Ocmulgee Mounds Bill Proposes National Park & Preserve Status, Boosts Tribal Role and Land Trust

This legislation proposes a significant update for Georgia's Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, renaming it the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and establishing a new, adjacent Ocmulgee Mounds National Preserve. The core idea is to manage these areas together under the National Park System, expanding protections and formalizing management structures, as outlined in the bill (Sec. 3).

More Than Just a Name Change: Expanding the Footprint

The bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land for both the newly designated Park and the new Preserve, using methods like purchase from willing sellers, donation, or exchange (Sec. 3). Importantly, the use of eminent domain – forcing landowners to sell – is explicitly prohibited. This means if you own land within the proposed boundaries shown on the official map (Map titled "Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Proposed Boundary," numbered 363/193026, dated September 2024), the government can't compel you to sell. The Preserve itself will only be formally established once enough land is acquired to make it a manageable unit.

Running the Show: Management, Access, and Overflights

Management will be guided by a new plan developed within three years, created in consultation with a new Advisory Council (Sec. 4, Sec. 5). This plan must prioritize preserving cultural resources, including Muscogee (Creek) Nation sacred sites and burial grounds. For those who enjoy the outdoors, hunting and fishing will generally be allowed in the Preserve and Park respectively, following state and federal laws, though the Secretary can create restricted zones for safety or wildlife management after consulting the state (Sec. 4).

A key aspect is the enhanced role for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The bill directs the Secretary to favor hiring tribal members for jobs at the site, consistent with Indian preference policies (Sec. 4). It also mandates protecting sacred sites and ensuring access for members of Indian Tribes with ancestral ties. However, the bill also explicitly permits low-level military aircraft overflights and the potential designation of new military flight training routes over the Park and Preserve (Sec. 4), which could impact the visitor experience or wildlife, though specifics on managing this aren't detailed.

Tribal Input and Land Ownership

An Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Advisory Council will be established to advise the Secretary on the management plan and specifically on incorporating Tribal interests (Sec. 5). This 7-member council includes representatives from the National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife, the State, a regional commission, and notably, three members from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Furthermore, the bill directs that approximately 126 acres already owned by the Tribe be taken into trust by the United States for the Tribe's benefit, making it part of their Indian country under federal law (Sec. 6). This formalizes the Tribe's connection to and stake in the area's future.