Caja del Rio Protection Act

This bill would create the Caja del Rio Special Management Area on about 67,163 acres of the Santa Fe National Forest and the Caja del Rio National Conservation Area on 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 disposals, and motor vehicles would be limited to designated roads. Existing livestock grazing could continue, and federal agencies would write management plans in coordination with state and local governments and in consultation with interested Indian Tribes. The bill also directs a possible land exchange with the state, allows tribal members to gather plants and minerals for cultural uses, and keeps certain sacred-site information from public disclosure.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Martin Heinrich Democrat sponsor
• 1 cosponsors