II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 5193 

To designate certain special management areas, wildlife conservation areas, 

protection areas, recreation areas, wilderness areas, and a scientific research and education area in the State of Colorado, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 

Mr. BENNET (for himself and Mr. HICKENLOOPER) introduced the following 

bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 

Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To designate certain special management areas, wildlife conservation areas, protection areas, recreation areas, wilderness areas, and a scientific research and education 

area in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Gunnison Outdoor Re5 sources Protection Act of 2024’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 


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1 (1) COLLABORATIVELY DEVELOPED.—The term 

2 ‘‘collaboratively developed’’, with respect to a 

3 project, means the project is developed and imple4 mented through a collaborative process that— 

5 (A) includes multiple interested persons 

6 representing diverse interests; and 

7 (B)(i) is transparent and nonexclusive; or 

8 (ii) meets the requirements for a resource 

9 advisory committee under— 

10 (I) for projects carried out on Na11 tional Forest System land, subsections (c) 

12 through (f) of section 205 of the Secure 

13 Rural Schools and Community Self-Deter14 mination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7125); or 

15 (II) for projects carried out on Bu16 reau of Land Management land, subpart 

17 1784 of part 1700 of title 43, Code of 

18 Federal Regulations (or successor regula19 tions). 

20 (2) COUNTY.—The term ‘‘County’’ means Gun21 nison County, Colorado. 

22 (3) COVERED AREA.—The term ‘‘covered area’’ 

23 means each of the Special Management Areas, Wild24 life Conservation Areas, Protection Areas, and 


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1 Recreation Management Areas and the Scientific 

2 Research and Education Area. 

3 (4) DECOMMISSION.—The term ‘‘decommis4 sion’’, with respect to a road, means— 

5 (A) reestablishing native vegetation on the 

6 road; 

7 (B) restoring any natural drainage, water8 shed function, or other ecological processes that 

9 were disrupted or adversely impacted by the 

10 road by removing or hydrologically dis11 connecting the road prism and reestablishing 

12 stable slope contours; 

13 (C) effectively blocking the road to vehic14 ular traffic, where feasible; and 

15 (D) developing and implementing an effec16 tive monitoring and response plan for invasive 

17 species and vehicular traffic incursions. 

18 (5) ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY.—The term ‘‘eco19 logical integrity’’ has the meaning given the term in 

20 section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regula21 tions (as in effect on the date of enactment of this 

22 Act). 

23 (6) OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE.—The term ‘‘off24 highway vehicle’’— 


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1 (A) with respect to National Forest Sys2 tem land, has the meaning given the term in 

3 section 212.1 of title 36, Code of Federal Regu4 lations (or a successor regulation); and 

5 (B) with respect to land managed by the 

6 Bureau of Land Management, has the meaning 

7 given the term ‘‘off-road vehicle’’ in section 

8 8340.0-5 of title 43, Code of Federal Regula9 tions (or a successor regulation). 

10 (7) OVER-SNOW VEHICLE.—The term ‘‘over11 snow vehicle’’ has the meaning given the term in 

12 section 212.1 of title 36, Code of Federal Regula13 tions (or a successor regulation). 

14 (8) PROTECTION AREA.—The term ‘‘Protection 

15 Area’’ means a protection area designated by section 

16 5(a). 

17 (9) RECREATION MANAGEMENT AREA.—The 

18 term ‘‘Recreation Management Area’’ means a recre19 ation management area designated by section 6(a). 

20 (10) RESTORE.—The term ‘‘restore’’ has the 

21 meaning given the term in section 219.19 of title 36, 

22 Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the 

23 date of enactment of this Act). 

24 (11) SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

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1 cation Area’’ means the Rocky Mountain Scientific 

2 Research and Education Area designated by section 

3 7(a). 

4 (12) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ 

5 means— 

6 (A) the Secretary of Agriculture (acting 

7 through the Chief of the Forest Service), with 

8 respect to National Forest System land; and 

9 (B) the Secretary of the Interior with re10 spect to land managed by the Director of the 

11 Bureau of Land Management. 

12 (13) SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA.—The term 

13 ‘‘Special Management Area’’ means a special man14 agement area designated by section 3(a). 

15 (14) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the 

16 State of Colorado. 

17 (15) WILDERNESS AREA.—The term ‘‘wilder18 ness area’’ means any area designated as wilderness 

19 by the amendments to section 2(a) of the Colorado 

20 Wilderness Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; Pub21 lic Law 103–77) made by section 8(a). 

22 (16) WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE.—The term 

23 ‘‘wildland-urban interface’’ means land within a covered area that is within 1 24 ⁄4 mile of the interface and 

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1 face in the document entitled ‘‘The 2010 Wildland2 Urban Interface of the Conterminous United States’’ 

3 and published by the Department of Agriculture in 

4 2015. 

5 (17) WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AREA.—The 

6 term ‘‘Wildlife Conservation Area’’ means a wildlife 

7 conservation area designated by section 4(a). 

8 (18) WINTER TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLAN.— 

9 The term ‘‘winter travel management plan’’ means 

10 a decision designating roads, trails, or areas for 

11 over-snow vehicle use in accordance with— 

12 (A) in the case of Forest Service land 

13 within a covered area, subpart C of part 212 of 

14 title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or suc15 cessor regulations); and 

16 (B) in the case of Bureau of Land Man17 agement land within a covered area, subpart 

18 8342 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations 

19 (or successor regulations). 

20 SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS. 

21 (a) DESIGNATION.— 

22 (1) AMERICAN FLAG SPECIAL MANAGEMENT

23 AREA.—Subject to valid existing rights, certain Fed24 eral land in the County managed by the Forest 

25 Service comprising approximately 36,171 acres, as 


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1 generally depicted as ‘‘American Flag SMA’’ on the 

2 map entitled ‘‘Sheet 4: Brush Creek, Cement Creek, 

3 and Spring Creek’’ and dated August 27, 2024, is 

4 designated as the ‘‘American Flag Special Manage5 ment Area’’. 

6 (2) BECKWITHS SPECIAL MANAGEMENT

7 AREA.—Subject to valid existing rights, certain Fed8 eral land in the County managed by the Forest 

9 Service comprising approximately 24,031 acres, as 

10 generally depicted as ‘‘Beckwiths SMA’’ on the map 

11 entitled ‘‘Sheet 3: Kebler and Schofield Pass’’ and 

12 dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the 

13 ‘‘Beckwiths Special Management Area’’. 

14 (3) CLEAR FORK SPECIAL MANAGEMENT

15 AREA.—Subject to valid existing rights, certain Fed16 eral land in the County managed by the Forest 

17 Service comprising approximately 37,998 acres, as 

18 generally depicted as ‘‘Clear Fork SMA’’ on the map 

19 entitled ‘‘Sheet 2: McClure Pass’’ and dated August 

20 27, 2024, is designated as the ‘‘Clear Fork Special 

21 Management Area’’. 

22 (4) MCINTOSH MOUNTAIN SPECIAL MANAGE23 MENT AREA.—Subject to valid existing rights, cer24 tain Federal land in the County managed by the Bu25 reau of Land Management and the Forest Service 


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1 comprising approximately 22,497 acres, as generally 

2 depicted as ‘‘McIntosh Mountain SMA’’ on the map 

3 entitled ‘‘Sheet 8: Gunnison Valley and Ohio Pass’’ 

4 and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the 

5 ‘‘McIntosh Mountain Special Management Area’’. 

6 (5) NORTH POVERTY GULCH SPECIAL MANAGE7 MENT AREA.—Subject to valid existing rights, cer8 tain Federal land in the County managed by the 

9 Forest Service comprising approximately 5,476 

10 acres, as generally depicted as ‘‘North Poverty Gulch 

11 SMA’’ on the map entitled ‘‘Sheet 3: Kebler and 

12 Schofield Pass’’ and dated August 27, 2024, is des13 ignated as the ‘‘North Poverty Gulch Special Man14 agement Area’’. 

15 (6) PILOT KNOB SPECIAL MANAGEMENT

16 AREA.—Subject to valid existing rights, certain Fed17 eral land in the County managed by the Forest 

18 Service comprising approximately 16,973 acres, as 

19 generally depicted as ‘‘Pilot Knob SMA’’ on the map 

20 entitled ‘‘Sheet 2: McClure Pass’’ and dated August 

21 27, 2024, is designated as the ‘‘Pilot Knob Special 

22 Management Area’’. 

23 (7) SIGNAL PEAK SPECIAL MANAGEMENT

24 AREA.—Subject to valid existing rights, certain Fed25 eral land in the County managed by the Bureau of 


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1 Land Management and the Forest Service com2 prising approximately 28,345 acres, as generally de3 picted as ‘‘Signal Peak SMA’’ on the map entitled 

4 ‘‘Sheet 9: Cabin Creek’’ and dated August 27, 2024, 

5 is designated as the ‘‘Signal Peak Special Manage6 ment Area’’. 

7 (8) UNION PARK SPECIAL MANAGEMENT

8 AREA.—Subject to valid existing rights, certain Fed9 eral land in the County managed by the Forest 

10 Service comprising approximately 22,483 acres, as 

11 generally depicted as ‘‘Union Park SMA’’ on the 

12 map entitled ‘‘Sheet 5: Union Park’’ and dated Au13 gust 27, 2024, is designated as the ‘‘Union Park 

14 Special Management Area’’. 

15 (9) WHETSTONE HEADWATERS SPECIAL MAN16 AGEMENT AREA.—Subject to valid existing rights, 

17 certain Federal land in the County managed by the 

18 Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management 

19 comprising approximately 20,676 acres, as generally 

20 depicted as ‘‘Whetstone Headwaters SMA’’ on the 

21 map entitled ‘‘Sheet 3: Kebler and Schofield Pass’’ 

22 and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the 

23 ‘‘Whetstone Headwaters Special Management Area’’. 

24 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Special Manage25 ment Areas is to conserve, protect, and enhance for the 


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1 benefit of present and future generations the natural, sce2 nic, scientific, cultural, watershed, recreation, and wildlife 

3 resources of the Special Management Areas. 

4 (c) MANAGEMENT.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall manage 

6 the Special Management Areas in a manner that— 

7 (A) conserves, protects, and enhances the 

8 resources of the Special Management Areas; 

9 and 

10 (B) is in accordance with— 

11 (i) this Act; and 

12 (ii) other applicable laws. 

13 (2) USES.— 

14 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 

15 only allow uses of the Special Management 

16 Areas that the Secretary determines would fur17 ther the purpose described in subsection (b). 

18 (B) VEHICLE AND BICYCLE USE.— 

19 (i) IN GENERAL.—The use of off-high20 way vehicles and bicycles in the Special 

21 Management Areas shall be permitted only 

22 on roads, trails, and areas designated for 

23 use by those vehicles on the date of enact24 ment of this Act, except— 


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1 (I) as needed for administrative 

2 purposes; 

3 (II) to respond to an emergency; 

4 or 

5 (III) as authorized under clauses 

6 (ii) and (iii). 

7 (ii) WINTER TRAVEL MANAGEMENT.— 

8 For any portion of a Special Management 

9 Area for which the Secretary has not 

10 adopted a winter travel management plan 

11 as of the date of enactment of this Act, the 

12 Secretary— 

13 (I) shall, not later than 3 years 

14 after the date of enactment of this 

15 Act, adopt a winter travel manage16 ment plan with respect to the applica17 ble portion of the Special Manage18 ment Area; and 

19 (II) may, during any period be20 ginning on the date of enactment of 

21 this Act and ending on the date of 

22 adoption of a winter travel manage23 ment plan for the applicable portion 

24 under subclause (I), permit the use of 

25 over-snow vehicles in the applicable 


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1 portion of the Special Management 

2 Area in accordance with the applicable 

3 land management plan or other appli4 cable management direction. 

5 (iii) POTENTIAL TRAILS.—The Sec6 retary may permit— 

7 (I) the use of bicycles on the po8 tential trails described in paragraph 

9 (3) if the trails are designated by the 

10 Secretary for the use; and 

11 (II) the use of off-highway vehi12 cles on the potential trails described 

13 in subparagraphs (A), (C), and (F) of 

14 paragraph (3) if the trails are des15 ignated by the Secretary for the use. 

16 (3) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this section af17 fects the potential development, in accordance with 

18 applicable law, of— 

19 (A) a proposed trail of less than 50 inches 

20 in width, commonly known as the ‘‘Big Grassy 

21 Trail’’, within the American Flag Special Man22 agement Area designated by subsection (a)(1); 

23 (B) the proposed trails, commonly known 

24 as the ‘‘Crested Butte to Paonia Trail’’ and the 

25 ‘‘Crested Butte to Carbondale Trail’’, within 


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1 the Beckwiths Special Management Area des2 ignated by subsection (a)(2); 

3 (C) the proposed trails, commonly known 

4 as the ‘‘Antelope Ridge Trail and Connector’’, 

5 the ‘‘East West Antelope Trail’’, the ‘‘West An6 telope Trail’’, and the ‘‘Mill Creek Connector’’, 

7 within the McIntosh Mountain Special Manage8 ment Area designated by subsection (a)(4); 

9 (D) the proposed trail, commonly known as 

10 the ‘‘Gunnison to Crested Butte Trail’’, and the 

11 trails generally depicted in figure 7 of the docu12 ment entitled ‘‘Candidate Conservation Agree13 ment: For the Gunnison sage-grouse, 

14 Centrocercus minimus—Gunnison Basin Popu15 lation’’ and dated 2012 within the Signal Peak 

16 Special Management Area designated by sub17 section (a)(7); 

18 (E) the proposed trails, commonly known 

19 as the ‘‘Gunnison to Crested Butte Trail’’ and 

20 the ‘‘Baxter Gulch to Splain’s Gulch Trail’’, in 

21 the Whetstone Headwaters Special Management 

22 Area designated by subsection (a)(9); or 

23 (F) the proposed trail, commonly known as 

24 the ‘‘Splain’s Gulch to Carbon Creek Trail’’, in 


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1 the Whetstone Headwaters Special Management 

2 Area designated by subsection (a)(9). 

3 SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AREAS. 

4 (a) DESIGNATION.— 

5 (1) CABIN CREEK WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

6 AREA.—Subject to valid existing rights, certain Fed7 eral land in the County managed by the Bureau of 

8 Land Management and the Forest Service com9 prising approximately 29,518 acres, as generally de10 picted as ‘‘Cabin Creek WCA’’ on the map entitled 

11 ‘‘Sheet 9: Cabin Creek’’ and dated August 27, 2024, 

12 is designated as the ‘‘Cabin Creek Wildlife Conserva13 tion Area’’. 

14 (2) FLAT TOP WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

15 AREA.—Subject to valid existing rights, certain Fed16 eral land in the County managed by the Forest 

17 Service comprising approximately 28,844 acres, as 

18 generally depicted as ‘‘Flat Top WCA’’ on the map 

19 entitled ‘‘Sheet 8: Gunnison Valley and Ohio Pass’’ 

20 and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the 

21 ‘‘Flat Top Wildlife Conservation Area’’. 

22 (3) LAKE GULCH AND CEBOLLA CREEK WILD23 LIFE CONSERVATION AREA.—Subject to valid exist24 ing rights, certain Federal land in the County man25 aged by the Bureau of Land Management comVerDate Sep 11 2014 19:02 Oct 10, 2024 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S5193.IS S5193

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1 prising approximately 50,535 acres, as generally de2 picted as ‘‘Lake Gulch and Cebolla Creek WCA’’ on 

3 the map entitled ‘‘Sheet 11: Lake Fork’’ and dated 

4 August 27, 2024, is designated as the ‘‘Lake Gulch 

5 and Cebolla Creek Wildlife Conservation Area’’. 

6 (4) MATCHLESS WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

7 AREA.—Subject to valid existing rights, certain Fed8 eral land in the County managed by the Forest 

9 Service and the Bureau of Land Management com10 prising approximately 12,975 acres, as generally de11 picted as ‘‘Matchless WCA’’ on the map entitled 

12 ‘‘Sheet 4: Brush Creek, Cement Creek, and Spring 

13 Creek’’ and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as 

14 the ‘‘Matchless Wildlife Conservation Area’’. 

15 (5) MUNSEY CREEK WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

16 AREA.—Subject to valid existing rights, certain Fed17 eral land in the County managed by the Forest 

18 Service and the Bureau of Land Management com19 prising approximately 3,281 acres, as generally de20 picted as ‘‘Munsey Creek WCA’’ on the map entitled 

21 ‘‘Sheet 3: Kebler and Schofield Pass’’ and dated Au22 gust 27, 2024, is designated as the ‘‘Munsey Creek 

23 Wildlife Conservation Area’’. 

24 (6) PINNACLES WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

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1 eral land in the County managed by the Forest 

2 Service and the Bureau of Land Management com3 prising approximately 27,935 acres, as generally de4 picted as ‘‘Pinnacles WCA’’ on the map entitled 

5 ‘‘Sheet 8: Gunnison Valley and Ohio Pass’’ and 

6 dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the ‘‘Pin7 nacles Wildlife Conservation Area’’. 

8 (7) POWDERHORN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

9 AREA.—Subject to valid existing rights, certain Fed10 eral land in the County managed by the Bureau of 

11 Land Management comprising approximately 27,668 

12 acres, as generally depicted as ‘‘Powderhorn WCA’’ 

13 on the map entitled ‘‘Sheet 11: Lake Fork’’ and 

14 dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the 

15 ‘‘Powderhorn Wildlife Conservation Area’’. 

16 (8) SAWTOOTH WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

17 AREA.—Subject to valid existing rights, certain Fed18 eral land in the County and in Saguache County, 

19 Colorado, managed by the Bureau of Land Manage20 ment comprising approximately 43,109 acres, as 

21 generally depicted as ‘‘Sawtooth WCA’’ on the map 

22 entitled ‘‘Sheet 11: Lake Fork’’ and dated August 

23 27, 2024, is designated as the ‘‘Sawtooth Wildlife 

24 Conservation Area’’. 


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1 (b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Wildlife Con2 servation Areas are— 

3 (1) to conserve, protect, enhance, and restore 

4 for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future 

5 generations the wildlife and wildlife habitat of the 

6 Wildlife Conservation Areas; and 

7 (2) to conserve, protect, and enhance for the 

8 benefit and enjoyment of present and future genera9 tions the natural, scenic, scientific, cultural, water10 shed, and recreation resources of the Wildlife Con11 servation Areas. 

12 (c) MANAGEMENT.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall manage 

14 the Wildlife Conservation Areas in a manner that— 

15 (A) furthers the purposes of the Wildlife 

16 Conservation Areas; and 

17 (B) is in accordance with— 

18 (i) this Act; and 

19 (ii) other applicable laws. 

20 (2) USES.— 

21 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 

22 only allow uses of the Wildlife Conservation 

23 Areas that the Secretary determines would fur24 ther the purposes described in subsection (b). 

25 (B) VEHICLE AND BICYCLE USE.— 


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1 (i) IN GENERAL.—The use of off-high2 way vehicles and bicycles in the Wildlife 

3 Conservation Areas shall be permitted only 

4 on roads, trails, and areas designated for 

5 the uses on the date of enactment of this 

6 Act. 

7 (ii) EXCEPTIONS.—Notwithstanding 

8 clause (i)— 

9 (I) off-highway vehicles and bicy10 cles may be permitted— 

11 (aa) as needed for adminis12 trative purposes; or 

13 (bb) to respond to an emer14 gency; 

15 (II) for any portion of a Wildlife 

16 Conservation Area for which the Sec17 retary has not adopted a winter travel 

18 management plan as of the date of 

19 enactment of this Act, the Sec20 retary— 

21 (aa) shall, not later than 3 

22 years after the date of enactment 

23 of this Act, adopt a winter travel 

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1 ble portion of the Wildlife Con2 servation Area; and 

3 (bb) may, during the period 

4 beginning on the date of enact5 ment of this Act and ending on 

6 the date of adoption of a winter 

7 travel management plan for the 

8 applicable portion under item 

9 (aa), permit the use of over-snow 

10 vehicles in the applicable portion 

11 of the Wildlife Conservation Area 

12 in accordance with the applicable 

13 land management plan or other 

14 applicable management direction; 

15 (III) except as authorized under 

16 subclause (I), the use of off-highway 

17 vehicles and bicycles shall be prohib18 ited in the Matchless Wildlife Con19 servation Area designated by sub20 section (a)(4); and 

21 (IV) the Secretary may permit 

22 the use of bicycles on the potential 

23 trails described in paragraph (3) if 

24 the trails are designated by the Sec25 retary for the use. 


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1 (3) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this section af2 fects the potential development, in accordance with 

3 applicable law, of— 

4 (A) the proposed trail, commonly known as 

5 the ‘‘Gunnison to Crested Butte Trail’’, in the 

6 Flat Top Wildlife Conservation Area designated 

7 by subsection (a)(2); 

8 (B) the proposed trail, commonly known as 

9 the ‘‘Crested Butte to Carbondale Trail’’, in the 

10 Munsey Creek Wildlife Conservation Area des11 ignated by subsection (a)(5); or 

12 (C) the proposed trails, commonly known 

13 as the ‘‘Tenderfoot Mountain to Bambi’s Trail’’ 

14 and the ‘‘Big Loop Trail’’, in the Sawtooth 

15 Wildlife Conservation Area designated by sub16 section (a)(8). 

17 SEC. 5. DESIGNATION OF PROTECTION AREAS. 

18 (a) DESIGNATION.— 

19 (1) CASTLE PROTECTION AREA.—Subject to 

20 valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the 

21 County managed by the Forest Service comprising 

22 approximately 6,390 acres, as generally depicted as 

23 ‘‘Castle Protection Area’’ on the map entitled ‘‘Sheet 

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1 gust 27, 2024, is designated as the ‘‘Castle Protec2 tion Area’’. 

3 (2) DEER CREEK PROTECTION AREA.—Subject 

4 to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the 

5 County managed by the Forest Service comprising 

6 approximately 3,136 acres, as generally depicted as 

7 ‘‘Deer Creek Protection Area’’ on the map entitled 

8 ‘‘Sheet 3: Kebler and Schofield Pass’’ and dated Au9 gust 27, 2024, is designated as the ‘‘Deer Creek 

10 Protection Area’’. 

11 (3) GRANITE BASIN PROTECTION AREA.—Sub12 ject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in 

13 the County managed by the Forest Service and the 

14 Bureau of Land Management comprising approxi15 mately 9,666 acres, as generally depicted as ‘‘Gran16 ite Basin Protection Area’’ on the map entitled 

17 ‘‘Sheet 4: Brush Creek, Cement Creek, and Spring 

18 Creek’’ and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as 

19 the ‘‘Granite Basin Protection Area’’. 

20 (4) SOUTH POVERTY GULCH PROTECTION

21 AREA.—Subject to valid existing rights, certain Fed22 eral land in the County managed by the Forest 

23 Service and the Bureau of Land Management com24 prising approximately 1,350 acres, as generally de25 picted as ‘‘South Poverty Gulch Protection Area’’ on 


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1 the map entitled ‘‘Sheet 3: Kebler and Schofield 

2 Pass’’ and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as 

3 the ‘‘South Poverty Gulch Protection Area’’. 

4 (b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Protection 

5 Areas are— 

6 (1) to protect the natural and undeveloped 

7 character of the Protection Areas; and 

8 (2) to conserve and protect for the benefit and 

9 enjoyment of present and future generations the 

10 natural, scenic, scientific, cultural, watershed, recre11 ation, and wildlife resources of the Protection Areas. 

12 (c) MANAGEMENT.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall manage 

14 the Protection Areas in a manner that— 

15 (A) furthers the purposes of the Protection 

16 Areas described in subsection (b); and 

17 (B) is in accordance with— 

18 (i) this Act; and 

19 (ii) other applicable laws. 

20 (2) USES.— 

21 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 

22 only allow uses of the Protection Areas that the 

23 Secretary determines would further the pur24 poses described in subsection (b). 

25 (B) VEHICLE USE.— 


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1 (i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 

2 in clause (ii), as needed for administrative 

3 purposes, or to respond to an emergency, 

4 the use of off-highway vehicles in the Pro5 tection Areas is prohibited. 

6 (ii) OVER-SNOW VEHICLES.—The Sec7 retary may permit the use of over-snow ve8 hicles in the Deer Creek Protection Area 

9 designated by subsection (a)(2) on roads, 

10 trails, and areas designated for the use on 

11 the date of enactment of this Act. 

12 (C) BICYCLES.—The Secretary may permit 

13 the use of bicycles in the Protection Areas 

14 only— 

15 (i) on roads and trails designated for 

16 the use on the date of enactment of this 

17 Act; 

18 (ii) as needed for administrative pur19 poses; 

20 (iii) to respond to an emergency; or 

21 (iv) if designated by the Secretary for 

22 the use on the potential trails described in 

23 paragraph (3). 


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1 (3) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this section af2 fects the potential development, in accordance with 

3 applicable law, of— 

4 (A) the proposed trail, commonly known as 

5 the ‘‘Deer Creek to Brush Creek Connector 

6 Trail’’, within the Deer Creek Protection Area 

7 designated by subsection (a)(2); 

8 (B) the proposed trail, commonly known as 

9 the ‘‘Eccher Exit Trail’’, within the Granite 

10 Basin Protection Area designated by subsection 

11 (a)(3); or 

12 (C) the proposed trail, commonly known as 

13 the ‘‘Lower Loop Trail Extension’’, in the 

14 South Poverty Gulch Protection Area des15 ignated by subsection (a)(4). 

16 SEC. 6. DESIGNATION OF RECREATION MANAGEMENT 

17 AREAS. 

18 (a) DESIGNATION.— 

19 (1) DOUBLE TOP RECREATION MANAGEMENT

20 AREA.—Subject to valid existing rights, certain Fed21 eral land in the County managed by the Forest 

22 Service comprising approximately 14,734 acres, as 

23 generally depicted as ‘‘Double Top RMA’’ on the 

24 map entitled ‘‘Sheet 4: Brush Creek, Cement Creek, 

25 and Spring Creek’’ and dated August 27, 2024, is 


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1 designated as the ‘‘Double Top Recreation Manage2 ment Area’’. 

3 (2) HORSE RANCH PARK RECREATION MANAGE4 MENT AREA.—Subject to valid existing rights, cer5 tain Federal land in the County managed by the 

6 Forest Service comprising approximately 3,513 

7 acres, as generally depicted as ‘‘Horse Ranch Park 

8 RMA’’ on the map entitled ‘‘Sheet 3: Kebler and 

9 Schofield Pass’’ and dated August 27, 2024, is des10 ignated as the ‘‘Horse Ranch Park Recreation Man11 agement Area’’. 

12 (b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Recreation 

13 Management Areas are— 

14 (1) to provide for, and improve the manage15 ment of, recreation resources in the Recreation Man16 agement Areas for the benefit and enjoyment of 

17 present and future generation; and 

18 (2) to conserve, protect, and enhance for the 

19 benefit and enjoyment of present and future genera20 tions the natural, scenic, scientific, cultural, water21 shed, and wildlife resources of the Recreation Man22 agement Areas. 

23 (c) MANAGEMENT.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall manage 

2 the Recreation Management Areas in a manner 

3 that— 

4 (A) furthers the purposes of the Recre5 ation Management Areas described in sub6 section (b); and 

7 (B) is in accordance with— 

8 (i) this Act; and 

9 (ii) other applicable laws. 

10 (2) USES.— 

11 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 

12 only allow uses of the Recreation Management 

13 Areas that the Secretary determines would fur14 ther the purposes described in subsection (b). 

15 (B) VEHICLE AND BICYCLE USE.— 

16 (i) DOUBLE TOP.— 

17 (I) IN GENERAL.—Except as pro18 vided in subclause (II), the use of off19 highway vehicles and bicycles in the 

20 Double Top Recreation Management 

21 Area designated by subsection (a)(1) 

22 shall be permitted only on roads and 

23 trails designated for the use on the 

24 date of enactment of this Act. 

25 (II) EXCEPTIONS.— 


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1 (aa) OVER-SNOW VEHI2 CLES.—Except as provided in 

3 item (bb), the use of over-snow 

4 vehicles shall not be permitted in 

5 the Double Top Recreation Man6 agement Area designated by sub7 section (a)(1). 

8 (bb) ADMINISTRATIVE

9 USE.—Nothing in this section 

10 limits the use of off-highway ve11 hicles in the Double Top Recre12 ation Management Area des13 ignated by subsection (a)(1) as 

14 necessary for administrative pur15 poses or to respond to an emer16 gency (including as appropriate 

17 for administrative support and 

18 emergency response during the 

19 Grand Traverse skiing event, as 

20 permitted by the Grand Mesa, 

21 Uncompahgre, and Gunnison Na22 tional Forests). 

23 (ii) HORSE RANCH PARK.— 

24 (I) VEHICLE USE.— 


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1 (aa) IN GENERAL.—Except 

2 as provided in item (bb), the use 

3 of off-highway vehicles in the 

4 Horse Ranch Park Recreation 

5 Management Area designated by 

6 subsection (a)(2) is prohibited. 

7 (bb) EXCEPTIONS.—The 

8 Secretary may permit the use of 

9 over-snow vehicles in the Horse 

10 Ranch Park Recreation Manage11 ment Area designated by sub12 section (a)(2)— 

13 (AA) only on roads, 

14 trails, and areas designated 

15 for the use on the date of 

16 enactment of this Act; or 

17 (BB) as needed for ad18 ministrative purposes or to 

19 respond to an emergency. 

20 (II) BICYCLES.—The Secretary 

21 may permit the use of bicycles in the 

22 Horse Ranch Park Recreation Man23 agement Area designated by sub24 section (a)(2) only— 


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1 (aa) on roads, trails, and 

2 areas designated for the use on 

3 the date of enactment of this 

4 Act; 

5 (bb) as needed for adminis6 trative purposes; 

7 (cc) to respond to an emer8 gency; or 

9 (dd) if designated by the 

10 Secretary for the use on the po11 tential trails described in sub12 clause (III). 

13 (III) LIMITATION.—Nothing in 

14 this section affects the potential devel15 opment, in accordance with applicable 

16 law, of the proposed trail commonly 

17 known as the ‘‘Crested Butte to 

18 Paonia Trail’’, the proposed trail com19 monly known as the ‘‘Crested Butte 

20 to Carbondale Trail’’, or the proposed 

21 trail commonly known as the ‘‘Dark 

22 Canyon Loop Trail’’, in the Horse 

23 Ranch Park Recreation Management 

24 Area designated by subsection (a)(2). 


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1 SEC. 7. DESIGNATION OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SCI2 ENTIFIC RESEARCH AND EDUCATION AREA. 

3 (a) DESIGNATION.—Subject to valid existing rights, 

4 certain Federal land managed by the Forest Service com5 prising approximately 12,250 acres, as generally depicted 

6 as ‘‘Rocky Mountain Scientific Research and Education 

7 Area’’ on the map entitled ‘‘Sheet 3: Kebler and Schofield 

8 Pass’’ and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the 

9 ‘‘Rocky Mountain Scientific Research and Education 

10 Area’’. 

11 (b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Scientific Re12 search and Education Area are— 

13 (1) to encourage and preserve conditions nec14 essary for ecological, evolutionary, geological, biogeo15 chemical, climatological, biological, meteorological, 

16 and other natural science research and education; 

17 (2) to provide opportunities for the use of con18 tinually emerging techniques and methodologies in 

19 the conduct of the research and education described 

20 in paragraph (1); and 

21 (3) to conserve, protect, and enhance for the 

22 benefit and enjoyment of present and future genera23 tions the natural, scenic, scientific, cultural, water24 shed, recreation, and wildlife resources of the Sci25 entific Research and Education Area. 

26 (c) MANAGEMENT.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall manage 

2 the Scientific Research and Education Area in a 

3 manner that— 

4 (A) furthers the purposes of the Scientific 

5 Research and Education Area described in sub6 section (b); and 

7 (B) is in accordance with— 

8 (i) this Act; and 

9 (ii) other applicable laws. 

10 (2) USES.— 

11 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 

12 only allow uses of the Scientific Research and 

13 Education Area that the Secretary determines 

14 would further the purposes described in sub15 section (b). 

16 (B) VEHICLE USE.—Except as needed for 

17 administrative purposes or to respond to an 

18 emergency, the use of off-highway vehicles in 

19 the Scientific Research and Education Area 

20 shall be permitted only on roads designated for 

21 the use on the date of enactment of this Act. 

22 (C) BICYCLES.—The use of bicycles in the 

23 Scientific Research and Education Area shall be 

24 permitted only— 


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1 (i) on roads and trails designated for 

2 the use by the Secretary on the date of en3 actment of this Act; or 

4 (ii) on trails designated for the use by 

5 the Secretary after the date of enactment 

6 of this Act if the Secretary determines that 

7 the use is consistent with the purposes de8 scribed in paragraphs (1) and (2) of sub9 section (b). 

10 (d) EFFECT.—Nothing in this section limits the au11 thority of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory to 

12 conduct scientific research or education activities inside or 

13 outside the boundaries of the Scientific Research and Edu14 cation Area. 

15 SEC. 8. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS. 

16 (a) DESIGNATION.—Section 2(a) of the Colorado Wil17 derness Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 107 Stat. 756; 

18 114 Stat. 1955; 116 Stat. 1055; 128 Stat. 3823) is 

19 amended— 

20 (1) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘1993,’’ and 

21 inserting ‘‘1993, and approximately 2,096 acres, as 

22 generally depicted as ‘Crystal Creek Wilderness Ad23 dition’ and ‘Lottis Creek Wilderness Addition’ on 

24 the map entitled ‘Sheet 4: Brush Creek, Cement 


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1 Creek, and Spring Creek’ and dated August 27, 

2 2024,’’; 

3 (2) in paragraph (9)— 

4 (A) by striking ‘‘Gunnison’’ and inserting 

5 ‘‘Gunnison and White River’’; and 

6 (B) by striking ‘‘1993,’’ and inserting 

7 ‘‘1993, and approximately 11,780 acres, as gen8 erally depicted as ‘Poverty Gulch Wilderness 

9 Addition’, ‘Treasure Wilderness Addition’, and 

10 ‘Erickson Springs Wilderness Addition’ on the 

11 map entitled ‘Sheet 3: Kebler and Schofield 

12 Pass’ and dated August, 27, 2024,’’; and 

13 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

14 ‘‘(23) MATCHLESS WILDERNESS.—Certain Fed15 eral land in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and 

16 Gunnison National Forests comprising approxi17 mately 8,656 acres, as generally depicted as ‘Match18 less Wilderness’ on the map entitled ‘Sheet 4: Brush 

19 Creek, Cement Creek, and Spring Creek’ and dated 

20 August, 27, 2024, which shall be known as the 

21 ‘Matchless Wilderness’. 

22 ‘‘(24) EAST CEMENT WILDERNESS.—Certain 

23 Federal land in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and 

24 Gunnison National Forests comprising approxi25 mately 7,684 acres, as generally depicted as ‘East 


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1 Cement Wilderness’ on the map entitled ‘Sheet 4: 

2 Brush Creek, Cement Creek, and Spring Creek’ and 

3 dated August 27, 2024, which shall be known as the 

4 ‘East Cement Wilderness’. 

5 ‘‘(25) STAR PEAK WILDERNESS.—Certain Fed6 eral land in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, Gunni7 son, and the White River National Forests com8 prising approximately 7,210 acres, as generally de9 picted as ‘Star Peak Wilderness’ on the map entitled 

10 ‘Sheet 4: Brush Creek, Cement Creek, and Spring 

11 Creek’ and dated August 27, 2024, which shall be 

12 known as the ‘Star Peak Wilderness’. 

13 ‘‘(26) MAROON BELLS-SNOWMASS WILDERNESS

14 ADDITION.—Certain Federal land in the Grand 

15 Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National For16 ests comprising approximately 3,321 acres, as gen17 erally depicted as ‘Deer Creek Wilderness Addition’ 

18 and ‘Ashcroft Wilderness Addition’ on the map enti19 tled ‘Sheet 4: Brush Creek, Cement Creek, and 

20 Spring Creek’ and dated August 27, 2024, which 

21 shall be incorporated in, and managed as part of, 

22 the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. 

23 ‘‘(27) WEST ELK WILDERNESS ADDITION.— 

24 Certain Federal land in the Gunnison Field Office 

25 administered by the Bureau of Land Management, 


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1 in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison 

2 National Forests and in the Curecanti National 

3 Recreation Area, comprising approximately 58,603 

4 acres, as generally depicted as ‘Lamborn Wilderness 

5 Addition’, ‘Castle Wilderness Addition’, ‘Beaver Wil6 derness Addition’, ‘Steuben Creek Wilderness Addi7 tion’, ‘East Elk Creek Wilderness Addition’, ‘Dillon 

8 Mesa Wilderness Addition’, ‘Soap Creek Wilderness 

9 Addition’, and ‘Curecanti Wilderness Addition’ on 

10 the map entitled ‘Sheet 7: West Elk Additions’ and 

11 dated August 27, 2024, which shall be incorporated 

12 in, and managed as part of, the West Elk Wilder13 ness. 

14 ‘‘(28) UNCOMPAHGRE WILDERNESS ADDI15 TIONS.—Certain Federal land in the Grand Mesa, 

16 Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests com17 prising approximately 13,948 acres, as generally de18 picted as ‘Uncompahgre Wilderness Additions’ on 

19 the map entitled ‘Sheet 10: Uncompahgre Additions’ 

20 and dated August 27, 2024, which shall be incor21 porated in, and managed as part of, the 

22 Uncompahgre Wilderness. 

23 ‘‘(29) POWDERHORN WILDERNESS ADDITION.— 

24 Certain Federal land in the Gunnison Field Office 

25 administered by the Bureau of Land Management 


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1 comprising approximately 9,604 acres, as generally 

2 depicted as ‘Powderhorn Wilderness Addition’ on the 

3 map entitled ‘Sheet 11: Lake Fork’ and dated Au4 gust 27, 2024, which shall be incorporated in, and 

5 managed as part of, the Powderhorn Wilderness.’’. 

6 (b) APPLICABLE LAW.—Any reference in the Wilder7 ness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) or the Colorado Wilder8 ness Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law 103– 

9 77) to the effective date of that Act shall be considered 

10 to be a reference to the date of enactment of this Act for 

11 purposes of administering the wilderness areas. 

12 (c) FIRE, INSECTS, AND DISEASES.—In accordance 

13 with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 

14 1133(d)(1)), the Secretary may carry out any measure 

15 within the wilderness areas that the Secretary determines 

16 to be necessary to control fire, insects, and diseases, sub17 ject to any terms and conditions that the Secretary deter18 mines to be appropriate. 

19 (d) WEST ELK WILDERNESS BOUNDARY MODIFICA20 TION.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—The boundary of the West 

22 Elk Wilderness in the County is modified to exclude 

23 the approximately 15 acres generally depicted as 

24 ‘‘West Elk Wilderness Boundary Pullback’’ on the 


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1 map entitled ‘‘Sheet 3: Kebler and Schofield Pass’’ 

2 and dated August 27, 2024. 

3 (2) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing 

4 rights, the Federal land excluded from the boundary 

5 of the West Elk Wilderness under paragraph (1) is 

6 withdrawn from— 

7 (A) entry, appropriation, or disposal under 

8 the public land laws; 

9 (B) location, entry, and patent under the 

10 mining laws; and 

11 (C) operation of the mineral leasing, min12 eral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. 

13 (e) RELEASE.—Congress finds that, for the purposes 

14 of subsection (c) of section 603 of the Federal Land Policy 

15 and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782), the land 

16 within the Powderhorn Wilderness Study Area not des17 ignated as wilderness by this section (or an amendment 

18 made by this section)— 

19 (1) has been adequately studied for wilderness 

20 designation; and 

21 (2) is no longer subject to that subsection. 

22 SEC. 9. NORTH FORK VALLEY WATERSHED. 

23 (a) WITHDRAWAL.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to valid existing 

25 rights, the Federal land in Delta County, Colorado, 


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1 as generally depicted as ‘‘Oil and Gas Withdrawal’’ 

2 on the map entitled ‘‘Sheet 6: North Fork Valley’’ 

3 and dated August 27, 2024, is withdrawn from oper4 ation of the mineral leasing laws with respect to oil 

5 and gas. 

6 (2) EFFECT.—Nothing in paragraph (1) pre7 vents the Secretary of the Interior from authorizing 

8 the use or destruction of methane gas that would 

9 leak or be vented into the atmosphere from— 

10 (A) an active or inactive coal mine subject 

11 to a Federal coal lease; or 

12 (B) an abandoned underground coal mine 

13 or the site of a former coal mine— 

14 (i) that is not subject to a Federal 

15 coal lease; and 

16 (ii) with respect to which the Federal 

17 interest in land includes mineral rights to 

18 the methane gas. 

19 (b) NO SURFACE OCCUPANCY RESTRICTION.—Sub20 ject to valid existing rights, the Federal land in Delta 

21 County, Colorado, as generally depicted as ‘‘Oil and Gas 

22 No Surface Occupancy’’ on the map entitled ‘‘Sheet 1: 

23 Electric Mountain’’ and dated August 27, 2024, shall be 

24 subject to a no surface occupancy restriction with respect 


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1 to oil and gas exploration, development, production, and 

2 distribution. 

3 (c) GUNNISON RIVER MOTORIZED BOATS AND BOAT

4 RAMP USE.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding the limita6 tion on transfer in the Gunnison Gorge National 

7 Conservation Area Approved Resource Management 

8 Plan dated November 2004, the Secretary of the In9 terior, in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 

10 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and subject to paragraph (2) 

11 and such terms and conditions as the Secretary of 

12 the Interior may require, may transfer the special 

13 recreation use permit for the use of motorized boats 

14 within the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Area, if the 

15 use was established before the date of designation of 

16 the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Area. 

17 (2) BOAT RAMP.—The Secretary of the Interior 

18 may only transfer the special recreation use permit 

19 described in paragraph (1) under that paragraph if 

20 the Secretary of the Interior determines that— 

21 (A) the right of the public to the perma22 nent and reasonable use of the boat ramp for 

23 the Gunnison River at the Gunnison Forks Day 

24 Use Area in Delta County, Colorado, has been 


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1 acquired by a Federal agency or a State or local 

2 government; and 

3 (B) any fees to be charged by the Federal 

4 agency or the State or local government for 

5 public use of the boat ramp described in sub6 paragraph (A) would be reasonable. 

7 SEC. 10. LAND TO BE HELD IN TRUST FOR THE UTE MOUN8 TAIN UTE TRIBE. 

9 (a) TRUST.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 

11 the date of enactment of this Act and subject to 

12 valid existing rights, on request by the Ute Moun13 tain Ute Tribe (referred to in this section as the 

14 ‘‘Tribe’’), the Secretary of the Interior shall take 

15 into trust for the benefit of the Tribe the approxi16 mately 19,080 acres of land in the County, owned in 

17 fee by the Tribe, as generally depicted on the map 

18 entitled ‘‘Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; Pinecrest 

19 Ranch—Fee to Trust Legislation’’ and dated Sep20 tember 20, 2024. 

21 (2) ADMINISTRATION.—The land taken into 

22 trust by paragraph (1) shall— 

23 (A) be part of the reservation of the Tribe; 

24 and 


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1 (B) be administered in accordance with the 

2 laws and regulations generally applicable to 

3 property held in trust by the United States for 

4 the benefit of an Indian Tribe. 

5 (3) RESTRICTION ON USE FOR GAMING ACTIVI6 TIES.—The land taken into trust by paragraph (1) 

7 shall not be eligible for, or considered to have been 

8 taken into trust for, any gaming activity under any 

9 Federal law, including the Indian Gaming Regu10 latory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) and regulations 

11 promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior or the 

12 National Indian Gaming Commission under that 

13 Act. 

14 (b) SURVEY.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

15 of enactment of this Act, if any land is taken into trust 

16 under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior shall 

17 complete a survey to establish the boundaries of the land 

18 taken into trust under that subsection. 

19 (c) EFFECT.—Nothing in this section shall affect the 

20 rights, title, interests, or jurisdiction of the County in 

21 County Road 25 or its right-of-way. 

22 SEC. 11. GENERAL PROVISIONS. 

23 (a) MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after 

25 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 


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1 shall file a map and a legal description of the cov2 ered areas and wilderness areas with— 

3 (A) the Committee on Energy and Natural 

4 Resources of the Senate; and 

5 (B) the Committee on Natural Resources 

6 of the House of Representatives. 

7 (2) FORCE OF LAW.—Each map and legal de8 scription filed under paragraph (1) shall have the 

9 same force and effect as if included in this Act, ex10 cept that the Secretary may correct any typo11 graphical errors in the maps and legal descriptions. 

12 (3) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—Each map and 

13 legal description filed under paragraph (1) shall be 

14 on file and available for public inspection in the ap15 propriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management 

16 or the Forest Service, as applicable. 

17 (b) ACQUISITION OF LAND.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may acquire 

19 any land or interest in land within a covered area 

20 or wilderness area only through exchange, donation, 

21 or purchase from a willing seller. 

22 (2) MANAGEMENT.—Any land or interest in 

23 land acquired under paragraph (1) shall be incor24 porated in, and administered as a part of, the covVerDate Sep 11 2014 19:02 Oct 10, 2024 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S5193.IS S5193

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1 ered area or wilderness area in which the land or in2 terest in land is located. 

3 (c) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, 

4 the covered areas and wilderness areas are withdrawn 

5 from— 

6 (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and dis7 posal under the public land laws; 

8 (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining 

9 laws; and 

10 (3) operation of the mineral leasing, mining 

11 materials, and geothermal leasing laws. 

12 (d) FISH AND WILDLIFE.—Nothing in this Act af13 fects the jurisdiction or responsibility of the State with 

14 respect to fish and wildlife in the State. 

15 (e) GRAZING.—The laws (including regulations) and 

16 policies followed by the Secretary in issuing and admin17 istering grazing permits or leases on land under the juris18 diction of the Secretary shall continue to apply within a 

19 covered area. 

20 (f) WILDFIRE, INSECT, AND DISEASE MANAGE21 MENT.—In accordance with this Act, the Secretary may— 

22 (1) carry out any measures that the Secretary 

23 determines to be necessary to manage wildland fire, 

24 and treat hazardous fuels, insects, and diseases, in 

25 the covered areas; and 


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1 (2) coordinate the measures with the appro2 priate State or local agency, as the Secretary deter3 mines to be necessary. 

4 (g) VEGETATION MANAGEMENT.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—No project shall be carried 

6 out in a covered area for the purpose of harvesting 

7 commercial timber. 

8 (2) ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION.—Any vegeta9 tion management project carried out in a covered 

10 area outside of the wildland-urban interface that in11 cludes the harvest or sale of merchantable materials 

12 shall— 

13 (A) be collaboratively developed; 

14 (B) limit the sale of merchantable mate15 rials to small diameter trees or biomass; and 

16 (C) in accordance with the best available 

17 science— 

18 (i) restore ecological integrity; 

19 (ii) maximize the retention of old 

20 growth and large trees, as appropriate for 

21 the forest type; and 

22 (iii) focus on prescribed fire as the 

23 primary means to achieve modified 

24 wildland fire behavior, as measured by the 


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1 projected reduction of uncharacteristically 

2 severe wildfire effects for the forest type. 

3 (h) ROADS AND TRAILS.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para5 graph (2), no road shall be constructed in a covered 

6 area. 

7 (2) EXCEPTION.—Nothing in paragraph (1) 

8 prevents the Secretary from— 

9 (A) constructing a temporary road in a 

10 Protection Area, Recreation Management Area, 

11 or Special Management Area as the Secretary 

12 determines to be necessary as a minimum re13 quirement for carrying out a vegetation man14 agement project in accordance with this Act; 

15 (B) responding to an emergency; or 

16 (C) authorizing the transportation of sci17 entific research equipment within the Scientific 

18 Research and Education Area. 

19 (3) DECOMMISSIONING OF TEMPORARY

20 ROADS.—Not later than 3 years after the date on 

21 which an applicable vegetation management project 

22 is completed, the Secretary shall decommission any 

23 temporary road constructed under paragraph (2)(A) 

24 for the applicable vegetation management project. 


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1 (4) REROUTING.—Nothing in this Act prevents 

2 the Secretary from rerouting a trail within a covered 

3 area to protect public safety or natural resources 

4 from degradation, as determined to be appropriate 

5 by the Secretary. 

6 (i) WATER RIGHTS.—Nothing in this Act affects the 

7 use or allocation of any absolute or conditional water right 

8 that is— 

9 (1) decreed under the laws of the State; and 

10 (2) in existence on the date of enactment of this 

11 Act. 

12 (j) NO BUFFER ZONES.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act estab14 lishes a protective perimeter or buffer zone around 

15 a covered area or wilderness area. 

16 (2) OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES.—The fact that a non17 wilderness activity or use on land outside of a cov18 ered area or wilderness area can be seen or heard 

19 from an area within a covered area or wilderness 

20 area shall not preclude the conduct of the activity or 

21 use outside the boundary of the covered area or wil22 derness area. 

23 (k) SEASONAL CLOSURES.—As appropriate and in 

24 accordance with applicable law, the Secretary shall develop 


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1 and implement seasonal closures for off-highway vehicles 

2 and bicycles to protect wildlife and wildlife habitat in— 

3 (1) the McIntosh Mountain Special Manage4 ment Area designated by section 3(a)(4); 

5 (2) the Signal Peak Special Management Area 

6 designated by section 3(a)(7); 

7 (3) the Cabin Creek Wildlife Conservation Area 

8 designated by section 4(a)(1); 

9 (4) the Flat Top Wildlife Conservation Area 

10 designated by section 4(a)(2); 

11 (5) the Lake Gulch and Cebolla Creek Wildlife 

12 Conservation Area designated by section 4(a)(3); 

13 and 

14 (6) the Pinnacles Wildlife Conservation Area 

15 designated by section 4(a)(6). 

16 (l) RESTORATION ACTIVITIES.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—As appropriate and in ac18 cordance with applicable law, the Secretary shall 

19 conduct wet meadow and riparian restoration 

20 projects to improve climate resiliency and wildlife 

21 habitat in— 

22 (A) the McIntosh Mountain Special Man23 agement Area designated by section 3(a)(4); 

24 (B) the Signal Peak Special Management 

25 Area designated by section 3(a)(7); 


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1 (C) the Flat Top Wildlife Conservation 

2 Area designated by section 4(a)(2); 

3 (D) the Lake Gulch and Cebolla Creek 

4 Wildlife Conservation Area designated by sec5 tion 4(a)(3); 

6 (E) the Pinnacles Wildlife Conservation 

7 Area designated by section 4(a)(6); and 

8 (F) the Sawtooth Wildlife Conservation 

9 Area designated by section 4(a)(8). 

10 (2) COLLABORATION.—In carrying out the 

11 projects described in paragraph (1), the Secretary 

12 shall seek to collaborate with— 

13 (A) the Colorado Division of Parks and 

14 Wildlife; 

15 (B) the Upper Gunnison River Water Con16 servancy District; 

17 (C) the County; 

18 (D) in the case of a project located in the 

19 Sawtooth Wildlife Conservation Area designated 

20 by section 4(a)(8), Saguache County, Colorado; 

21 (E) the United States Fish and Wildlife 

22 Service; and 

23 (F) other interested entities and individ24 uals. 

25 (m) TRIBAL RIGHTS AND USES.— 


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1 (1) TREATY RIGHTS.—Nothing in this Act af2 fects the treaty rights of any Indian Tribe. 

3 (2) TRADITIONAL TRIBAL USES.—Subject to 

4 any terms and conditions that the Secretary deter5 mines to be necessary and in accordance with appli6 cable law, the Secretary shall allow for the continued 

7 use of a covered area or wilderness area by members 

8 of Indian Tribes— 

9 (A) for traditional ceremonies; and 

10 (B) as a source of traditional plants and 

11 other materials. 

Æ 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS