U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine introduced the Shenandoah Mountain Act, legislation to establish a 92,000-acre Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area (SMNSA) in Rockingham, Augusta, and Highland counties. National Scenic Areas are established by Congress to protect the scenic, historic, recreational and natural resources in specific areas, while allowing compatible uses such as outdoor recreation activities.
The proposal has the support of more than 400 local businesses, organizations, and faith groups who recognize the immense benefits the new designation will have on nearby communities, according to the release. Rockingham and Augusta counties, as well as the nearby cities of Staunton and Harrisonburg, have endorsed the proposal. The U.S. Forest Service – which recommended designation of a national scenic area and wilderness areas on Shenandoah Mountain in 2014 – estimates that visitors to national forests in Virginia generate $1.4 billion a year. Source
See the map of the area HERE
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