This bill establishes the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area and Wilderness within Indiana's Hoosier National Forest, protecting approximately 29,382 acres as a recreation area and adding roughly 15,300 acres to the existing Charles C. Deam Wilderness. The legislation allows hunting, fishing, and trapping in both areas while permitting various recreational activities including hiking, camping, mountain biking, and horseback riding, though the Forest Service can restrict activities for safety or species protection reasons. A federal advisory committee will be formed to help manage the recreation area, and the Forest Service must develop a comprehensive management plan within five years that addresses issues like forest fires, invasive species, and water quality protection for Monroe Reservoir. The bill requires no new funding, directing the Forest Service to use existing budgets to implement these protections, while preserving existing rights for utilities, emergency access, private property owners, and the Army Corps of Engineers' water management operations in the area.
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