Oregon Bill Protects 128K Acres, Expands Wild Rogue Wilderness, and Mandates Wildfire Plans

The Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act is officially setting aside two significant chunks of public land in Oregon, designating them as new Recreation Areas. Specifically, this bill establishes the Rogue Canyon Recreation Area (about 98,150 acres) and the Molalla Recreation Area (roughly 29,884 acres). The goal is clear: these areas must be managed primarily to conserve and enhance their recreational, scenic, and ecological value. Think of it as hitting the permanent protection button on over 128,000 acres of Oregon backcountry, ensuring that the natural beauty and outdoor access remain the priority.

The 'No Mining' Zone: What Withdrawal Means for the Land

For anyone who uses or cares about public land, the biggest news here is what the bill stops from happening. The Act essentially withdraws all federal land within these new recreation areas—both surface and subsurface—from future development. This means the land cannot be claimed, disposed of, or used for new mining, mineral leasing, or geothermal leasing activities (SEC. 3 & SEC. 5). This is a massive win for conservation groups and outdoor enthusiasts, but it’s a clear restriction for the mineral extraction industry, which loses access to these specific areas in Curry and Josephine Counties, including land tied to the Rough and Ready and Baldface Creeks proposals. If you’re a hiker, this means the trails you love won't be threatened by a new mine; if you’re in the resource extraction business, these areas are now definitively off the table.

Expanding the Wild Rogue and Mandating Fire Safety

Beyond the two new areas, the bill also expands the existing Wild Rogue Wilderness Area by a substantial 59,512 acres (SEC. 4). This expansion ensures a contiguous, protected corridor, managed under the strictest wilderness rules. Crucially for local communities and anyone living near the wildland-urban interface, the bill mandates serious action on wildfire. Within 280 days of the law passing, the Secretary must complete a fire risk assessment for the new areas and adjacent federal land, working with the Oregon Governor’s Council on Wildfire Response. A year after that assessment, a concrete mitigation plan must be in place. This plan has to include vegetation management projects and clear evacuation routes developed with local fire agencies (SEC. 3).

The Practical Impact: Time, Roads, and Tribal Rights

What does this mean on the ground? First, you won't see new permanent roads built in these areas unless absolutely necessary for public safety. However, the bill makes an allowance for temporary roads specifically for carrying out the mandated wildfire mitigation projects, provided they don't impact existing wilderness (SEC. 3). This is a practical compromise: limiting development while ensuring land managers can actually get in and manage the vegetation to reduce fire risk. Second, while the bill is detailed on acreage and deadlines, there is some medium vagueness in how the Secretary defines "necessary for public safety" when it comes to road construction, which could be an area to watch during implementation. Finally, the bill is careful to state that none of this expansion or designation affects the existing treaty rights of any Indian Tribe (SEC. 4), ensuring that the conservation efforts do not inadvertently infringe upon established tribal sovereignty or access.