The bill redesignates the existing Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park as the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and adds a National Preserve in the surrounding area. Land within both units may be acquired by purchase, donation, or exchange, but eminent domain is explicitly prohibited.
The two units would operate as a single unit of the National Park System when established. The act also authorizes the Secretary to acquire land and to administer it under the Park Service, with boundaries drawn from the map on file.
A general management plan is required within three years, developed in consultation with an Advisory Council that includes tribal representatives. The plan must address interpretation and preservation of cultural resources, including sacred sites, and inventory important landscapes and flora.
The bill also contemplates hunting and fishing under federal and state laws, with potential zone-based restrictions for safety and wildlife management. A 126-acre parcel owned by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation is to be held in trust for the Tribe, and tribal hiring preferences are to be included.
The act authorizes appropriations as needed to carry out its provisions.
At a Glance
What It Does
Redesignates the park, designates a National Preserve, and authorizes land acquisition without eminent domain. It requires a general management plan within three years and creates a unified administration under the National Park System.
Who It Affects
The National Park Service, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, local authorities (including the Middle Georgia Regional Commission), private landowners within the map area, and visitors to the site.
Why It Matters
It formalizes tribal involvement, protects sacred sites, and sets a governance framework for a large cultural landscape, balancing preservation with public access and state-federal cooperation.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The act reclassifies the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park as a combined Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and National Preserve, covering both a park area and a preserve area on the designated map. It allows the federal secretary to acquire land within designated zones by willing seller agreements, avoiding eminent domain, and to incorporate such lands into the park or preserve.
A map defines the areas that may be included, and the boundaries will reflect land and interests acquired.
Administration of the two units will be as a single unit within the National Park System, subject to standard park laws and additional provisions in this act. Within three years of enactment, the secretary must develop a general management plan in consultation with an Advisory Council.
The plan requires preservation of cultural resources—including sacred sites—and creates an inventory of landscapes and flora to protect those values. Hunting and fishing will be allowed under applicable laws, with zones and timing restrictions as needed for safety and management, and there will be consultation with the State on regulatory actions.A key element is the transfer of approximately 126 acres of land owned by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation into trust for the Tribe, making that land part of Indian country and administered under trust laws.
The act also places hiring preferences for Tribe members in certain park positions and preserves existing consultation with tribes under federal law. It authorizes funds to carry out the act’s provisions and does not alter the jurisdiction of the State over fish and wildlife outside the park boundaries.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill redesignates the park and creates a National Preserve, with boundaries defined by a map dated September 2024.
Land within the park and preserve can be acquired only by purchase, donation, or exchange; eminent domain is not authorized.
A single administration for the park and preserve is established, with a general management plan due within 3 years.
Approximately 126 acres of Muscogee (Creek) Nation land are to be held in trust for the Tribe.
The act calls for tribal hiring preferences and ongoing tribal consultation, plus protections for sacred and cultural sites.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
Every bill we cover gets an analysis of its key sections.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Establishment Act. The title signals the bill’s purpose and scope: to convert the existing park and to add a preserve area with unified stewardship.
Definitions
Key terms include the Advisory Council, Map, Secretary, State, and Tribe. The Secretary is the Secretary of the Interior; the Tribe means the Muscogee (Creek) Nation; and the Map identifies the National Park Area and the National Preserve Area used for boundary planning.
Redesignation and Establishment; Land Acquisition; Boundaries
The Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park will be redesignated as the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park. Lands within the National Park Area may be acquired by purchase, donation, or exchange and will be administered under section 4. The National Preserve Area will be established once the Secretary determines sufficient land has been acquired to constitute a manageable unit, with boundaries reflecting all acquired lands. Eminent domain is prohibited in both areas, and map corrections may be made as needed.
Administration and management of the Park and Preserve
The two units shall be administered as a single unit of the National Park System under this section and the general park laws. A general management plan must be developed within three years, focusing on preservation and interpretation of cultural resources—including sacred sites—and identifying important landscapes for protection. Hunting and fishing are allowed under existing federal and state laws, with potential restrictions by zones or seasons for safety or wildlife management, and any such restrictions require consultation with the State. Private land within the boundary remains subject to state and federal laws. The act preserves the State’s jurisdiction over fish and wildlife and expands tribal consultation and influence where applicable.
Advisory Council
The Secretary must establish the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Advisory Council to guide management planning and implementation. The council includes NPS and USFWS representatives, three tribal members, a state natural resources appointee, and a representative from the Middle Georgia Regional Commission, with rules on appointments, meetings, and quorum. The council operates under the Federal Advisory Committee Act and serves without compensation.
Land held in trust
Approximately 126 acres of land owned in fee by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation shall be taken into trust for the Tribe. The land becomes part of Indian country and is administered according to trust laws and related regulations.
Authorization of appropriations
The Act authorizes funding as necessary to carry out its provisions, ensuring the park, preserve, and associated programs have the resources required for compliance, stewardship, and public access.
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Explore Environment in Codify Search →Who Benefits and Who Bears the Cost
Every bill creates winners and losers. Here's who stands to gain and who bears the cost.
Who Benefits
- Muscogee (Creek) Nation, by securing trust land status and formal involvement in land management and interpretation of tribal resources
- National Park Service, through a unified park/preserve governance model and clear planning timelines
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources, via state collaboration and shared stewardship responsibilities
- Middle Georgia Regional Commission, which gains representation on the advisory council and a formal role in regional land-use coordination
- Visitors and local tourism economy, benefiting from preserved cultural resources and a defined boundary with managed access
Who Bears the Cost
- Federal government, which must fund the management and preservation program and advisory council operations
- Private landowners within the map area who may engage in transactions via willing seller arrangements (not eminent domain) and may face regulatory considerations
- State and local agencies that may bear costs of regulatory coordination, enforcement, and land-use planning within the new management framework
- Tribe members and administrative staff who must engage in consultations and tribal hiring preferences, potentially affecting staffing and training resources
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and related agencies, which may incur coordination costs with NPS for cultural programs at Bond Swamp Refuge
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central dilemma is whether to maximize formal federal management and tribal participation to protect sacred and cultural resources, while preserving landowner rights and maintaining local land-use autonomy without the use of eminent domain.
The bill presents a policy tension between robust preservation of sacred and cultural landscapes and the realities of public access, private land interests, and agency coordination. By prohibiting eminent domain, the act prioritizes voluntary land acquisitions and private landowner cooperation, which may slow the expansion of the park and preserve if consensus among landowners proves elusive.
The creation of a Joint park and preserve unit under a single management framework requires careful coordination among multiple agencies (NPS, FWS, state regulators, and the Tribe) and could increase administrative complexity and budget needs. The integration of tribal lands into a federal trust arrangement raises ongoing questions about governance, revenue sharing, and program interpretation on culturally sensitive resources, including burial grounds and sacred sites.
The act also balances ongoing consultation with tribes against the practicalities of day-to-day management, such as hunting and fishing within preserve boundaries and the potential for regulatory restrictions that affect local land use. The relationship with Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge introduces a collaborative but potentially frictive dynamic in cultural interpretation activities and resource sharing.
Finally, the extent to which hiring preferences translate into measurable workforce changes will depend on implementation and funding, particularly for cultural resource programs and tribal outreach.
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