Chama Basin Watershed Protection Act

This bill would close federal land in the Rio Chama Watershed area of New Mexico, as shown on an April 22, 2026 map, to new mining claims, entry, and patents under the mining laws. The withdrawal would apply only to minerals owned by the United States. It would not affect mineral rights or claims held by Indian Tribes or by qualified Spanish or Mexican community land grants (land grant-mercedes). It also states that people could continue gathering sand, gravel, stone, clay, adobe, and similar materials for personal, cultural, religious, farming, or noncommercial building uses.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Ben Ray Luján Democrat sponsor
• 1 cosponsors