Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2005

The Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2005 (S. 942) proposed to expand federal land protections within the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia by designating approximately 28,000 acres as permanent wilderness and nearly 24,000 acres as National Scenic Areas. For citizens, this would have permanently restricted commercial activities like logging and mining in these areas while preserving them for non-motorized recreation, such as hiking, camping, and horseback riding. The bill also directed the creation of new trail systems and mandated management plans to protect local water quality, old-growth forests, and wildlife habitats. Although this specific bill did not become law during the 109th Congress, many of its core proposals were later incorporated into the Ridge and Valley Scenic and Wild Heritage Act, which was signed into law in 2008.