§460rrr–5 Administration of Natural Area

Summary

The Secretary must manage the federal land in the Natural Area under the public land laws and the area's management plan. Management must protect, restore, and conserve the area's natural, historic, scientific, scenic, wildlife, and recreational values. The area must stay available for education, scientific study, and limited public recreation so long as those uses do not seriously harm the area's purposes. The Secretary must protect wildlife habitat, ban building water storage facilities, and reduce or remove roads. Motorized vehicle use should be reduced or banned where possible, including removal of roads and a ban on motorized use on federal land on the western side of the Rio Grande River from Lobatos Bridge south to the New Mexico State line. The Secretary is encouraged to work with the State of Colorado, the Rio Grande Water Conservation District, and affected water users to see if streamflow changes that help the Natural Area can be arranged. The management plan applies to private land only if the private landowner agrees in writing. Federal land in the Natural Area is withdrawn from public entry, mining claims, and mineral leasing, subject to valid existing rights. The Secretary may acquire land from willing sellers by purchase, exchange, or donation, and any acquired land must be managed under the plan. Section 1276(d)(1) of this title does not apply to the Natural Area.