Caja del Rio Protection Act

This bill would create the Caja del Rio Special Management Area, about 67,163 acres in the Santa Fe National Forest, and the Caja del Rio National Conservation Area, about 17,837 acres of Bureau of Land Management land in New Mexico. Federal land in these areas and a separate withdrawal area would be closed to new mining, mineral and geothermal leasing, and most land transfers. Motor vehicles would be limited to designated roads, new permanent roads would be barred except as allowed, and undesignated roads would be closed within 3 years. Existing grazing, water rights, and city and county drinking water infrastructure would continue, and members of interested Indian Tribes would have access for cultural and religious uses, including plant and mineral gathering. The bill also directs federal officials to attempt a land exchange with the state of New Mexico for state trust land inside the area.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Teresa Leger Fernandez Democrat sponsor
• 2 cosponsors