S. 1198: Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act (119th Congress) Bill Summary

The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act is legislation aimed at safeguarding specific public lands in the Northern Rocky Mountain region, which includes parts of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. The bill focuses on three main objectives: designating wilderness areas, protecting rivers, and promoting biodiversity preservation.

Wilderness Designations

The bill proposes to designate over 3.2 million acres of wilderness across various national forests in the region. This includes:

Expanding existing wilderness areas and creating new ones.
Protecting ecosystems such as the Greater Salmon/Selway and Greater Cabinet-Yaak-Selkirk areas.
Specifically, protecting approximately 364,895 acres in the Greater Hells Canyon ecosystem and additional wilderness areas across Northern Rockies regions like Colville National Forest and the Bighorn Mountains.

Protection of Rivers

In addition to wilderness designations, the bill seeks to protect wild and scenic rivers within these areas. This aims to maintain the natural beauty and ecological health of these waterways.

Biological Corridors and Biodiversity

Another significant component of the bill is the establishment of biological connecting corridors. These areas are vital for the movement of wildlife and genetic exchange between habitats. The legislation emphasizes:

A management approach that prohibits certain activities, such as silvicultural management (the practice of managing forest growth), and road construction in designated corridors.
The need for ecological integrity, achieved through cooperative agreements and land trades primarily involving federal lands.
A requirement that private landowners maintain their rights, ensuring they are not compelled to participate in these protective measures without consent.

Overall, the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act aims to preserve the ecological integrity of the Northern Rockies while balancing the needs of various stakeholders through cooperative management strategies.