Caja del Rio Protection Act

The term Conservation Area means the Caja del Rio National Conservation Area established by section 201(a)(1).

The term covered area means each of—

(A) the Conservation Area; and

(B) the Special Management Area.

The term decommission, with respect to a road, means—

(A) reestablishing native vegetation on the road;

(B) effectively blocking the road to vehicular traffic, where feasible; and

(C) developing and implementing an effective monitoring and response plan for invasive species and vehicular traffic incursions.

The term ecological restoration has the meaning given the term restoration in section 4 of the Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6703).

The term Indian land has the meaning given the term Indian lands in section 4 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2703).

The term Indian Tribe means the governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or component reservation individually identified (including parenthetically) in the list published most recently as of the date of enactment of this Act pursuant to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).

The term Indigenous knowledge has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).

The term interested Indian Tribe, with respect to the covered area, means an Indian Tribe with—

(A) historic, precontact, cultural, or religious connections to the public land within the covered area;

(B) a former reservation located within the covered area; or

(C) treaty rights or other reserved rights associated with the covered area.

The term land grant-merced means a community land grant issued under the laws or customs of the Government of Spain or Mexico that—

(A) is recognized under New Mexico Statutes Chapter 49, Articles 1 and 4 (or a successor statute);

(B) has a record of traditional historic use in the covered area; or

(C) has a patented exterior boundary that is or was previously located on or adjacent to the covered area.

The term Map means the map entitled The Caja del Rio Special management Area and National Conservation Area and dated April 20, 2026.

The term Secretary means—

(A) in title I, the Secretary of Agriculture;

(B) in title II, the Secretary of the Interior; and

(C) in this section and title III—

(i) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior; and

(ii) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture.

The term Special Management Area means the Caja del Rio Special Management Area established by section 101(a)(1).

The term State means the State of New Mexico.

The term traditional historic community means a historic community that—

(A) meets the definition of that term in New Mexico Statutes Section 3–7–1.1 (or a successor statute); and

(B) has a record of traditional historic use in the covered area.

The term traditional historic use means a habitual use conducted by a land grant-merced or traditional historic community within the covered area for noncommercial or personal benefit, including—

(A) hunting, fishing, grazing, wood gathering, pinon harvesting, or herb and plant gathering; or

(B) any long-established and habitual and sustainable use by the land grant-merced or traditional historic community, as determined by the Secretary, in coordination with the land grant-merced or traditional historic community, that is agreed to in writing by the Secretary and the land grant-merced or traditional historic community.

The term Tribal organization has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304), except that such organization shall be affiliated with an interested Indian Tribe.

The term withdrawal area means the area withdrawn by section 401.

Subject to valid existing rights, there is established the Caja del Rio Special Management Area in the State.

The Special Management Area shall consist of approximately 67,163 acres of Federal land in the Santa Fe National Forest in the State as generally depicted as Caja del Rio Special Management Area on the Map.

The purposes of the Special Management Area are—

(1) to conserve and permanently protect the cultural, spiritual, religious, scenic viewshed, ecological, wildlife habitat, natural, geological, historical, and traditional values of the Special Management Area; and

(2) to enhance opportunities for interested Indian Tribes to engage in the preservation and management of the Special Management Area.

The Secretary shall manage the Special Management Area—

(1) subject to valid existing rights;

(2) in accordance with—

(A) this Act;

(B) the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.); and

(C) any other applicable laws; and

(3) in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the resources of the Special Management Area.

The Secretary shall allow only uses of the Special Management Area that are consistent with—

(1) opportunities for cultural, spiritual, religious, medicinal, and traditional historic practices within the Special Management Area; and

(2) the purposes described in section 101(b).

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a comprehensive management plan for the long-term management of the Special Management Area.

The Secretary shall prepare and revise the management plan required under paragraph (1)—

(A) in coordination with—

(i) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to the development of a management plan for the Conservation Area and the withdrawal area, as described in section 202(c);

(ii) the Director of the National Park Service and the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, with respect to the administration, protection, and interpretation of the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail;

(iii) the State; and

(iv) applicable units of local government, including any applicable land grant-mercedes or traditional historic communities; and

(B) in consultation with interested Indian Tribes.

The Secretary shall include in the management plan required under paragraph (1) a travel management plan to decrease unauthorized road access and motorized use in the Special Management Area.

Except as provided in clause (ii), only roads depicted on the Map shall be designated and maintained by the Secretary in the Special Management Area.

The Secretary may designate roads in the Special Management Area in addition to the roads referred to in clause (i) if the Secretary determines the additional roads are necessary—

(I) to achieve the purposes described in section 101(b); or

(II) not more than 1 mile from the historic settlement area commonly known as Buckman, to accommodate critical water infrastructure or recreation access.

To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall incorporate into the management plan required under paragraph (1) stewardship agreements or contracts relating to the Federal land described in section 101(a)(2) that exist on the date of enactment of this Act.

At the request of an interested Indian Tribe, the Secretary shall include the interested Indian Tribe as a cooperating agency in the development and revision of the management plan required under paragraph (1).

At the request of an interested Indian Tribe, the Secretary shall ensure that Indigenous knowledge is incorporated into the development and revision of the management plan required under paragraph (1).

As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file maps and legal descriptions of the Special Management Area with—

(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and

(B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.

The maps and legal descriptions filed under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct errors in the maps and legal descriptions.

The maps and legal descriptions filed under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service.

Subject to valid existing rights, there is established the Caja del Rio National Conservation Area in the State.

The Conservation Area shall consist of approximately 17,837 acres of Bureau of Land Management land in the State as generally depicted as Caja del Rio-National Conservation Area on the Map.

The purposes of the Conservation Area are—

(1) to conserve and permanently protect the cultural, spiritual, religious, scenic viewshed, ecological, wildlife habitat, natural, geological, historical, and traditional values of the Conservation Area; and

(2) to enhance opportunities for interested Indian Tribes to engage in the preservation and management of the Conservation Area.

The Secretary shall manage the Conservation Area—

(1) subject to valid and existing rights;

(2) in accordance with—

(A) this Act;

(B) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and

(C) any other applicable laws;

(3) in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the resources of the Conservation Area; and

(4) as a component of the National Landscape Conservation System.

The Secretary shall allow only uses of the Conservation Area that are consistent with—

(1) opportunities to undertake cultural, spiritual, religious, medicinal, or traditional historic use practices in the Conservation Area; and

(2) the purposes described in section 201(b).

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a comprehensive management plan for the long-term management of the Conservation Area and the withdrawal area.

The Secretary shall prepare and revise the management plan required under paragraph (1)—

(A) in coordination with—

(i) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to the development of a management plan for the Special Management Area, as described in section 102(c);

(ii) the Director of the National Park Service and the Chief of the Forest Service, with respect to the administration, protection, and interpretation of the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail;

(iii) the State; and

(iv) applicable units of local government, including any applicable land grant-mercedes or traditional historic communities; and

(B) in consultation with interested Indian Tribes.

To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall incorporate into the management plan required under paragraph (1) stewardship agreements or contracts relating to the Federal land described in section 201(a)(2) that exist on the date of enactment of this Act.

At the request of an interested Indian Tribe, the Secretary shall include the interested Indian Tribe as a cooperating agency in the development and revision of the management plan required under paragraph (1).

At the request of an interested Indian Tribe, the Secretary shall ensure that Indigenous knowledge is incorporated into the development and revision of the management plan required under paragraph (1).

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare a travel management plan to decrease unauthorized road access and motorized use in the Conservation Area and the withdrawal area.

In preparing the travel management plan under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall designate the use of motorized vehicles only on—

(A) the road within the Conservation Area identified as CR 55C or Old Route 66; and

(B) any roads in the Conservation Area and the withdrawal area that the Secretary determines to be necessary—

(i) to achieve the purposes described in section 201(b); and

(ii) to allow for access to private property or critical infrastructure.

As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file maps and legal descriptions of the Conservation Area with—

(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and

(B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.

The maps and legal descriptions filed under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct errors in the maps and legal descriptions.

The maps and legal descriptions filed under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management.

Subject to subsections (c) through (f), the Secretary shall attempt to enter into an agreement to initiate an exchange under section 2201.1 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), with the Commissioner of Public Lands of New Mexico, by the date that is 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, to provide for a conveyance to the State of all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Bureau of Land Management land in the State identified under subsection (b) in exchange for the conveyance by the State to the Secretary of all right, title, and interest of the State in and to parcels of State trust land within the boundary of the Conservation Area described in section 201(a)(2) or the boundary of the withdrawal area described in section 401.

The Secretary and the Commissioner of Public Lands of New Mexico shall jointly identify the Bureau of Land Management land in the State and State trust land eligible for exchange under this section, the exact acreage and legal description of which shall be determined by surveys approved by the Secretary and the New Mexico State Land Office.

A land exchange under subsection (a) shall be carried out in accordance with section 206 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716).

A land exchange under subsection (a) shall be subject to—

(1) valid existing rights; and

(2) such terms as the Secretary and the State shall establish.

The value of the Bureau of Land Management land and the State trust land to be conveyed in a land exchange under this section—

(A) shall be equal, as determined by appraisals conducted in accordance with paragraph (2); or

(B) if not equal, shall be equalized in accordance with paragraph (3).

The Bureau of Land Management land and State trust land to be exchanged under this section shall be appraised by an independent, qualified appraiser that is agreed to by the Secretary and the State.

An appraisal under subparagraph (A) shall be conducted in accordance with—

(i) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions; and

(ii) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

If the value of the Bureau of Land Management land and the State trust land to be conveyed in a land exchange under this section is not equal, the value may be equalized by—

(i) making a cash equalization payment to the Secretary or to the State, as appropriate, in accordance with section 206(b) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716(b)); or

(ii) reducing the acreage of the Bureau of Land Management land or State trust land to be exchanged, as appropriate.

Any cash equalization payments received by the Secretary under subparagraph (A)(i) shall be—

(i) deposited in the Federal Land Disposal Account established by section 206(a) of the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (43 U.S.C. 2305(a)); and

(ii) used in accordance with that Act (43 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.).

No exchange of land shall be conducted under this section unless mutually agreed to by the Secretary and the State.

No new permanent road construction shall be permitted in a covered area unless otherwise designated under section 102(c)(3)(B) or 202(d)(2).

Except as necessary for administrative purposes, the protection of health and safety, the control of fire, insects, or diseases, to facilitate cultural uses, or to provide reasonable access to private property, no temporary road construction shall be permitted in a covered area.

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall decommission any road in a covered area that has not been designated on the Map or in the applicable travel management plan for the covered area.

Except as provided in paragraph (2), the use of motorized vehicles in a covered area shall be permitted only on roads that are designated on the Map or in the applicable travel management plan for the covered area.

The use of motorized vehicles may be allowed in a covered area on roads not described in paragraph (1) if the use is necessary—

(A) for administrative purposes;

(B) to respond to an emergency;

(C) for Tribal religious or cultural practices; or

(D) for grazing in accordance with subsection (d).

Subject to valid existing rights, all Federal land within a covered area, including any land or interest in land that is acquired by the United States within the covered area after the date of enactment of this Act, is withdrawn from—

(A) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under public land laws, including the issuance of new rights-of-way on, under, or through the applicable Federal land;

(B) location, entry, and patent under mining laws; and

(C) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws.

If the Secretary acquires additional land within a covered area or the withdrawal area after the date of enactment of this Act, the acquired land is withdrawn from operation of the laws referred to in paragraph (1) on the date of acquisition of the land.

The grazing of livestock in a covered area, as established before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be permitted to continue—

(1) subject to such reasonable regulations, policies, and practices as the Secretary considers necessary;

(2) in accordance with applicable law; and

(3) in a manner consistent with the purposes of the applicable covered area described in section 101(b) or 201(b).

Nothing in this Act prohibits the Secretary, in cooperation with other Federal, State, and local agencies, as appropriate, from conducting any measures necessary to control wildland fire, insects, and diseases in a covered area, consistent with the purposes of this Act.

Ecological restoration in a covered area may be permitted—

(A) if necessary to protect, maintain, or enhance the applicable covered area (including the protection of traditional food or material gathering);

(B) for any purposes necessary to control wildland fire, insects, and diseases; and

(C) to support the resilience of watersheds and wildlife habitat.

Ecological restoration under paragraph (1) shall be carried out in a covered area—

(A) subject to such reasonable regulations, policies, and practices as the Secretary considers necessary;

(B) in a manner consistent with the purposes of the applicable covered area as described in section 101(b) or 201(b); and

(C) in accordance with applicable law.

The Secretary may acquire any land or interest in land within the boundary of a covered area or contiguous to a covered area, as depicted on the Map, by donation, purchase from a willing seller, or exchange.

Any land or interest in land acquired under paragraph (1) shall—

(A) if the acquired land or interest in land is within the Santa Fe National Forest, become part of the Special Management Area; or

(B) if the acquired land or interest in land is not located within the Santa Fe National Forest, become part of the Conservation Area.

The Secretary of the Interior may acquire any land or interest in land within the boundary of the withdrawal area, as depicted on the Map, by donation, purchase from a willing seller, or exchange.

The Secretary shall ensure adequate law enforcement presence in a covered area with respect to law enforcement matters under the jurisdiction of the Secretary to maintain the integrity of the covered area.

Nothing in this Act limits or otherwise affects the civil or criminal regulatory jurisdiction, including law enforcement, for issues under the jurisdiction of an Indian Tribe.

In developing a management plan for a covered area, the Secretary may consider provisions for increased penalties for unauthorized activities in the covered area, including littering, vandalism, damage to cultural sites, and unauthorized recreational shooting.

The Secretary shall ensure that visitors to a covered area have access to adequate notice relating to designated routes, roads, and prohibited uses in the covered area through—

(1) the placement of appropriate signage along designated routes, parking areas, trailheads, or any other highly visited area, including notice of penalties for prohibited uses; and

(2) the distribution of maps, safety education materials, and other information that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

The Secretary may contract with 1 or more interested Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations to perform administrative or management functions within a covered area through—

(A) contracts entered into under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.);

(B) agreements or contracts entered into under section 2 of the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (25 U.S.C. 3115a);

(C) agreements or contracts for stewardship contracting projects entered into under section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c); and

(D) any other applicable authority.

Using any applicable authority, the Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance to an interested Indian Tribe to improve the capacity of the interested Indian Tribe to develop, enter into, and carry out activities under an agreement or contract entered into under paragraph (1).

Nothing in this Act diminishes any Tribal rights relating to access to a covered area for Tribal activities, including spiritual, cultural, medicinal, and traditional food gathering activities.

In accordance with applicable law, the Secretary shall ensure access to a covered area by members of an interested Indian Tribe for traditional cultural and religious purposes.

In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary, on request of an interested Indian Tribe, may temporarily close to the general public the use of 1 or more specific portions of a covered area to protect the privacy of cultural, religious, and food, medicinal, and materials gathering activities by members of the interested Indian Tribe.

Any closure under clause (i) shall be made so as to affect the smallest practicable area for the minimum period of time necessary.

Access by members of an interested Indian Tribe to a portion of a covered area closed under clause (i) shall be consistent with the purpose and intent of Public Law 95–341 (commonly known as the American Indian Religious Freedom Act) (42 U.S.C. 1996 et seq.) and other applicable law.

Nothing in this Act alters, modifies, enlarges, diminishes, or abrogates rights secured by treaty, statute, Executive order, or other Federal law of any interested Indian Tribe, including off-reservation reserved rights.

Nothing in this Act affects any Indian land.

The designation of a covered area does not affect any legitimate land claims to the covered area that were secured by treaty or an Act of Congress.

Notwithstanding section 2.6 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), the Secretary shall allow an enrolled member of any interested Indian Tribe that is culturally affiliated with the land located within the boundaries of a covered area or Bandelier National Monument to collect plants, including parts or products of plants, and mineral resources within the applicable covered area or Bandelier National Monument for noncommercial traditional and cultural uses.

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a collection activity under paragraph (1) shall be—

(i) consistent with applicable laws; and

(ii) subject to such conditions as the Secretary determines to be necessary to protect the resources and values of the applicable covered area or Bandelier National Monument.

No quantity limitation contained in a regulation of the National Park Service, Forest Service, or Bureau of Land Management, as applicable, in effect on the date of enactment of this Act shall apply to a collection activity under paragraph (1).

The Secretary may limit the quantity of plants, including parts or products of plants, and mineral resources collected under paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines that the limitation is necessary to protect the resources and values of the applicable covered area or Bandelier National Monument.

Nothing in this Act affects the treaty rights of any Indian Tribe or land grant-merced.

Nothing in this Act—

(A) constitutes an express or implied reservation by the United States of water or water rights for any purpose;

(B) modifies or otherwise affects any water rights existing on the date of enactment of this Act, including any water rights held by the United States;

(C) affects an interstate water compact existing on the date of enactment of this Act; or

(D) imposes any mandatory streamflow requirement or any Federal water quality standard within the covered land.

The Secretary shall follow the procedural and substantive requirements of applicable State law to obtain and hold any water rights not in existence on the date of enactment of this Act with respect to a covered area.

Nothing in this Act affects valid existing rights, including the existing rights-of-way of Santa Fe County, the city of Santa Fe, or the Buckman Direct Diversion Board in the State, to conduct necessary repair, operations, maintenance, replacement, or expansion of drinking water supply infrastructure.

The Secretary may grant to Santa Fe County or the city of Santa Fe in the State new permits or rights-of-way to build water supply infrastructure not more than 1 mile from the historic settlement area commonly known as Buckman within the Special Management Area.

Any repair, operations, maintenance, replacement, expansion, or new construction of water supply infrastructure in a covered area shall be conducted in a manner that is consistent with the purposes of this Act.

Nothing in this Act affects the jurisdiction of the State with respect to fish and wildlife located on public land in the State, except that the Secretary, after consultation with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, may designate zones where, and establish periods during which, hunting shall not be allowed within a covered area for reasons of public safety, administration, or public use and enjoyment.

The Secretary shall not disclose to the public—

(A) information relating to the covered area that is derived from Indigenous knowledge that has not otherwise been released to the public as of the date of enactment of this Act; or

(B) information relating to the nature or location of any sacred site in a covered area, if the Secretary determines, in consultation with the interested Indian Tribe, that such a disclosure may—

(i) risk harm to the cultural resources of the sacred site;

(ii) cause a significant invasion of privacy; or

(iii) impede the use of the sacred site for traditional cultural activities by an Indian Tribe or members of an Indian Tribe.

Information described in paragraph (1) shall be exempt from disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States Code.

For purposes of subparagraph (A), this subsection shall be considered a statute described in section 552(b)(3)(B) of title 5, United States Code.

Subject to any valid existing rights, the Federal land and any interest in the Federal land depicted as Caja del Rio Withdrawal Area on the Map is withdrawn from—

(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws;

(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and

(3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws.