Congress orders study on Utah's 280-mile historic trail
S. 1135 — A bill to amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. · Filed by John Curtis (R-UT) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Mar 26, 2025 · Reported out
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What it does
This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to study whether the Bonneville Shoreline Trail—a 280-mile system of trails in Utah following an ancient lakebed—should be formally designated as part of the National Trails System. The study itself is the only action; no designation occurs unless Congress acts later on the study's findings.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative mechanism is a mandate for a federal study on trail designation feasibility. It is a procedural step in the National Trails System process, not a substantive policy change or appropriation.
What the text implies
- Study outcome is non-binding; designation would require separate congressional action, so this bill does not guarantee trail protection or public access.
- Secretary of Agriculture (not Interior, despite the original title) will conduct the study, which may reflect jurisdictional or resource considerations not apparent from the bill text alone.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The bill creates a study process that may lead to formal trail designation, expanding public outdoor recreation access and conservation of a historic landscape feature. There is no immediate cost to citizens; the study is a low-cost information-gathering step that preserves future options for public benefit.