Appendix D

Wilderness Review

© Ed Bustya

Appendix A

Appropriate Use Findings 

Appendix B

Compatibility Determinations

Appendix C

Implementation

Appendix D

Wilderness Review

Appendix E

Biological Resources of Concern

Appendix F

Statement of Compliance

Appendix G

Integrated Pest Management

Appendix H

Glossary

Appendix I

Contributors

Appendix J

Acquisition History

Appendix K

Public Involvement

Appendix L

Hydrological Modeling

Appendix M

References

Appendix N

List of Refuge Species

Appendix O

Wildland Fire Management Plan

Appendix P

Maps
Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

Appendix D. Wilderness Review D-1

Appendix D. Wilderness Review 

D.1 Background 

The Wilderness Act (Act) became Federal law in 1964 (16 U.S. Code [U.S.C.] 1131-1136). In 

Section 2(a) of the Act, the U.S. Congress expressed concern that “ ... an increasing human 

population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization ... [should not be 

allowed to] ... occupy and modify all areas within the United States and its possessions, leaving no 

lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition ....” The Act also 

established the National Wilderness Preservation System (Wilderness System) and stated that areas 

in the Wilderness System “ ... shall be administered for the use and enjoyment of the American 

people in such manner as will leave them unimpaired for future use as wilderness, and so as to 

provide for the protection of these areas, the preservation of their wilderness character, and for the 

gathering and dissemination of information regarding their use and enjoyment as wilderness....” 

Section 2(c) of the Act defined a wilderness area as one that “ ... in contrast with those areas where 

man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and 

its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. 

An area of wilderness is further defined to mean in this chapter an area of undeveloped Federal land 

retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, 

which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions and which (1) generally 

appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man’s work 

substantially unnoticeable; (2) has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and 

unconfined type of recreation; (3) has at least five thousand acres of land or is of sufficient size as to 

make practicable its preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and (4) may also contain 

ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value.” 

Section 3 of the Act required a review of Federal lands to determine their suitability for designation 

as a unit(s) of the Wilderness System. The U.S. Congress reserved to itself the authority to officially 

designate wilderness areas. 

A wilderness review is the process used by the Service to determine whether to recommend lands or 

waters in the National Wildlife Refuge System to Congress for designation as wilderness. A 

wilderness review is required for refuges as part of the comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) 

planning process. Lands or waters that meet the minimum criteria for wilderness (610 FW 4) are 

identified in the CCP and further evaluated to determine whether they merit recommendation for 

inclusion in the Wilderness System. 

For a refuge to be considered for wilderness designation, all or part of the refuge must: 

 Be affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the human imprint substantially 

unnoticeable; 

 Have outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive and unconfined type of recreation; 

 Have at least 5,000 contiguous acres or be sufficient in size to make practical its preservation 

and use in an unimpaired condition, or be capable of restoration to wilderness character 

through appropriate management, at the time of review; or 

 Be a roadless island. 
Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

D-2 Appendix D. Wilderness Review 

D.2 Conclusion 

Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge (the refuge) is not recommended for further study for 

inclusion in the Wilderness System because it does not meet the above criteria. The refuge is only 

2,137 acres in size and the largest roadless block is approximately 800 acres. The size of this block is 

insufficient to make practicable its preservation and use as wilderness. The refuge also has 

considerable evidence of past human use, does not have outstanding opportunities for solitude or 

primitive and unconfined type of recreation, and is not a roadless island.