Pit River Tribe to Gain Federal Land in Trust: 583 Acres Transferred, Gaming Prohibited

The new Pit River Land Transfer Act of 2025 is straightforward: it takes roughly 583.79 acres of federal land—known as the “Four Corners Federal land”—and puts it into a trust for the Pit River Tribe. This is a significant move for tribal sovereignty and land management, shifting control of the property from the Department of Agriculture (specifically the Forest Service) over to the Department of the Interior.

The Trust Land Deal: What Changes?

This bill essentially formalizes a land transfer, but it does so through a specific legal mechanism called “taking into trust.” Once the Secretary of the Interior completes a required survey within 180 days of the law passing (Section 2), the land is officially held by the federal government for the benefit of the Tribe. From that point on, it is treated legally as part of the Tribe’s Reservation and managed under the rules that govern all tribal trust lands. This consolidation of land helps the Tribe manage its resources and territory more effectively, which is key for self-governance.

Who Manages the Land Now?

The biggest administrative change here is the switch from the Forest Service to the Department of the Interior. The Forest Service loses administrative control over this specific acreage. For the average person, this means that the rules governing activities like resource use, conservation, and access on that specific parcel will now follow tribal trust management guidelines rather than standard Forest Service regulations. However, the bill is clear: any existing legal rights—like easements or utility access—that people or companies already have on the land are preserved, meaning the transfer doesn't immediately shut down existing roads or access points.

No Dice on This Land

One provision in the bill is crystal clear: the land transferred under this Act cannot be used for Class II or Class III gaming activities (Section 2). This means no casinos or major gambling operations can be built on this specific parcel. This removes any ambiguity about the future use of the 583 acres, ensuring it will be used for purposes other than commercial gaming, likely focusing on cultural, residential, or resource management needs.

The Bottom Line

For the Pit River Tribe—which includes the XL Ranch, Big Bend, and several other Rancherias—this bill represents a tangible step toward land restoration and self-determination. It provides a clear legal framework for managing this specific territory. For everyone else, it’s a clean transfer of federal land that affirms existing rights while giving the Tribe greater control, all while explicitly ruling out one of the most common—and often controversial—uses of newly acquired tribal land: casino development.