​Rich Hole & Rough Mountain Wilderness Additions Bill

PicturePhoto credit: The Pew Charitable Trusts

In October 2017, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine first introduced an important bill, co-sponsored by Senator Mark Warner, that was cause for celebration.  The Virginia Wilderness Additions Act of 2017 called for designating an additional 5,600 acres of the George Washington (GW) National Forest as Wilderness.  Those lands, which are already part of the GW, would be added to two existing Wilderness areas, expanding protections for this remarkable area to nearly 21,000 acres, located in the rugged territory in southeastern Bath County.  The bill was wrapped up into the 2018 Farm Bill, but did not make it into the final piece of legislation. 

In January 2019, Senator Kaine and Senator Warner re-introduced S.247 - Virginia Wilderness Additions Act of 2019; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. In January 2020, the bill passes the Senate.  See Senator Kaine's press release.
 
In February 2021, Representatives Abigail Spanberger and Donald McEachin, co-sponsored the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives as part of the Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act H.R. 803. This bill passed the House and now moves on to the Senate. 

In March 2021, Senators Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner reintroduced the Virginia Wilderness Additions Act.

If you are interested in learning more about this bill, the Lower Cowpasture project, and the work we've done, along with many partners, over several years to make it happen, click here.

See Rich Hole & Rough Mountain Wilderness Additions Brochure.

Upcoming Events

Garlic Mustard Pull at Hone Quarry GWNF
Saturday, April 26, 10a - 12p
Join forces with Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, Virginia Native Plant Society, Headwaters Master Naturalists, Virginia Wilderness Committee, and Friends of Shenandoah Mountain for a day of service and fun. Our goal is to protect native spring wildflowers at Hone Quarry Day Use Area by pulling garlic mustard, an aggressive nonnative invasive that crowds our native wildflowers and poisons the soil. Come and pull garlic mustard for an hour or two and view native wildflowers. Click here to register. Registration required, space limited.

Earth Day Staunton, Gypsy Hill Park
Saturday, April 26, 11a - 3p

Riverfest, Constitution Park, Waynesboro
Saturday, May 3, 9a - 4p

Wildflower Walk, Ramseys Draft Wilderness, GWNF
Friday, May 9, 10a - 12p. 
Click here to register. Registration required. space limited.

Shenandoah Mountain
​Act

Picture
North River by Brad Striebig
In July 2023, Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) reintroduced the Shenandoah Mountain Act, which would designate more than 92,000 acres of the George Washington National Forest as the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area and 5,779 acres as Beech Lick Knob Wilderness. If enacted, the National Scenic Area will preserve majestic forests, spectacular vistas, and more than 150 miles of trails on the western edge of the Shenandoah Valley. Find out more here.
Virginia's Mountain Treasures
Virginia's Mountain Treasures
​VWC's inventory of 63 of the finest wild areas remaining in the GW.  It is from this bountiful reserve that any future additions to the National Wilderness Preservation System must be drawn. Read the full text and see maps.
Did you know?? You can support VWC every time you grocery shop! At no cost to you, Kroger will donate to VWC based on the shopping you do every day. Click here and search for Virginia Wilderness Committee to add us to your account. Every time you swipe your card, you will help protect the wild public lands of Virginia that we all love and enjoy.