Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act

H.R. 3700, the Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act, seeks to expand federal protections and management resources for public lands in Northern California. The bill would designate approximately 260,000 acres of new wilderness and 379 miles of new wild and scenic rivers, while establishing several special management areas focused on forest restoration and conservation.

For local residents and visitors, the legislation would authorize the construction of new visitor centers in Weaverville and Del Norte County and initiate a study for new overnight accommodations near Redwood National and State Parks. Additionally, the bill creates a partnership to coordinate the cleanup of public lands damaged by illegal activities, such as unauthorized marijuana cultivation, and requires updated fire management plans to better utilize prescribed burns for wildfire prevention and ecological health.