REC Act of 2022 2022-05-06 Introduced in House Mt. Hood and Columbia River Gorge Recreation Enhancement and Conservation Act of 2022 or the REC Act of 2022

This bill establishes programs and requirements to support the conservation of and recreational access to the Mount Hood National Forest and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Oregon.

Specifically, the bill establishes within Mount Hood National Forest one or more Indian Treaty Resources Emphasis Zones to protect and enhance treaty resources, protect reservations from wildfires, and enable a co-management strategy between the Forest Service and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

The bill expands the Mount Hood National Recreation Area. The bill also requires the publication of a comprehensive sustainable recreation management plan for the recreation area and Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. It also establishes Centers for Recreation Excellence to support the management and enhancement of outdoor recreation in these areas.

Additionally, the bill

  • provides for a wildfire assessment that covers Mount Hood National Forest, federal land within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and any adjacent private, state, or tribal land;
  • designates specified river segments in Oregon as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and specified areas in Oregon as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System;
  • establishes committees to develop strategies for sustainable access to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and Mount Hood National Forest; and
  • requires the Department of Agriculture to enter into cooperative agreements with certain entities to provide search and rescue, firefighting, and law enforcement services.
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