Senate Bill 524 Summary

• Designates 13 wild areas within Indiana state forests as "designated wild areas," including areas such as Cataract Wild Area (1,680 acres), Cold Friday Wild Area (3,950 acres), and Knobstone Wild Area (5,680 acres), with acreage and specific compartment boundaries identified in the bill.

• Prohibits logging, mineral extraction, energy development, motorized vehicles, road building, utility easements, and herbicide use in designated wild areas, with exceptions for emergency medical assistance, search and rescue, fire control, and invasive species management.

• Allows recreational activities including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding on designated trails, gathering of edible and medicinal plants, overnight camping at department-identified campsites, hunting, fishing, and trapping to continue in designated wild areas.

• Requires the Department of Natural Resources to manage designated wild areas to preserve their natural values and relatively undisturbed character, post conspicuous perimeter signs, and prepare accurate maps and legal descriptions by January 1, 2018.

• Effective date: July 1, 2017.