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Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-102

§410aaa–26 Utility Rights-of-way

Title 16 › CHAPTER 1 — NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › SUBCHAPTER LIX–Y — CALIFORNIA DESERT LANDS PARKS, PRESERVE, AND OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE RECREATION AREAS › Part B — Joshua Tree National Park › § 410aaa–26

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Protects existing rights-of-way, land ownership, and the usual operation, upkeep, repairs, and replacements by the Metropolitan Water District on lands inside Joshua Tree National Park that are not in designated wilderness. Rights and activities granted under the Boulder Canyon Project Act and the June 18, 1932 Act cannot be ended by these rules and must be done to minimize harm to park resources. The Secretary must, within 180 days after October 31, 1994, work with the Metropolitan Water District to make plans for emergency access to its lands and rights-of-way.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §410aaa–26

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Nothing in this part shall have the effect of terminating any validly issued right-of-way or customary operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement activities in such right-of-way, issued, granted, or permitted to the Metropolitan Water District pursuant to the Boulder Canyon Project Act (43 U.S.C. 617–619b), which is located on lands included in the Joshua Tree National Park, but outside lands designated as wilderness under section 601(a)(2). Such activities shall be conducted in a manner which will minimize the impact on park resources. Nothing in this part shall have the effect of terminating the fee title to lands or customary operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement activities on or under such lands granted to the Metropolitan Water District pursuant to the Act of June 18, 1932 (47 Stat. 324), which are located on lands included in the Joshua Tree National Park, but outside lands designated as wilderness under section 601(a)(2). Such activities shall be conducted in a manner which will minimize the impact on park resources. The Secretary shall prepare within one hundred and eighty days after October 31, 1994, in consultation with the Metropolitan Water District, plans for emergency access by the Metropolitan Water District to its lands and rights-of-way.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Boulder Canyon Project Act, referred to in text, is act Dec. 21, 1928, ch. 42, 45 Stat. 1057, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 617 et seq.) of chapter 12A of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 617t of Title 43 and Tables. section 601(a)(2), referred to in text, is section 601(a)(2) of Pub. L. 103–433, which enacted provisions listed in a table of Wilderness Areas set out under section 1132 of this title. Act of June 18, 1932 (47 Stat. 324), referred to in text, is not classified to the Code.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 410aaa–26

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102