Bill > S2548

This bill establishes conservation protections for several areas within the Shawnee National Forest in Illinois, specifically creating the Camp Hutchins Wilderness (750 acres) and three Special Management Areas: Camp Hutchins (2,953 acres), Ripple Hollow (3,445 acres), and Burke Branch (6,310 acres). These areas will be managed by the Secretary of Agriculture to conserve ecological, scenic, wildlife, recreational, cultural, historic, and scientific resources, with a focus on promoting biodiversity, controlling invasive species, and allowing scientific research. The bill prohibits commercial timber harvesting, restricts motor vehicle use, and allows hunting but not trapping. Within these areas, the Forest Service can use prescribed fire, herbicides, and mechanized equipment for ecosystem management, and volunteers can participate in restoration activities under Forest Service guidance. The areas are also withdrawn from public land, mining, and mineral leasing laws, and the Secretary must develop a management plan within three years and provide annual public updates on management progress. The bill aims to protect these lands for current and future generations while maintaining their ecological integrity and allowing limited public use.