M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act
Sponsored By: Senator Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Introduced
Summary
Would add the Gila River system in New Mexico to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System to protect river values and guide management. It would also withdraw federal land in those river segments from mineral and geothermal leasing and move about 440 acres from the Forest Service to the National Park Service.
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- Protects rivers and species. It designates many named segments as wild, scenic, or recreational with mapped mileages to guide protections. Native fish habitat projects would be allowed only if they improve recovery of species like Gila trout and keep the river free flowing.
- Limits new mineral development inside designated reaches. Federal land within a covered segment would be withdrawn from mining and mineral leasing, while preserving valid existing water rights, grazing permits, and mining rights and prohibiting condemnation without owner consent.
- Changes management and boundaries. The bill would require agency maps and a comprehensive management plan made with Tribal, state, and public consultation, and it would transfer about 440 acres to the National Park Service and revise monument and forest boundaries.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Keep existing water, grazing, and mining rights
If enacted, the bill would make clear that the designation does not take away existing rights or contracts. Grazing permits, state water rights, points of diversion, water infrastructure, and valid mining rights would remain. Land could not be acquired under this section without the owner’s consent. Tribal treaty rights and the Arizona Water Settlements Act would not be changed.
Protect and manage Gila River segments
If enacted, this would add many named parts of the Gila River in New Mexico to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The responsible agencies would make maps and legal descriptions and keep them on file. The agencies would write a river management plan after talking with Tribes, local governments, and the public. If the United States buys nearby private land, that land would become part of the river segments. The bill would also keep current native fish restoration projects and allow new projects that help recover listed or sensitive species, like the Gila trout, so long as they do not unreasonably harm the river’s free flow or special values.
Block new mining and leasing on river lands
If enacted, the bill would, subject to valid existing rights, withdraw all federal land inside the covered river segments from new public-land claims, general mining claims, and mineral or geothermal leasing or mineral materials disposal. Valid existing rights would still apply.
Move 440 acres to national monument
If enacted, this would transfer about 440 acres shown on a March 2020 map from the Forest Service to the Interior Department. The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument boundary would grow to include that land and the Gila National Forest boundary would shrink. Each agency would prepare and keep on file maps and legal descriptions that have the same force as the statute, subject to minor corrections.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 4/10/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov