I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2926 
To designate certain public lands in the Sonoran Desert of the State of 
Arizona as national conservation areas and wilderness areas, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 25, 2015 
Mr. GRIJALVA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To designate certain public lands in the Sonoran Desert 
of the State of Arizona as national conservation areas 
and wilderness areas, 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 
‘‘Arizona Sonoran Desert Heritage Act of 2015’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; Table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Definitions. 
Sec. 3. Belmont-Harquahala and Gila Bend National Conservation Areas. 
Sec. 4. Designation of wilderness areas. 
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Sec. 5. Special management areas. 
Sec. 6. Maps and legal descriptions. 
Sec. 7. Management of national conservation areas, wilderness areas, and spe-
cial management areas. 
Sec. 8. Acquisition of land. 
Sec. 9. Border security. 
Sec. 10. Water rights. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ 
means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other orga-
nized group or community of Indians which is recog-
nized as eligible by the Secretary for the special pro-
grams and services provided by the United States to 
Indians because of their status as Indians. 
(2) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term ‘‘manage-
ment plan’’ means the management plan developed 
under section 3 for each national conservation area 
and section 5 for each special management area. 
(3) MAP.—The term ‘‘map’’ means the map en-
titled ‘‘Sonoran Desert Heritage Act’’ and dated 
May 6, 2013. 
(4) NATIONAL
CONSERVATION
AREAS.—The 
term ‘‘National Conservation Areas’’ means the Bel-
mont-Harquahala National Conservation Area and 
the Gila Bend National Conservation Area estab-
lished by section 3. 
(5) PUBLIC
LAND.—The term ‘‘public land’’ 
has the meaning given the term ‘‘public lands’’ in 
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section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Manage-
ment Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702). 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(7) SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS.—The term 
‘‘Special Management Areas’’ means the Sentinel 
Plain Special Management Area and the Rainbow 
Valley Special Management Area established by sec-
tion 5. 
(8) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of Arizona. 
(9) WILDERNESS AREAS.—The term ‘‘Wilder-
ness Areas’’ means the wilderness areas designated 
by section 4. 
SEC. 3. BELMONT-HARQUAHALA AND GILA BEND NATIONAL 
CONSERVATION AREAS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There are established in the 
State: 
(1) BELMONT-HARQUAHALA
NATIONAL
CON-
SERVATION
AREA.—The Belmont-Harquahala Na-
tional Conservation Area, consisting of approxi-
mately 276,100 acres, as generally depicted on the 
map. 
(2) GILA
BEND
NATIONAL
CONSERVATION 
AREA.—The Gila Bend National Conservation Area, 
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consisting of approximately 406,298 acres, as gen-
erally depicted on the map. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the National Con-
servation Areas is to conserve, and thereby to protect, re-
store, and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of 
present and future generations the unique and important 
resources and values of the land, including the ecological, 
geological, cultural, archaeological, paleontological, nat-
ural, scientific, recreational, wilderness, wildlife, riparian, 
historical, educational, and scenic resources of the public 
land. 
(c) ADMINISTRATION OF NATIONAL CONSERVATION 
AREAS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall manage 
the National Conservation Areas— 
(A) as components of the National Land-
scape Conservation System; 
(B) in a manner that conserves, and there-
by protects, and enhances the resources and 
values of the National Conservation Areas de-
scribed in subsection (b); and 
(C) in accordance with— 
(i) the Federal Land Policy and Man-
agement Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et 
seq.); 
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(ii) this Act; and 
(iii) any other applicable laws. 
(2) MANAGEMENT PLANS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall develop a comprehensive manage-
ment plan for the long-term protection and 
management of each of the National Conserva-
tion Areas. 
(B) PURPOSES.—Each management plan 
shall— 
(i) describe the appropriate manage-
ment and uses of the National Conserva-
tion Areas consistent with the conservation 
purpose as specified in subsections (b) and 
(c); 
(ii) be developed with extensive public 
input; and 
(iii) take into consideration any infor-
mation developed in studies of the land 
within the National Conservation Areas. 
(3) USES.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
allow only such uses of the National Conserva-
tion Areas as the Secretary determines would 
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further the conservation purpose for which the 
National Conservation Areas are established. 
(B) USE OF MOTORIZED VEHICLES.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 
in clauses (ii) and (iii), use of motorized 
vehicles in the National Conservation 
Areas shall be allowed only— 
(I) before the effective date of 
each management plan prepared pur-
suant to paragraph (2), on roads and 
trails designated for use of motorized 
vehicles in the management plan that 
applies on the date of the enactment 
of this Act; and 
(II) after the effective date of 
each management plan prepared pur-
suant to paragraph (2), on roads and 
trails designated for use of motorized 
vehicles in that management plan. 
(ii) 
ADMINISTRATIVE
AND
EMER-
GENCY
RESPONSE
USE.—Clause (i) shall 
not limit the use of motor vehicles in the 
National Conservation Areas for adminis-
trative purposes or to respond to an emer-
gency. 
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(iii) LIMITATION.—This subparagraph 
shall not apply to the Wilderness Areas. 
(C) NEW ROADS.—No additional road shall 
be built within the National Conservation Areas 
after the date of enactment of this Act unless 
the road is identified in the Management Plans 
as necessary for public safety or resource pro-
tection. 
SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In furtherance of the purposes of 
the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following 
areas in the State are designated as wilderness areas and 
as components of the National Wilderness Preservation 
System: 
(1) HUMMINGBIRD SPRINGS WILDERNESS ADDI-
TION.—Certain public land in Maricopa County, Ari-
zona, consisting of approximately 17,000 acres, as 
generally depicted on the map, which is incorporated 
in, and shall be considered to be a part of, the Hum-
mingbird Springs Wilderness, as designated by sec-
tion 101(a)(12) of the Arizona Desert Wilderness 
Act of 1990 (104 Stat. 4469). 
(2) WOOLSEY PEAK WILDERNESS ADDITION.— 
Certain public land in Maricopa County, Arizona, 
consisting of approximately 33,523 acres, as gen-
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erally depicted on the map, which is incorporated in, 
and shall be considered to be a part of, the Woolsey 
Peak 
Wilderness, 
as 
designated 
by 
section 
101(a)(15) of the Arizona Desert Wilderness Act of 
1990 (104 Stat. 4469). 
(3) BELMONT MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS.—Cer-
tain public land in Maricopa County, Arizona, com-
prising approximately 19,000 acres, as generally de-
picted on the map, which shall be known as the 
‘‘Belmont Mountains Wilderness’’. 
(4) SADDLE MOUNTAIN CENTENNIAL WILDER-
NESS.—Certain public land in Maricopa County, Ar-
izona, comprising approximately 24,200 acres, as 
generally depicted on the map, which shall be known 
as the ‘‘Saddle Mountain Centennial Wilderness’’. 
(5) GILA BEND WILDERNESS.—Certain public 
land in Maricopa County, Arizona, comprising ap-
proximately 68,800 acres, as generally depicted on 
the map, which shall be known as the ‘‘Gila Bend 
Wilderness’’. 
(6) SONORAN
DESERT
NATIONAL
MONUMENT 
WILDERNESS.—Certain public land in Maricopa 
County, Arizona, within the Sonoran Desert Na-
tional Monument, comprising approximately 128,300 
acres, as generally depicted on the map, which shall 
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be known as the ‘‘Sonoran Desert National Monu-
ment Wilderness’’. 
(b) ADMINISTRATION OF WILDERNESS.—Subject to 
valid existing rights, the Wilderness Areas designated by 
this Act shall be managed by the Secretary in accordance 
with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and this 
Act, except that— 
(1) any reference in the Wilderness Act to the 
effective date of that Act shall be considered to be 
a reference to the date of enactment of this Act; and 
(2) any reference in the Wilderness Act to the 
Secretary of Agriculture shall be considered to be a 
reference to the Secretary of the Interior. 
SEC. 5. SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There are established in the 
State: 
(1) SENTINEL
PLAIN
SPECIAL
MANAGEMENT 
AREA.— 
(A) BOUNDARY.—The Sentinel Plain Spe-
cial Management Area, consisting of approxi-
mately 120,600 acres, as generally depicted on 
the map. 
(B) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Sen-
tinel Plain Special Management Area is to en-
sure ecological connectivity and movement of 
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wildlife between the Barry M. Goldwater Air 
Force Range and the Gila Bend National Con-
servation Area; to secure native habitat for na-
tive species; and to provide recreation and de-
velopment opportunities that are compatible 
with native species and with Department of De-
fense activities related to the Barry M. Gold-
water Air Force Range. 
(2) RAINBOW VALLEY SPECIAL MANAGEMENT 
AREA.— 
(A) BOUNDARY.—The Rainbow Valley 
Special Management Area, consisting of ap-
proximately 23,400 acres, as generally depicted 
on the map. 
(B) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Rain-
bow Valley Special Management Area is to en-
sure ecological connectivity and movement of 
wildlife between the Sierra Estrella Mountains 
and the Sonoran Desert National Monument. 
(b) MANAGEMENT PLANS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall develop for each of the Special Management 
Areas a comprehensive management plan for the 
long-term protection and management of that area. 
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(2) 
PURPOSES.—Each 
management 
plan 
shall— 
(A) describe the appropriate uses and 
management of each special management area 
consistent with the conservation purpose as 
specified in section 5(a); 
(B) be drafted with consultation from 
local, regional, and State jurisdictions; 
(C) be developed with extensive public 
input; 
(D) take into consideration any informa-
tion developed in studies and plans for the land 
within each special management area; 
(E) shall consider cooperative management 
alternatives between the Bureau of Land Man-
agement and local, regional, and State jurisdic-
tions that further the purposes outlined in sec-
tion 5(a); and 
(F) for the purposes of ensuring ecological 
connectivity and movement of wildlife through 
the Rainbow Valley and Sentinel Plain Special 
Management Areas, the management plans 
shall— 
(i) prioritize landscape permeability, 
wildlife connectivity and continued move-
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ment of wildlife between the Sierra 
Estrella Mountains and the Sonoran 
Desert National Monument across Rain-
bow Valley, and between the Barry M. 
Goldwater Air Force Range and the Gila 
Bend National Conservation Area across 
Sentinel Plain, respectively; 
(ii) identify the means to maintain 
permeability, 
connectivity 
and 
wildlife 
movement in the area including, but not 
limited to, wildlife crossing structures and 
other infrastructure improvements and the 
criteria to implement such alternatives; 
(iii) 
incorporate 
current 
scientific 
knowledge of wildlife movement for a vari-
ety of identified focal species; and 
(iv) establish a monitoring program to 
determine the effectiveness of the plan for 
wildlife connectivity. 
SEC. 6. MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file maps 
and legal descriptions of the National Conservation Areas, 
the Wilderness Areas, and the Special Management Areas 
with— 
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(1) the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources of the Senate; and 
(2) the Committee on Natural Resources of the 
House of Representatives. 
(b) FORCE AND EFFECT.—The maps and legal de-
scriptions filed under subsection (a) shall have the same 
force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the 
Secretary may correct clerical and typographical errors in 
the maps and legal descriptions. 
(c) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The maps and legal de-
scriptions filed under subsection (a) shall be available for 
public inspection in— 
(1) the Office of the Director of the Bureau of 
Land Management; and 
(2) the appropriate office of the Bureau of 
Land Management in the State. 
SEC. 
7. 
MANAGEMENT 
OF 
NATIONAL 
CONSERVATION 
AREAS, WILDERNESS AREAS, AND SPECIAL 
MANAGEMENT AREAS. 
(a) MILITARY USE.—Nothing in this Act restricts or 
precludes— 
(1) overflights of military aircraft over the Na-
tional Conservation Areas, Wilderness Areas, or Spe-
cial Management Areas designated by this Act in-
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cluding military overflights that can be seen or 
heard within the areas; 
(2) flight testing and evaluation; or 
(3) the designation or creation of new units of 
special use airspace, or the establishment of military 
flight training routes, over the National Conserva-
tion Areas, Wilderness Areas, or Special Manage-
ment Areas. 
(b) HUNTING, FISH AND WILDLIFE.— 
(1) HUNTING.—Nothing in this section or the 
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) shall affect 
hunting, under applicable State and Federal laws 
and regulations, within a covered wilderness area. 
(2) JURISDICTION.—As provided in section 
4(d)(7) 
of 
the 
Wilderness 
Act 
(16 
U.S.C. 
1133(d)(7)), nothing in this section or the Wilder-
ness Act shall be construed as affecting the jurisdic-
tion or responsibilities of the State of Arizona with 
respect to fish and wildlife in the State. 
(3) WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT.—Management ac-
tivities to maintain or restore fish and wildlife popu-
lations and the habitats to support such populations 
may be carried out within a covered wilderness area, 
where consistent with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 
1131 et seq.) and other applicable laws. 
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(4) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.—The Secretary 
shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the 
State of Arizona for management of fish and wildlife 
within a covered wilderness area. The cooperative 
agreement shall specify the terms and conditions 
under which the State or a designee of the State 
may use wildlife management activities in a covered 
wilderness area consistent with the Wilderness Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), and other applicable laws. 
(c) LIVESTOCK GRAZING.— 
(1) GRAZING
IN
NATIONAL
CONSERVATION 
AREAS OR SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS.—Except 
as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall 
issue and administer any grazing leases or permits 
in the National Conservation Areas or Special Man-
agement Areas in accordance with the laws (includ-
ing regulations) applicable to the issuance and ad-
ministration of such leases and permits on other 
land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land 
Management. 
(2) GRAZING
IN
WILDERNESS
AREAS.—The 
grazing of livestock in a wilderness area designated 
by this Act, if established as of the date of enact-
ment of this Act, shall be permitted to continue— 
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(A) subject to any reasonable regulations, 
policies, and practices that the Secretary deter-
mines to be necessary; and 
(B) in accordance with— 
(i) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4)); and 
(ii) the guidelines set forth in Appen-
dix A of the report of the Committee on 
Interior and Insular Affairs of the House 
of Representatives accompanying H.R. 
2570 of the 101st Congress (H. Rept. 
101–405). 
(d) ACCESS
TO PRIVATE LANDS.—The Secretary 
shall provide any owner of private property— 
(1) within the boundary of a national conserva-
tion area or special management area designated by 
this Act adequate access to the property; and 
(2) within the boundary of a wilderness area 
designated by this Act adequate access to the prop-
erty in accordance with section 5(a) of the Wilder-
ness Act (16 U.S.C. 1134(a)). 
(e) VALID EXISTING RIGHTS.—The designation of 
the National Conservation Areas, Wilderness Areas, and 
Special Management Areas is subject to valid rights in ex-
istence on the date of enactment of this Act. 
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(f) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, 
all public land within the National Conservation Areas, 
Wilderness Areas, and Special Management Areas, and all 
land and interests in land acquired by the United States 
within the National Conservation Areas, Wilderness 
Areas, or Special Management Areas is withdrawn from— 
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal 
under the public land laws; 
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining 
laws; and 
(3) right-of-way, leasing, or disposition under 
all laws relating to— 
(A) minerals; or 
(B) solar, wind, and geothermal energy. 
(g) NO BUFFER ZONES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this subtitle cre-
ates a protective perimeter or buffer zone around the 
National Conservation Areas, Wilderness Areas, or 
Special Management Areas. 
(2) ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE NATIONAL CONSERVA-
TION
AREAS, WILDERNESS
AREAS, AND
SPECIAL 
MANAGEMENT AREAS.—The fact that an activity or 
use on land outside a National Conservation Area, 
Wilderness Area, or Special Management Area can 
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be seen or heard within the area shall not preclude 
the activity or use outside the boundary of the areas. 
(h) FIRE, INSECTS, AND DISEASES.—Subject to such 
terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be 
desirable and appropriate, the Secretary may undertake 
such measures as are necessary to control fire, insects, 
and diseases— 
(1) in the Wilderness Areas, in accordance with 
section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 
1133(d)(1)); and 
(2) except as provided in paragraph (1), in the 
National Conservation Areas and Special Manage-
ment Areas in accordance with this Act and any 
other applicable laws. 
(i) INVASIVE SPECIES AND NOXIOUS WEEDS.—In ac-
cordance with any applicable laws and subject to such 
terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be 
desirable and appropriate, the Secretary may prescribe 
measures to control nonnative invasive plants and noxious 
weeds within the National Conservation Areas and Special 
Management Areas. 
(j) NATIVE AMERICAN USES AND INTERESTS.—To 
the extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure access 
to the National Conservation Areas, Wilderness Areas, 
and Special Management Areas by members of an Indian 
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tribe for traditional cultural purposes, including spiritual 
or food-gathering activities. In implementing this para-
graph, the Secretary, upon the request of an Indian tribe, 
may temporarily close to the general public use of one or 
more specific portions of a national conservation area, wil-
derness area, or special management area in order to pro-
tect the privacy of traditional cultural activities in such 
areas by members of the Indian tribe. Any such closure 
shall be made to affect the smallest practicable area for 
the minimum period necessary for such purposes. Such ac-
cess shall be consistent with the purpose and intent of 
Public Law 95–341 (42 U.S.C. 1996), commonly referred 
to as the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. 
(k) UTILITY RIGHTS-OF-WAY.—Nothing in this Act 
precludes the Secretary from renewing an existing utility 
right-of-way through a national conservation area or spe-
cial management area in a manner that minimizes harm 
to the purposes of the national conservation area or special 
management area described in subsection (b) and section 
5(a)— 
(1) in accordance with— 
(A) the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and 
(B) any other applicable law; and 
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(2) subject to such terms and conditions as the 
Secretary determines to be appropriate. 
(l) MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING COMMUNICATIONS 
FACILITIES.—The provisions of this Act shall not be con-
strued to prevent— 
(1) the maintenance of communications facili-
ties, in existence on the date of the enactment of 
this Act and located in a national conservation area; 
or 
(2) limited motorized access to such facilities 
when non-motorized access means are not reasonably 
available or when time is of the essence, subject to 
such conditions as the Secretary considers to be de-
sirable. 
(m) MAINTENANCE OF AGUA CALIENTE ROAD.—In 
preparing resource management and travel management 
plans for the Lower Sonoran Field Office, the Secretary 
shall provide for protection of the existing, low-standard 
(BLM Maintenance Level 3) Agua Caliente which provides 
access to the wilderness and high conservation value lands 
designated by this Act, and shall assure that the wilder-
ness environment and atmosphere enjoyed by users of this 
road, which Congress finds is well-matched to the rugged 
and wild character of the wilderness beyond the roadside, 
is not degraded by incompatible development within the 
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road corridor or by improvement of the road itself other 
than as he determines necessary for public safety. 
SEC. 8. ACQUISITION OF LAND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may acquire non- 
public land within the boundaries of the National Con-
servation Areas, the Wilderness Areas, or the Special 
Management Areas established by this Act only through 
exchange, donation, or purchase from a willing seller. 
(b) MANAGEMENT.—Land acquired under this sec-
tion shall— 
(1) become part of the National Conservation 
Areas, the Wilderness Areas, or the Special Manage-
ment Areas involved; and 
(2) be managed in accordance with this Act and 
any other applicable laws. 
SEC. 9. BORDER SECURITY. 
Nothing in this Act— 
(1) prevents the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity from undertaking law enforcement and border 
security activities— 
(A) in the National Conservation Areas 
and Special Management Areas outside the Wil-
derness Areas, or 
(B) in accordance with section 4(c) of the 
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(c)), within the 
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Wilderness Areas, including the ability to use 
motorized access within a Wilderness Area 
while in pursuit of a suspect; 
(2) affects the 2006 Memorandum of Under-
standing among the Department of Homeland Secu-
rity, the Department of the Interior, and the De-
partment of Agriculture regarding cooperative na-
tional security and counterterrorism efforts on pub-
lic land along the borders of the United States; or 
(3) prevents the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity from conducting any low-level overflights over 
the National Conservation Areas and Special Man-
agement Areas or the Wilderness Areas that may be 
necessary for law enforcement and border security 
purposes. 
SEC. 10. WATER RIGHTS. 
(a) RESERVATION OF RIGHTS.—With respect to each 
wilderness area designated by this Act, Congress hereby 
reserves a quantity of water sufficient to fulfill the pur-
poses of this Act. The priority date of such reserved rights 
shall be the date of enactment of this Act. 
(b) PROTECTION OF RIGHTS.—The Secretary and all 
other officers of the United States shall take steps nec-
essary to protect the rights reserved by subsection (a), in-
cluding the filing by the Secretary of a claim for the quan-
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tification of such rights in any present or future appro-
priate stream adjudication in the courts of the State in 
which the United States is or may be joined and which 
is conducted in accordance with the McCarran Amend-
ment (43 U.S.C. 666). 
(c) NO RELINQUISHMENT OR REDUCTION.—Nothing 
in this section shall be construed as a relinquishment or 
reduction of any water rights reserved or appropriated by 
the United States in the State on or before the date of 
enactment of this Act. 
(d) RESERVATION
FOR SPECIFIC WILDERNESS.— 
The Federal water rights reserved by this section are spe-
cific to the wilderness located in the State designated by 
this Act. Nothing in this section related to reserved Fed-
eral water rights shall be construed as establishing a 
precedent with regard to any future designations, nor shall 
it constitute an interpretation of any other Act or any des-
ignation made pursuant thereto. 
Æ 
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