change, store carbon, and support a vast array of 
California’s wildlife. 
(4) The Sierra Nevada ecosystem and water-
shed is vital to the people of California. The rivers, 
springs, alpine lakes and groundwater within the wa-
tershed contribute to the Kings, the Merced, and the 
San Joaquin Rivers, which support wildlife, enhance 
recreation, and provide drinking water for millions 
of Californians. 
(5) The interactions between the climate, topog-
raphy and biota in the Sierra Nevada have created 
some of the most productive soils for conifers in the 
world, which has improved vegetation, erosion, wild-
life distribution, and water quality throughout the 
range. These soils harbor the microorganisms and 
nutrients that provide the basis for the forest’s 
health and support hundreds of plant species, many 
of which are endemic to the region and are found 
nowhere else on earth. 
(6) The Range of Light ecosystems, forests, 
and watersheds provide a wild and rugged landscape 
enjoyed by hikers, bicyclists, birders, picnickers, 
sight seers, fishermen, campers, rock climbers, boat-
ers, equestrians, and other recreationists. 
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(7) Sierra Nevada tribes have been stewards of 
the land for more than 10,000 years. Native Ameri-
cans of the Sierra Nevada have hunted, fished, gath-
ered, and made their homes throughout the region. 
Many sites along rivers and elsewhere in the na-
tional monument are part of tribal history and are 
considered sacred. Preserving these sites is vital to 
maintaining tribal identity, as well as enabling the 
continuation and renewal of annual cultural tradi-
tions and ecological land management practices. 
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RANGE OF LIGHT NA-
TIONAL MONUMENT, CALIFORNIA. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND BOUNDARIES.—Subject to 
valid existing rights, there is established the Range of 
Light National Monument as a unit of the National Park 
System in the State of California, which consists of ap-
proximately 1,427,750 acres of Federal land and interests 
in Federal land in California, as generally depicted in the 
map entitled ‘‘Range of Light National Monument Map’’ 
and dated November 2022. The Range of Light National 
Monument is composed of the Sierra National Forest in 
its entirety and the San Joaquin Gorge managed by the 
Bureau of Land Management. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the national monu-
ment are— 
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(1) to preserve, protect, and restore nationally 
significant biological, ecological, cultural, historical, 
recreational, geological, hydrological, scenic, and sci-
entific resources in the Sierra Nevada’s ecosystems, 
forests, and soils; 
(2) to preserve, protect, and restore watersheds, 
including 
meadows, 
above 
ground 
tributaries, 
springs and groundwater, and surface waters that 
contribute to the San Joaquin, Kings, and Merced 
Rivers; 
(3) to provide wildlife connectivity and a migra-
tory area for native species and to provide habitat 
for rare, threatened, and endangered species through 
protection and restoration; 
(4) to secure now and for future generations 
the opportunity to experience and enjoy a diverse 
and natural forest landscape, wildlife, free-flowing 
water, an unfettered rugged environment, and recre-
ation on public land; 
(5) to provide environmentally responsible, well- 
managed recreational opportunities and spaces for 
people to connect with nature within the national 
monument; 
(6) to provide educational, recreational, visitor, 
and interpretive services that will increase public un-
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derstanding of and appreciation for the natural and 
cultural resources of the Sierra Nevada and the na-
tional monument area; and 
(7) to protect Native American sacred cultural 
sites and traditional practices and to involve Native 
Americans in the planning and the care of native 
plants and cultural sites in the monument area. 
(c) TRANSFER AND ADMINISTRATION OF LANDS.— 
Upon enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture 
shall transfer the Federal lands and Federal buildings 
under the jurisdiction of the National Forest Service, 
managed specifically as the Sierra National Forest, with-
out consideration, to the administrative jurisdiction of the 
National Park Service for administration as a national 
monument that is part of the National Park System. Upon 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
transfer the Federal lands and Federal buildings under 
the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management and 
Bureau of Reclamation, managed specifically as the San 
Joaquin Gorge, without consideration, to the administra-
tive jurisdiction of the National Park Service for adminis-
tration as a national monument that is part of the Na-
tional Park System. 
(d) LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS; CORRECTIONS
OF ER-
RORS.— 
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(1) PREPARATION.—As soon as practical after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, but not later 
than 1 year after such date, the Secretary shall pre-
pare final maps and legal descriptions of the na-
tional monument, which shall have the same force 
and effect as if included in this Act, except that the 
Secretary of the Interior may correct clerical and ty-
pographical errors in the existing maps and legal de-
scriptions. 
(2) SUBMISSION.—As soon as practicable after 
the preparation of the maps and legal descriptions 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Interior 
shall submit the maps and legal descriptions to the 
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
Representatives and to the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources of the Senate. 
(3) PUBLIC
AVAILABILITY.—The maps and 
legal descriptions prepared pursuant to paragraph 
(1) shall be on file and available for public inspec-
tion at appropriate offices of the National Park 
Service. 
(e) ADMINISTRATION AND JURISDICTION.— 
(1) PUBLIC LANDS.—The public lands included 
in the national monument area shall be administered 
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by the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the 
National Park Service. 
(2) STATE AND LOCAL JURISDICTION.—Noth-
ing in this Act alters, modifies, or diminishes any 
right, responsibility, power, authority, jurisdiction, 
or entitlement of the State, any political subdivision 
of the State, or any State or local agency under ex-
isting Federal, State, and local law (including regu-
lations). 
SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT OF FEDERAL LANDS WITHIN THE 
MONUMENT. 
(a) NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM.—Subject to valid ex-
isting rights, the Secretary of the Interior shall manage 
the public lands included in the national monument area 
in a manner that protects, and enhances the natural re-
sources and values of the lands, in accordance with— 
(1) this Act; 
(2) the laws generally applicable to units of the 
National Park System; 
(3) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) 
in existing wilderness areas; and 
(4) other applicable law (including Federal, 
State, or local law, and regulations). 
(b) TREATMENT OF NON-FEDERAL LANDS AND RE-
LATED PROVISIONS.—Nothing in this Act— 
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SEC. 6. DEVELOPMENT OF MANAGEMENT PLAN. 
(a) DEADLINE.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall cre-
ate a comprehensive management plan for the national 
monument that fulfills the purposes described in section 
4. 
(b) INCORPORATION OF VISITOR SERVICES PLAN.— 
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall 
incorporate the visitor services plan into the management 
plan as described in section 11. 
SEC. 7. EXISTING AND HISTORICAL USES OF FEDERAL 
LANDS INCLUDED IN THE MONUMENT. 
(a) FISH AND WILDLIFE.—Nothing in this Act af-
fects the jurisdiction of the State of California with re-
spect to the management of fish and wildlife located on 
public land in the State, except that the Secretary of the 
Interior, after consultation with the California Depart-
ment of Fish and Wildlife, may designate zones in the na-
tional monument where, and periods when, hunting shall 
not be allowed to accommodate traditional tribal uses, 
public safety, wildlife health, administration, or public use 
and enjoyment. 
(b) MOTORIZED AND MECHANIZED VEHICLES.—The 
use of motorized and mechanized vehicles on lands within 
the national monument shall be permitted only on roads 
designated for their use. In the Sierra National Forest, 
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all roads currently classified as Forest Service Mainte-
nance Level 1 roads will be closed, and Maintenance Level 
2 roads will be converted to Maintenance Level 1 roads 
indefinitely unless they lead to campgrounds, picnic areas, 
private inholdings, non-motorized trailheads, selected 
viewpoints or are needed for administrative purposes or 
to respond to an emergency. When managed by the Na-
tional Park Service, these roads shall be classified as 
paved, maintained dirt roads, and unmaintained dirt 
roads. Selected roads shall remain open, partially or fully, 
paved or dirt, in accordance with the Range of Light Na-
tional Monument map, and shall remain open only to 
street-legal vehicles. Closed roads may be remediated or 
converted to non-motorized trails and may remain avail-
able to non-motorized recreational use at the discretion of 
the park service and in accordance with the visitor services 
plan, as detailed in subsection (a). The existing roads and 
trails in the San Joaquin Gorge shall remain and shall 
be managed as is, at the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(c) GRAZING.—Livestock grazing permits within the 
national monument, where established or planned before 
the date of the enactment of this Act, shall be allowed 
to continue until the end of their permit period, a max-
imum of 10 years from the issued permit date, subject 
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to all applicable laws and regulations. Grazing permits 
shall not be re-issued once expired and shall be retired. 
(1) DONATION
OF
GRAZING
PERMITS
AND 
LEASES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ac-
cept the donation of any valid existing leases or 
permits authorizing grazing on public land or 
National Forest System land, all or a portion of 
which are within the area depicted as the 
‘‘Range of Light National Monument’’ on the 
maps entitled ‘‘Range of Light National Monu-
ment’’. 
(B) PARTIAL DONATION.—A person hold-
ing a valid grazing permit or lease for a grazing 
allotment partially within the area described in 
subparagraph (A) may elect to donate only the 
portion of the grazing permit or lease that is 
within the area. 
(2) TERMINATION.—With respect to each per-
mit or lease donated under paragraph (1)(A), the 
Secretary shall— 
(A) terminate the grazing permit or lease 
or portion of the permit or lease; and 
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(B) ensure a permanent end to grazing on 
the land covered by the permit or lease or por-
tion of the permit or lease. 
(d) COMMERCIAL RECREATION ACTIVITIES.—The 
Secretary shall allow commercial recreation activities with-
in the national monument in accordance with— 
(1) this Act; 
(2) the laws generally applicable to units of the 
National Park System; 
(3) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133 et 
seq.); and 
(4) other applicable law (including Federal, 
State, or local law, and regulations). 
(e) FISHING AND GATHERING.—The Secretary shall 
allow fishing and gathering within the national monument 
in accordance with applicable laws and regulations of the 
United States and the State of California. 
(f) FORESTRY.—The Secretary shall prohibit the cut-
ting, sale, harvest or removal of timber and other vegeta-
tive material within the national monument for commer-
cial purposes, commercial logging, or for biomass energy 
production. No part of the monument shall be considered 
suitable for timber production or calculation or provision 
for sustained yield of timber. The Secretary may permit 
the cutting of timber in the national monument only in 
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cases where the cutting of such timber is required to pre-
serve and protect wildlife, or the natural, scientific, scenic 
or historical objects in the area. The Secretary may permit 
the removal of tree materials for personal use fuel wood, 
in cases where the removal does not harm the forest, wild-
life or the natural, scientific or historical objects in the 
area. 
(g) BUYOUTS, DONATIONS AND TERMINATION OF 
EXISTING TIMBER CONTRACTS.— 
(1) DONATIONS.—The Secretary shall accept 
the donation of any valid existing contract author-
izing logging on public land in National Forest Sys-
tem land, which is within the area depicted as the 
‘‘Range of Light National Monument’’ on the maps 
entitled ‘‘Range of Light National Monument’’. 
(2) BUYOUTS.—With respect to purchased tim-
ber contracts, the Secretary may buy back the con-
tracts for the sale of timber within the boundaries 
of the Monument at the time of enactment of this 
Act, for the price sold, in accordance with applicable 
Federal law. 
(3) TERMINATION.—All timber sales and con-
tracts will be terminated at date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
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(h) USE OF CHEMICALS.—The application of any 
toxic chemicals (other than fire retardants), including pes-
ticides and herbicides, shall be prohibited within the na-
tional monument area. 
(i) TRAILS.—A non-motorized trail system will be 
constructed and maintained using existing non-motorized 
trails and roads decommissioned from motorized use. 
(j) EXISTING CABIN LEASES.—Nothing in this Act 
shall preclude the renewal or continuation of valid leases 
for cabins, homesites or similar structures on federally 
owned lands in the national monument in effect on date 
this law is enacted. 
(k) SPECIFIC PROTECTIONS.—The use of street-legal 
motorized vehicles in the national monument shall be per-
mitted only on existing roads designated for use by vehi-
cles. In recognition that certain conditions are deemed de-
sirable for maintaining the rugged character of the na-
tional monument, Congress declares its intention to retain 
selected dirt roads. Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, no Federal lands may be used for the construction 
of any new road or to pave any existing dirt road or to 
pave any partially paved dirt road in the national monu-
ment. Roads that are deemed destructive to the natural 
landscape or harm wildlife and the values of the national 
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monument shall be closed at the discretion of the park 
service. 
(l) PRIVATE PROPERTY ACCESS.—In instances where 
roads have been closed to the public and those roads lead 
to private property, the private property owners shall re-
tain the right to access their lands via the closed road. 
(m) NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS 
USES.—Nothing in this Act diminishes— 
(1) the rights of any Indian tribe; or 
(2) any tribal rights regarding access to Fed-
eral land for tribal activities, including spiritual, cul-
tural, and traditional food-gathering activities. 
SEC. 8. ACQUISITION OF LAND. 
(a) ACQUISITION AUTHORIZED; METHODS.—Non- 
Federal held land or interests in land within the bound-
aries of the national monument may be acquired for man-
agement as part of the national monument only by— 
(1) donation; or 
(2) purchase from a willing seller. 
(b) VALUATION
OF
PRIVATE
PROPERTY.—The 
United States shall offer the fair market value for any 
interests or partial interests in land acquired under this 
section unless donated. 
(c) INCORPORATION OF ACQUIRED LANDS AND IN-
TERESTS.—Any land or interest in land within the bound-
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aries of the national monument that is acquired by the 
United States after the date of the enactment of this Act 
shall be added to and administered as part of the national 
monument. 
SEC. 9. WATERSHED MANAGEMENT. 
(a) WATER RIGHTS.—Nothing in this Act— 
(1) affects the use or allocation, in existence on 
the date of the enactment of this Act, of any water, 
water right, or interest in water; 
(2) affects any vested absolute or decreed condi-
tional water right in existence on the date of the en-
actment of this Act, including any water right held 
by the United States; 
(3) affects any interstate water compact in ex-
istence on the date of the enactment of this Act; and 
(4) relinquishes or reduces any water rights re-
served or appropriated by the United States in the 
State of California on or before the date of the en-
actment of this Act. 
(b) POWER GENERATION.—All lands in the recre-
ation area which have been withdrawn or acquired by the 
United States for reclamation purposes shall remain sub-
ject to the primary use thereof for reclamation and power 
purposes so long as they are needed for such purposes. 
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(c) TRIBUTARIES
OF
THE
KINGS
RIVER, THE 
MERCED RIVER, THE SAN JOAQUIN.—Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, no Federal lands may be used 
for the construction of any new dam or diversion, or ex-
pansion of any existing dam or diversion, on any tributary 
of the Merced, Kings and San Joaquin Rivers and the 
south, middle and north forks of the Merced, Kings and 
San Joaquin Rivers within the boundaries of the national 
monument. 
(d) WATER FOR THE NATIONAL MONUMENT.—There 
is hereby reserved, as of the date of this Act and subject 
to valid existing rights, a quantity of water sufficient to 
fulfill the purposes for which this national monument is 
established. Nothing in this reservation shall be construed 
as a relinquishment or reduction of any water use or rights 
reserved or appropriated by the United States on or before 
the date of this proclamation. 
SEC. 10. WITHDRAWAL OF FEDERAL LAND FROM MINING 
LAWS. 
(a) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing rights 
as provided in section 4, the Federal lands and interests 
in lands included within the national monument are here-
by withdrawn from— 
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and dis-
posal under the public land laws; 
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(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining 
laws; and 
(3) operation of the mineral leasing and geo-
thermal leasing laws and mineral materials laws. 
(b) TREATMENT OF EXISTING RIGHTS.—The with-
drawal under subsection (a) is subject to valid, existing 
rights. If such rights are relinquished or otherwise ac-
quired by the United States after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the land that was subject to the rights 
shall be immediately withdrawn in accordance with sub-
section (a). 
SEC. 11. VISITOR SERVICES PLAN. 
(a) VISITOR SERVICES.— 
(1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this subsection 
is to facilitate the development of an integrated vis-
itor services plan that will provide enhanced visitor 
experiences and resource protection in the national 
monument through expanded recreational opportuni-
ties, public safety, fire management, interpretation, 
education, and law enforcement. 
(2) PLAN REQUIRED.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall develop and apply an integrated visitor 
services plan for the national monument. 
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