Introduced Version
SENATE BILL No. 321
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 14-8-2; IC 14-31-4.
Synopsis: Designated wild areas. Provides that 13 specified areas
within certain state forests are "designated wild areas". Specifies
certain activities that are prohibited or allowed within a designated
wild area. Establishes responsibilities for the department of natural
resources and divisions that manage designated wild areas.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Yoder
January 13, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
2025 IN 321—LS 6871/DI 150 Introduced
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
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between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SENATE BILL No. 321
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
natural and cultural resources.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 14-8-2-68.4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
2 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
3 1, 2025]: Sec. 68.4. "Designated wild area", for purposes of
4 IC 14-31-4, has the meaning set forth in IC 14-31-4-2.
5 SECTION 2. IC 14-8-2-318.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
6 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
7 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 318.5. "Wild area", for purposes
8 of IC 14-31-4, has the meaning set forth in IC 14-31-4-3.
9 SECTION 3. IC 14-31-4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS
10 A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
11 1, 2025]:
12 Chapter 4. Designated Wild Areas
13 Sec. 1. The general assembly finds the following:
14 (1) It is necessary and desirable that some large forested areas
15 of Indiana where there are few permanent improvements or
16 human habitations, the landscape is relatively natural, and the
17 imprint of human activity is not predominant, be set aside as
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1 wild areas and preserved for the benefit of present and future
2 generations.
3 (2) That the large and relatively undisturbed forested areas
4 are a part of the defining heritage of Indiana, and securing
5 these areas will provide the people of Indiana important
6 opportunities for solitude and recreation, including hiking,
7 camping, picnicking, and hunting.
8 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "designated wild area" means a
9 wild area listed in section 4 of this chapter.
10 Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "wild area" means a tract of
11 relatively undeveloped state owned land that:
12 (1) has retained in significant part its natural forested
13 character;
14 (2) presents outstanding opportunities for solitude or
15 recreation compatible with the preservation of the wild
16 character of the land; and
17 (3) has at least eight hundred (800) acres of contiguous state
18 controlled land.
19 Sec. 4. The following wild areas are designated wild areas:
20 (1) The area of the Owen-Putnam State Forest known as the
21 Cataract Wild Area, containing approximately one thousand
22 six hundred eighty (1,680) acres that is contained within the
23 following property compartment and tract boundary maps
24 prepared by the department before January 1, 2025:
25 (A) Within Owen-Putnam compartment 2, tracts 1 through
26 4.
27 (B) Within Owen-Putnam compartment 4, tracts 1 through
28 14, tract 15 (partial), and tract 16 (partial).
29 (2) The area of the Harrison-Crawford State Forest known as
30 the Cold Friday Wild Area, containing approximately three
31 thousand nine hundred fifty (3,950) acres that is contained
32 within the following property compartment and tract
33 boundary maps prepared by the department before January
34 1, 2025:
35 (A) Within Harrison-Crawford compartment 7, tract 1.
36 (B) Within Harrison-Crawford compartment 23, tract 12
37 (partial), and tract 13.
38 (C) Within Harrison-Crawford compartment 24, tract 2,
39 and tracts 5 through 7.
40 (D) Within Harrison-Crawford compartment 29, tracts 1
41 through 10, and tracts 17 through 20.
42 (E) Within Harrison-Crawford compartment 30, tract 2
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1 (partial), and tracts 3 through 11.
2 (F) Within Harrison-Crawford compartment 31, tract 1
3 (partial), and tracts 2 through 9.
4 (3) The area of the Harrison-Crawford State Forest known as
5 the Hellbender Wild Area, containing approximately two
6 thousand four hundred sixty (2,460) acres that is contained
7 within the following property compartment and tract
8 boundary maps prepared by the department before January
9 1, 2025:
10 (A) Within Harrison-Crawford compartment 12, tract 8.
11 (B) Within Harrison-Crawford compartment 13, tract 9
12 (partial).
13 (C) Within Harrison-Crawford compartment 18, tracts 3
14 through 4.
15 (D) Within Harrison-Crawford compartment 19, tract 1
16 (partial), tracts 2 through 4, tract 5 (partial), tract 6
17 (partial), tract 7 (partial), tract 8 (partial), and tracts 9
18 through 11.
19 (E) Within Harrison-Crawford compartment 20, tract 1
20 (partial), tract 2, tract 3 (partial), and tracts 4 through 7.
21 (F) Within Harrison-Crawford compartment 26, tracts 1
22 through 3.
23 (4) The area of the Clark State Forest known as the
24 Knobstone Wild Area, containing approximately five
25 thousand six hundred eighty (5,680) acres that is contained
26 within the following property compartment and tract
27 boundary maps prepared by the department before January
28 1, 2025:
29 (A) Within Clark compartment 12, tracts 6 through 9.
30 (B) Within Clark compartment 14, tract 1, and tracts 3
31 through 4.
32 (C) Within Clark compartment 15, tracts 1 through 6,
33 tract 7 (partial), tract 9 (partial), tract 10 (partial), tract 11
34 (partial), tract 12 (partial), and tracts 13 through 14.
35 (D) Within Clark compartment 16, tract 1 (partial), tract
36 2 (partial), tract 4 (partial), and tracts 5 through 12.
37 (E) Within Clark compartment 17, tracts 1 through 5.
38 (F) Within Clark compartment 18, tracts 1 through 2, tract
39 3 (partial), and tracts 7 through 9.
40 (5) The area of the Clark State Forest known as the Leota
41 Wild Area, containing approximately three thousand four
42 hundred fifty (3,450) acres that is contained within the
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1 following property compartment and tract boundary maps
2 prepared by the department before January 1, 2025:
3 (A) Within Clark compartment 2, tracts 1 through 14, and
4 tract 15 (partial).
5 (B) Within Clark compartment 3, tracts 1 through 6, tracts
6 8 through 10, and tract 12.
7 (C) Within Clark compartment 4, tract 2, and tract 14.
8 (6) The area of the Morgan-Monroe/Yellowwood State Forest
9 known as the Low Gap Wild Area, containing approximately
10 three thousand seven hundred fifty (3,750) acres that is
11 contained within the following property compartment and
12 tract boundary maps prepared by the department before
13 January 1, 2025:
14 (A) Within Morgan-Monroe compartment 9, all tracts.
15 (B) Within Morgan-Monroe compartment 15, tracts 1
16 through 10.
17 (C) Within Yellowwood compartment 13, tracts 1 through
18 4, tracts 6 through 8, tract 15, and tract 16 (partial).
19 (D) Within Yellowwood compartment 14, tract 1, tract 2
20 (partial), tract 3 (partial), tract 6 (partial), tract 21, tract
21 22 (partial), tracts 23 through 25, tract 26 (partial), and
22 tract 28 (partial).
23 (7) The area of the Yellowwood State Forest known as the
24 Miller Ridge Wild Area, containing approximately two
25 thousand three hundred thirty (2,330) acres that is contained
26 within the Yellowwood property compartment and tract
27 boundary map prepared by the department before January
28 1, 2025, within Yellowwood compartment 3, tract 2, tracts 4
29 through 19, tract 20 (partial), tracts 21 through 22, tract 23
30 (partial), tract 24 (partial), and tracts 25 through 34.
31 (8) The area of the Yellowwood State Forest known as the
32 Mossop Ridge Wild Area, containing approximately two
33 thousand eighty (2,080) acres that is contained within the
34 Yellowwood property compartment and tract boundary map
35 prepared by the department before January 1, 2025, within
36 Yellowwood compartment 2, tracts 2 through 5, tracts 7
37 through 18, tract 20 (partial), tracts 21 through 27, tract 29,
38 tract 32 (partial), tracts 33 through 35, and tract 37 (partial).
39 (9) The area of the Jackson-Washington State Forest known
40 as the Orchard Ridge Wild Area, containing approximately
41 one thousand two hundred seventy (1,270) acres that is
42 contained within the following property compartment and
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1 tract boundary maps prepared by the department before
2 January 1, 2025:
3 (A) Within Jackson-Washington compartment 3, tract 19
4 (partial), tract 20, tract 21 (partial), and tracts 22 through
5 23.
6 (B) Within Jackson-Washington compartment 4, tract 3
7 (partial), tract 4, tract 5 (partial), tracts 6 through 7, tracts
8 9 through 10, tract 11 (partial), tract 12 (partial), tract 13
9 (partial), tract 14, tract 15 (partial), tract 16, tract 18
10 (partial), and tracts 19 through 21.
11 (10) The area of the Morgan-Monroe/Yellowwood State
12 Forest known as the Scarce-O'-Fat Wild Area, containing
13 approximately three thousand six hundred eighty (3,680)
14 acres that is contained within the following property
15 compartment and tract boundary maps prepared by the
16 department before January 1, 2025:
17 (A) Within Morgan-Monroe compartment 17, tracts 9
18 through 11, tract 12 (partial), tract 18, and tract 23.
19 (B) Within Yellowwood compartment 8, tract 6 (partial),
20 tract 7, tract 8 (partial), tract 9 (partial), tract 10 (partial),
21 tracts 11 through 29, tract 30 (partial), and tract 31
22 (partial).
23 (C) Within Yellowwood compartment 9, tract 1 (partial),
24 tracts 2 through 15, and tract 16 (partial).
25 (11) The area of the Ferdinand State Forest known as the
26 Siberia Wild Area, containing approximately nine hundred
27 ninety (990) acres that is contained within the Ferdinand
28 property compartment and tract boundary maps prepared by
29 the department before January 1, 2025, within Ferdinand
30 compartment 15, tracts 2 through 10.
31 (12) The area of the Jackson-Washington State Forest known
32 as the Spurgeon Hollow Wild Area, containing approximately
33 four thousand (4,000) acres that is contained within the
34 following property compartment and tract boundary maps
35 prepared by the department before January 1, 2025:
36 (A) Within Jackson-Washington compartment 9, tract 6
37 (partial), tract 8 (partial), tracts 10 through 14, and tracts
38 16 through 26.
39 (B) Within Jackson-Washington compartment 10, tracts 1
40 through 9, tract 10 (partial), tracts 11 through 25, tract 26
41 (partial), tracts 27 through 32, and tracts 37 through 41.
42 (13) The area of the Jackson-Washington State Forest known
2025 IN 321—LS 6871/DI 150 6
1 as the Starve Hollow Wild Area, containing approximately
2 one thousand five hundred (1,500) acres that is contained
3 within the following property compartment and tract
4 boundary maps prepared by the department before January
5 1, 2025:
6 (A) Within Jackson-Washington compartment 5, tract 3
7 (partial), and tracts 4 through 14.
8 (B) Within Jackson-Washington compartment 6, tracts 1
9 through 4, tract 5 (partial), tract 6 (partial), tracts 7
10 through 8, tracts 10 through 11, tract 12 (partial), and
11 tract 13 (partial).
12 Sec. 5. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), before January
13 1, 2026, the department shall prepare and keep on file accurate
14 maps and legal descriptions of each designated wild area.
15 (b) The department is not required to prepare a:
16 (1) new map; or
17 (2) legal description;
18 of a designated wild area if an accurate map or legal description
19 was prepared within the last three (3) years.
20 Sec. 6. The department shall manage a designated wild area in
21 a manner that preserves the area's natural values and relatively
22 undisturbed character.
23 Sec. 7. (a) Any division established under IC 14-9-4 that
24 managed a wild area before its designation as a designated wild
25 area shall continue to manage the designated wild area unless the
26 duties to manage the designated wild area are transferred by the
27 commission.
28 (b) Subject to the requirements of this chapter, a division that
29 manages a designated wild area may continue to use the land for
30 the purposes and activities, including hunting, fishing, and
31 trapping, for which the land was initially held. The division may
32 place limits on access to or equipment used in a designated wild
33 area as needed to protect the designated wild area from
34 deterioration or overuse.
35 (c) A designated wild area must be managed in a manner to
36 preserve its natural values and relatively undisturbed character.
37 Sec. 8. If a wild area provided an easement or access to private
38 property or a cemetery either into or through a wild area before
39 becoming a designated wild area, the department shall continue to
40 allow the easement or access to the private property or the
41 cemetery.
42 Sec. 9. (a) The department shall post conspicuous signs on the
2025 IN 321—LS 6871/DI 150 7
1 perimeter of the designated wild area indicating that the area is a
2 designated wild area.
3 (b) The department may post signs in a designated wild area
4 summarizing permitted and prohibited activities and marking
5 trails.
6 Sec. 10. (a) Subject to subsection (b), the following are
7 prohibited in a designated wild area:
8 (1) Removing, cutting, picking, or altering vegetation, except
9 with the written consent of the department:
10 (A) to create or maintain public access;
11 (B) to maintain easements that were created before the
12 area became a designated wild area;
13 (C) for scientific or educational purposes; or
14 (D) as permitted in section 11 of this chapter.
15 (2) Exploring for or extracting minerals.
16 (3) Logging.
17 (4) Energy development, including wind energy, solar energy,
18 oil and gas development, and gathering or harvesting wood
19 for biomass combustion.
20 (5) Use of motorized vehicles.
21 (6) Building roads. However, the department is not prohibited
22 from maintaining a road that existed before the wild area
23 became a designated wild area.
24 (7) Granting utility easements.
25 (8) Commercial enterprises, except for guided hikes or field
26 trips.
27 (9) Use of motorized equipment.
28 (10) Use of permanent structures other than those necessary
29 to minimize damage from trail use, including erosion bars,
30 steps, and bridges.
31 (11) Use of herbicides.
32 (b) Subsection (a) does not prohibit activities needed to:
33 (1) provide emergency medical assistance;
34 (2) conduct search and rescue;
35 (3) control a fire;
36 (4) monitor and control invasive species; and
37 (5) monitor and control plant and wildlife diseases.
38 However, the department shall use methods that are the most
39 narrowly directed to the situation and as least intrusive to the
40 designated wild area as possible.
41 Sec. 11. (a) Any recreational use in a designated wild area must
42 be managed to maintain the area's wild character. The department
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1 may allow the following recreational uses in a designated wild
2 area:
3 (1) Mountain biking and horseback riding on trails that allow
4 those uses.
5 (2) Hiking.
6 (3) Gathering of edible and medicinal plants and mushrooms
7 when in season and as permitted by law.
8 (4) Overnight camping at campsites identified by the
9 department with appropriate limits regarding term of
10 occupancy.
11 (b) The department may require a permit to enter a designated
12 wild area or to engage in an activity listed in subsection (a) in a
13 designated wild area.
14 Sec. 12. The commission shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2
15 concerning the management and use of designated wild areas
16 consistent with the requirements of this chapter.
2025 IN 321—LS 6871/DI 150