I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1534 
To establish the Dolores River National Conservation Area and the Dolores 
River Special Management Area in the State of Colorado, to protect 
private water rights in the State, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 10, 2023 
Mrs. BOEBERT (for herself, Mr. LAMBORN, and Mr. BUCK) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To establish the Dolores River National Conservation Area 
and the Dolores River Special Management Area in the 
State of Colorado, to protect private water rights in 
the State, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special 
Management Area Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
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Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Definitions. 
TITLE I—DOLORES RIVER NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA 
Sec. 101. Establishment of Dolores River National Conservation Area. 
Sec. 102. Management of Conservation Area. 
Sec. 103. Dolores River National Conservation Area Advisory Council. 
TITLE II—DOLORES RIVER SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA 
Sec. 201. Designation of Dolores River Special Management Area. 
Sec. 202. Management of Special Management Area. 
TITLE III—TECHNICAL MODIFICATIONS TO POTENTIAL 
ADDITIONS TO NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS SYSTEM 
Sec. 301. Purpose. 
Sec. 302. Release of designated segments from Dolores River congressional 
study area. 
Sec. 303. Applicability of continuing consideration provision. 
TITLE IV—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Sec. 401. Management of covered land. 
Sec. 402. Protection of water rights and other interests. 
Sec. 403. Effect on private property and regulatory authority. 
Sec. 404. Tribal rights and traditional uses. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) CONSERVATION
AREA.—The term ‘‘Con-
servation Area’’ means the Dolores River National 
Conservation Area established by section 101(a). 
(2) COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Council’’ means the 
Dolores River National Conservation Area Advisory 
Council established under section 103(a). 
(3) COVERED LAND.—The term ‘‘covered land’’ 
means— 
(A) the Conservation Area; and 
(B) the Special Management Area. 
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(4) DOLORES
PROJECT.—The term ‘‘Dolores 
Project’’ has the meaning given the term in section 
3 of the Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settle-
ment Act of 1988 (Public Law 100–585; 102 Stat. 
2974). 
(5) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map 
prepared by the Bureau of Land Management enti-
tled ‘‘Proposed Dolores River National Conservation 
Area and Special Management Area’’ and dated De-
cember 14, 2022. 
(6) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretary’’ 
means— 
(A) in title I, the Secretary of the Interior; 
(B) in title II, the Secretary of Agri-
culture; and 
(C) in title IV— 
(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. 
(7) SPECIAL
MANAGEMENT
AREA.—The term 
‘‘Special Management Area’’ means the Dolores 
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