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Managing America: Public Land

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Week Ending October 26, 2007

H.R.1011 Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2007.

Several mountain lands in Virginia are designated or created as wilderness and National Scenic Areas and renamed under this bill that also establishes some areas to ensure protection and preservation of scenic quality, natural characteristics and water resources, to protect wildlife habitat and areas that may develop into old-growth forests. Recreation opportunities are also provided for. The designations and changes total 43,000 acres in the Jefferson National Forest and 12,000 acres of National Scenic Areas

The Secretary of Interior is directed to establish a trail plan to develop hiking and horseback riding trails in the Jefferson National Forest and non-motorized trails within the Seng Mountain and Bear Creek Scenic Areas. Other areas set aside for roads, vegetation management, motorized travel, fire, insect and disease control, water preservation and mining and geothermal leasing.

The bill increases land in Virginia’s Jefferson National Forest, Virginia by over 8,000 acres known as Brush Mountain and Brush Mountain East. Also added are 4,223 acres known as, Seng Mountain and Raccoon Branch, and3,270 acres known as Stone Mountain. The 8,470 acres in the Forest known as Hunting Camp Creek and Garden Mountain will be known as the Hunting Camp Creek Wilderness.

 5,476 acres known as the Mountain Lake Additions are incorporated into the Mountain Lake Wilderness. The Lewis Fork Addition and Little Wilson Creek Additions are incorporated into the Lewis Fork Wilderness. The 2,249 acres of  Shawvers Run Additions will be included inte Shawvers Run Wilderness and the roughly 1,203 acres in the Peters Mountain Addition will be included in the Peters Mountain Wilderness. The Kimberling Creek Additions will be included in the Kimberling Creek Wilderness.

Sponsor:  Rep Rick Boucher (D- VA-9^th)

Vote: Passed House October 23, 2007 by voice vote. The motion to recommit the bill passed 236 to 178 RC 994.

Cost to the taxpayers: “CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1011 would cost approximately $3 million over the 2008-2012 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. Of this amount, $2 million would be used by the agency for planning, marking the newly designated areas, developing trails, and preparing legal descriptions and maps. The remaining $1 million would be spent over the next five years to administer the new areas.”

Earmark Certification:   Not applicable to this bill.

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MORE INFORMATION

The legislation would designate as wilderness a number of significant natural and scenic areas within the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Stone Mountain proposed wilderness area provides outstanding views of Powell Mountain across the Powell River, which is famous for its rich populations of freshwater mussels. The Seng Mountain proposed national scenic area is served by a network of recreational trails. The major scenic attraction is Rowland Creek Falls, a 45-foot cascading waterfall. Much of the terrain provides excellent opportunities for recreation. The Brush Mountain East proposed wilderness area contains beautiful stands of large sugar maples, white pines, white oaks and hemlocks, and about 15 percent of the forest consists of old growth. The Lynn Camp Creek proposed wilderness area provides a microcosm of the Ridge and Valley Province of Virginia. Three parallel ridges enclose the major stream valleys of Lick Creek and Lynn Camp Creek, both of which are excellent brook trout waters. Lick Creek harbors one of the only three Virginia populations of the Tennessee Dace, a state endangered species, also listed as sensitive by the Forest Service. The Raccoon Branch proposed wilderness area contains eight major trails which provide access to the area for hunters, fishermen, hikers and horseback riders. The Appalachian Trail also traverses the area.

Each of the areas contained in H.R. 1011 were either recommended as part of the Jefferson National Forest Plan or have been endorsed by the relevant local County Board of Supervisors. H.R. 1011 has broad bipartisan support from five other Representatives from Virginia, both Virginia Senators, Governor Tim Kaine, four County Boards of Supervisors, local businesses, state organizations, faith groups, the International Mountain Bicycling Association, and local bear hunters.

Section 2. Designation of additional National forest system lands in Jefferson National Forest, Virginia, as wilderness or a wilderness study area

Section 2(a) designates the following new wilderness areas:

Brush Mountain East Wilderness--3,769 acres in Craig County, VA

Brush Mountain Wilderness--4,794 acres in Montgomery County, VA

Raccoon Branch Wilderness--4,223 acres in Smyth County, VA

Stone Mountain Wilderness--3,270 acres in Lee County, VA

Hunting Camp Creek Wilderness--8,470 acres in Bland County, VA

Garden Mountain Wilderness--3,291 acres in Bland County, VA

Section 2(a) also designates the following additions to existing wilderness areas:

Mountain Lake Wilderness Additions--5,476 acres in Giles and Craig Counties, VA and WVA

Lewis Fork Wilderness Addition--308 acres in Smyth and Grayson Counties, VA

Little Wilson Wilderness Creek Additions--1,845 acres in Grayson County, VA

Shawvers Run Wilderness Additions--2,249 acres in Craig County, VA

Peters Mountain Wilderness Addition--1,203 acres in Giles County, VA

Kimberling Creek Wilderness Additions--263 acres in Bland County, VA

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