Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act

The measure restores land to the Tribe while protecting the Elwha River, preserving treaty rights, and barring gaming on the transferred property.

What the law does ​

• Places about 1,082.63 acres in federal trust for the Tribe and incorporates the land into the Lower Elwha Indian Reservation.
• Exempts the transfer from federal valuation, appraisal, and equalization requirements.
• Requires the affected Elwha River area to follow wild and scenic river protections while allowing authorized river restoration work.
• Directs the Secretary of the Interior to survey the land and permits minor boundary, mapping, and acreage corrections.
• Prohibits the transferred land from being treated as eligible Indian lands under federal Indian gaming law.
• Preserves the Tribe’s rights under the 1855 Treaty of Point No Point.

Who it affects ​

• The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and its reservation lands.
• Federal land managers and authorized Elwha River restoration projects.

Breakdown ​

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act ​

This law places about 1,082.63 acres of federal land in Washington into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and adds that land to the Tribe’s reservation. It sets management and surveying requirements, prohibits gaming on the transferred land, and preserves existing treaty rights.

Key takeaways

• The United States will hold approximately 1,082.63 acres in trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.
• The transferred land becomes part of the Lower Elwha Indian Reservation and is not subject to federal valuation, appraisal, or equalization requirements.
• The affected portion of the Elwha River must be managed under applicable wild and scenic river protections, with modifications allowed for authorized Elwha River restoration work.
• The Secretary of the Interior must survey the land and may make minor boundary adjustments or correct minor mapping and acreage errors.
• The transferred land cannot be treated as Indian lands for purposes of federal Indian gaming law.
• The law does not change the Tribe’s rights under the 1855 Treaty of Point No Point.