# What This Bill Does: Creating Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve in Georgia

This bill transforms an existing historical site in Georgia into a larger national park and preserve. Currently, there's an Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park near Macon, Georgia. This bill upgrades it to "National Park" status and creates an adjacent "National Preserve" area, combining them into one unified site called the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve. The main difference between a park and preserve is that preserves allow hunting and fishing, while parks typically don't—so this change gives the area more flexibility for outdoor recreation.

The government will acquire additional land around the current site by buying it from willing sellers or accepting donations, but crucially, they cannot use eminent domain (forced government takeover) to seize private property. The preserve's final boundaries will depend on how much land the government can actually acquire. The bill also puts about 126 acres of land currently owned by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation into federal trust, which means the tribe maintains special rights and protections over that land. The National Park Service will manage everything according to a management plan that must be developed within three years, with input from an advisory council that includes three representatives from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

For visitors and locals, this means the site will remain open to the public for recreation and education about the ancient Native American mounds and culture. Hunting and fishing will be allowed in the preserve portion (following state and federal rules), and the park will prioritize hiring tribal members for jobs there. The bill also ensures that sacred sites important to Native American tribes are protected and that tribal members have access to these culturally significant locations. Military aircraft can still fly over the area, and the nearby Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge continues operating as before, though the park service will work with the tribe on cultural programs there.