US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

16 U.S.C. § 460mmm

Findings and purpose

(a)

Findings

Congress finds that certain areas located in the Grand Valley in Mesa County, Colorado, and Grand County, Utah, should be protected and enhanced for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. These areas include the following:
(1)
The areas making up the Black Ridge and Ruby Canyons of the Grand Valley and Rabbit Valley, which contain unique and valuable scenic, recreational, multiple use opportunities (including grazing), paleontological, natural, and wildlife components enhanced by the rural western setting of the area, provide extensive opportunities for recreational activities, and are publicly used for hiking, camping, and grazing, and are worthy of additional protection as a national conservation area.
(2)
The Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Study Area has wilderness value and offers unique geological, paleontological, scientific, and recreational resources.
(b)

Purpose

section 460mmm–2(b) of this titleThe purpose of this subchapter is to conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the unique and nationally important values of the public lands described in , including geological, cultural, paleontological, natural, scientific, recreational, environmental, biological, wilderness, wildlife education, and scenic resources of such public lands, by establishing the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area and the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness in the State of Colorado and the State of Utah.

Pub. L. 106–353, § 2114 Stat. 1374Pub. L. 108–400, § 1(a)118 Stat. 2254(, , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 108–4002004—Subsec. (b). substituted “McInnis Canyons” for “Colorado Canyons”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Pub. L. 108–400, § 1(f)118 Stat. 2254

“Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the ‘Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area’ shall be deemed to be a reference to the ‘McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area’.”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 2004 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–400, § 1(g)118 Stat. 2254

“This section [amending this section and sections 460mmm–1, 460mmm–2, and 460mmm–6 of this title, enacting provisions set out as a note under this section, and amending provisions set out as a note under this section] and the amendments made by this section take effect on .”
, , , provided that:

Short Title

Pub. L. 106–353, § 1114 Stat. 1374Pub. L. 108–400, § 1(e)118 Stat. 2254

section 1132 of this title“This Act [enacting this subchapter and provisions listed in a table of Wilderness Areas set out under ] may be cited as the ‘McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area and Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Act of 2000’.”
, , , as amended by , , , provided that: