SISKIYOU COUNTY, Calif. — A Senate proposal to sell approximately 3.3 million acres of public land across 11 Western states, including California, has raised concerns among Siskiyou County residents, conservationists, and outdoor recreation groups. The provision, part of the Senate’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” introduced through the budget reconciliation process, mandates the disposal of 0.5% to 0.75% of lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an area roughly four times the size of Rhode Island.
Announced on June 11, 2025, by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Utah Senator Mike Lee, the bill aims to generate revenue to address housing shortages and reduce national debt. Critics, however, warn it jeopardizes recreational areas, wildlife habitats, and cultural sites, including lands within Siskiyou County’s Klamath and Shasta-Trinity National Forests.
The Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance (SORA), a local nonprofit advocating for sustainable outdoor recreation, has emphasized the importance of preserving public lands like the Marble Mountain Wilderness and Trinity Alps, which are critical to the region’s recreation, economy, and community identity.
