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Proposed Expansion of Smith River National Recreation Area

Original title: Text of Senate Amendment 6432

Record date · June 24, 2026

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What This Bill Does

This amendment proposes expanding the Smith River National Recreation Area into Oregon and designating several new river segments as 'wild and scenic.' It also mandates environmental studies, protects existing tribal access rights, and authorizes the acquisition of the 555-acre Cedar Creek parcel.

Why it matters

This amendment changes federal land management boundaries and protections for specific river segments in Oregon, which impacts future land use, conservation requirements, and tribal access rights in the region.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Indian Tribes

The amendment mandates the Secretary to seek a memorandum of understanding with tribes regarding land access for cultural activities and the development of interpretive information.

Directly affected

State of Oregon

The amendment expands the recreation area into the state and updates jurisdictional provisions to include Oregon state and local authorities.

Directly affected

Secretary of Agriculture

The Secretary is tasked with conducting environmental studies, acquiring specific land parcels, and revising management plans for the expanded recreation area.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this amendment stop wildfire management in the area?
No. The amendment explicitly states that nothing in the Act affects the authority of the Secretary to conduct wildland fire operations or vegetation management projects, provided they are consistent with the purposes of the recreation area.
How does this affect tribal access to the land?
The amendment protects existing rights of Indian Tribes and requires the Secretary to seek a memorandum of understanding to provide tribes with access for historical and cultural activities, including the collection of noncommercial forest products.
What is the 'Cedar Creek Parcel'?
It is an approximately 555-acre tract of land located in Oregon that the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to acquire, provided the State Land Board of Oregon adopts a resolution and funding is available.

What else do you want to know?

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Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Expansion of Federal Land Management into Oregon

The amendment marks a formal expansion of the Smith River National Recreation Area, which was previously centered in California, into Oregon, necessitating updates to state-level jurisdictional language throughout the original Act.

Smith River National Recreation AreaState of Oregon

Connected Entities

Ron Wyden, State Land Board of Oregon, Department of Agriculture and 3 more
PersonRon Wyden“U.S. Senator who co-sponsored the amendment.”Map →
OrganizationState Land Board of Oregon“State body whose resolution is required for the Cedar Creek acquisition.”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Agriculture“The Secretary of Agriculture is tasked with administering the new river segments”Map →
locationCedar Creek Parcel“A 555-acre parcel of land authorized for potential federal acquisition.”Map →
PersonMerkley“U.S. Senator who submitted the amendment.”Map →
locationSmith River National Recreation Area“The federal recreation area targeted for expansion and management changes.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy30
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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