(a) Recreation area
The Secretary shall administer the recreation area in accordance with the laws, rules and regulations applicable to the national forests in such manner as will best provide (1) the protection and conservation of the salmon and other fisheries; (2) the conservation and development of scenic, natural, historic, pastoral, wildlife, and other values, contributing to and available for public recreation and enjoyment, including the preservation of sites associated with and typifying the economic and social history of the American West; and (3) the management, utilization, and disposal of natural resources on federally owned lands such as timber, grazing, and mineral resources insofar as their utilization will not substantially impair the purposes for which the recreation area is established.

(b) Wilderness area
The lands designated as the Sawtooth Wilderness Area, which supersedes the Sawtooth Primitive Area, shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter and the provisions of the Wilderness Act [16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.], whichever is more restrictive, except that any reference in such provisions to the effective date of the Wilderness Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the effective date of this subchapter.