres of wilderness and numerous wild and scenic river segments to protect their natural character.
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?+8
The bill mandates updated land and resource management plans for the newly designated wilderness areas.
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+5
The act explicitly preserves the treaty rights of Indian Tribes for hunting, fishing, and cultural practices.
The opposite
Would business owners be better off under this?-2
The withdrawal of land from mineral and geothermal leasing may limit resource-extraction business opportunities.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?-2
The bill withdraws land from mineral and geothermal leasing, which may restrict certain resource-based business opportunities.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Wilderness Designations: The bill designates approximately 126,554 acres of land in the Olympic National Forest as wilderness, creating specific areas such as the Lost Creek, Rugged Ridge, and Alckee Creek wilderness areas (Section 2(a)).
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Wild and Scenic River Classifications: Various river segments, such as the Elwha, Dungeness, and Hoh rivers, are designated as wild or scenic, which protects their natural character (Section 3(a)).
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River Restoration and Species Recovery: The bill allows for projects aimed at river restoration, the recovery of endangered or threatened species, and the restoration of ecological functions (Section 3(b)).
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Protection of Treaty Rights: The act explicitly states that it does not alter, modify, diminish, or extinguish the reserved treaty rights of any Indian Tribe regarding hunting, fishing, gathering, and cultural or religious rights (Section 5).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Land Withdrawal: Federal land within the designated river segments is withdrawn from entry, appropriation, disposal, and all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing (Section 4(b)).
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Restrictions on Use Outside Boundaries: While the bill notes that activities outside wilderness boundaries are permitted even if seen or heard within them, it also states that the wilderness designations do not create protective perimeters or buffer zones (Section 2(d)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+10Improves Public Land Management+8
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+5Good For Business Owners-2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+3
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support-2
- 12/2/2025
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-237.
- 5/13/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.