US Code

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

16 U.S.C. § 539q

Hermosa Creek watershed protection

(a)

Definitions

In this section:
(1)

City

The term “City” means the city of Durango, Colorado.

(2)

County

The term “County” means La Plata County, Colorado.

(3)

Secretary

The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.

(4)

Special Management Area

The term “Special Management Area” means the Hermosa Creek Special Management Area designated by subsection (b)(1).

(5)

State

The term “State” means the State of Colorado.

(b)

Designation of Hermosa Creek Special Management Area

(1)

Designation

Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the San Juan National Forest comprising approximately 70,650 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled “Proposed Hermosa Creek Special Management Area and Proposed Hermosa Creek Wilderness Area” and dated , is designated as the “Hermosa Creek Special Management Area”.

(2)

Purpose

The purpose of the Special Management Area is to conserve and protect for the benefit of present and future generations the watershed, geological, cultural, natural, scientific, recreational, wildlife, riparian, historical, educational, and scenic resources of the Special Management Area.

(3)

Administration

(A)

In general

The Secretary shall administer the Special Management Area—
(i)
in a manner that conserves, protects, and manages the resources of the Special Management Area described in paragraph (2); and
(ii)
in accordance with—
(I)
16 U.S.C. 1600 the National Forest Management Act of 1976 ( et seq.);
(II)
this Act; and
(III)
any other applicable laws.
(B)

Uses

(i)

In general

1

1 So in original. Probably should be “purpose”.
The Secretary shall allow only such uses of the Special Management Area as the Secretary determines would further the purposes  described in paragraph (2).

(ii)

Motorized and mechanized vehicles

(I)

In general

Except as provided in subclause (II) and as needed for administrative purposes or to respond to an emergency, the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles in the Special Management Area shall be permitted only on roads and trails designated by the Secretary for use by those vehicles.

(II)

Oversnow vehicles

The Secretary shall authorize the use of snowmobiles and other oversnow vehicles within the Special Management Area—
(aa)
when there exists adequate snow coverage; and
(bb)
subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary may require.
(iii)

Grazing

The Secretary shall permit grazing within the Special Management Area, if established before , subject to all applicable laws (including regulations) and Executive orders.

(iv)

Prohibited activities

Within the area of the Special Management Area identified as “East Hermosa Area” on the map entitled “Proposed Hermosa Creek Special Management Area and Proposed Hermosa Creek Wilderness Area” and dated , the following activities shall be prohibited:
(I)
New permanent or temporary road construction or the renovation of existing nonsystem roads, except as allowed under the final rule entitled “Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation; Applicability to the National Forests in Colorado” (77 Fed. Reg. 39576 ()).
(II)
Projects undertaken for the purpose of harvesting commercial timber (other than activities relating to the harvest of merchantable products that are byproducts of activities conducted for ecological restoration or to further the purposes described in this section).
(4)

State and Federal water management

Nothing in this subsection affects the potential for development, operation, or maintenance of a water storage reservoir at the site in the Special Management Area that is identified in—
(A)
pages 17 through 20 of the Statewide Water Supply Initiative studies prepared by the Colorado Water Conservation Board and issued by the State in November 2004; and
(B)
page 27 of the Colorado Dam Site Inventory prepared by the Colorado Water Conservation Board and dated August 1996.
(5)

Withdrawal

(A)

In general

Subject to valid rights in existence on , and except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Federal land within the Special Management Area is withdrawn from—
(i)
all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws;
(ii)
location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(iii)
operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws.
(B)

Exception

The withdrawal under subparagraph (A) shall not apply to the areas identified as parcels A and B on the map entitled “Proposed Hermosa Creek Special Management Area and Proposed Hermosa Creek Wilderness Area” and dated .

(6)

Winter skiing and related winter activities

Nothing in this subsection alters or limits—
(A)
a permit held by a ski area;
(B)
the implementation of the activities governed by a ski area permit; or
(C)
the authority of the Secretary to modify or expand an existing ski area permit.
(7)

Vegetation management

Nothing in this subsection prevents the Secretary from conducting vegetation management projects within the Special Management Area—
(A)
subject to—
(i)
such reasonable regulations, policies, and practices as the Secretary determines to be appropriate; and
(ii)
all applicable laws (including regulations); and
(B)
in a manner consistent with—
(i)
1 the purposes  described in paragraph (2); and
(ii)
this subsection.
(8)

Wildfire, insect, and disease management

In accordance with this subsection, the Secretary may—
(A)
carry out any measures that the Secretary determines to be necessary to manage wildland fire and treat hazardous fuels, insects, and diseases in the Special Management Area; and
(B)
coordinate those measures with the appropriate State or local agency, as the Secretary determines to be necessary.
(9)

Management plan

Not later than 3 years after , the Secretary shall develop a management plan for the long-term protection and management of the Special Management Area that—
(A)
takes into account public input; and
(B)
provides for recreational opportunities to occur within the Special Management Area, including skiing, biking, hiking, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, snowmobiling, motorcycle riding, off-highway vehicle use, snowshoeing, and camping.
(10)

Trail and open area snowmobile usage

Nothing in this subsection affects the use or status of trails authorized for motorized or mechanized vehicle or open area snowmobile use on .

(11)

State water rights

Nothing in this subsection affects access to, use of, or allocation of any absolute or conditional water right that is—
(A)
decreed under the laws of the State; and
(B)
in existence on .
(c)

Hermosa Creek Wilderness

(1)

Omitted

(2)

Effective date

16 U.S.C. 113116 U.S.C. 1132107 Stat. 756114 Stat. 1955116 Stat. 10552

2 See Codification note below.
Any reference contained in the Wilderness Act ( et seq.) to the effective date of that Act shall be considered to be a reference to , for purposes of administering the wilderness area designated by section 2(a)(22) of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 ( note; ; ; ) (as added by paragraph (1)).

(3)

Fire, insects, and diseases

16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)16 U.S.C. 1132107 Stat. 756114 Stat. 1955116 Stat. 10552In accordance with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (), within the wilderness areas designated by section 2(a)(22) of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 ( note; ; ; ) (as added by paragraph (1)), the Secretary may carry out any measure that the Secretary determines to be necessary to control fire, insects, and diseases, subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(d)

Durango Area mineral withdrawal

(1)

Withdrawal

Subject to valid existing rights, the land and mineral interests described in paragraph (2) are withdrawn from all forms of—
(A)
entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws;
(B)
location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(C)
disposition under all laws relating to mineral leasing, geothermal leasing, or mineral materials.
(2)

Description of land and mineral interests

The land and mineral interests referred to in paragraph (1) are the Federal land and mineral interests generally depicted within the areas designated as “Withdrawal Areas” on the map entitled “Perins Peak & Animas City Mountain, Horse Gulch and Lake Nighthorse Mineral Withdrawal” and dated .

(3)

Public purpose conveyance

Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Interior may convey any portion of the land described in paragraph (2) that is administered by the Bureau of Land Management to the City, the County, or the State—
(A)
43 U.S.C. 869 pursuant to the Act of (commonly known as the “Recreation and Public Purposes Act”) ( et seq.); or
(B)
by exchange in accordance with applicable laws (including regulations).
(e)

Conveyance of Bureau of Land Management land to County

(1)

In general

On the expiration of the permit numbered COC 64651 (09) and dated , on request and agreement of the County, the Secretary of the Interior shall convey to the County, without consideration and subject to valid existing rights, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the land described in paragraph (2), subject to—
(A)
paragraph (3);
(B)
the condition that the County shall pay all administrative and other costs associated with the conveyance; and
(C)
such other terms and conditions as the Secretary of the Interior determines to be necessary.
(2)

Description of land

The land referred to in paragraph (1) consists of approximately 82 acres of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Tres Rios District, Colorado, as generally depicted on the map entitled “La Plata County Grandview Conveyance” and dated .

(3)

Use of conveyed land

43 U.S.C. 869The Federal land conveyed pursuant to this subsection may be used by the County for any public purpose, in accordance with the Act of (commonly known as the “Recreation and Public Purposes Act”) ( et seq.).

(4)

Reversion

If the County ceases to use a parcel of the Federal land conveyed pursuant to this subsection in accordance with paragraph (1), title to the parcel shall revert to the Secretary of the Interior, at the option of the Secretary of the Interior.

(f)

Molas Pass Recreation Area; Wilderness Study Area release; Wilderness Study Area transfer of administrative jurisdiction

(1)

Molas Pass Recreation Area

(A)

Designation

The approximately 461 acres of land in San Juan County, Colorado, that is generally depicted as “Molas Pass Recreation Area” on the map entitled “Molas Pass Recreation Area and Molas Pass Wilderness Study Area” and dated , is designated as the “Molas Pass Recreation Area”.

(B)

Use of snowmobiles

The use of snowmobiles shall be authorized in the Molas Pass Recreation Area—
(i)
during periods of adequate snow coverage;
(ii)
43 U.S.C. 1701 in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( et seq.) and other applicable laws (including regulations);
(iii)
on designated trails for winter motorized travel and grooming;
(iv)
in designated areas for open area motorized travel; and
(v)
subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary may require.
(C)

Other recreational opportunities

In addition to the uses authorized under subparagraph (B), the Secretary may authorize other recreational uses in the Molas Pass Recreation Area.

(2)

Molas Pass Wilderness Study Area

(A)

Transfer of administrative jurisdiction

Administrative jurisdiction over the Federal land generally depicted as “Molas Pass Wilderness Study Area” on the map entitled “Molas Pass Recreation Area and Molas Pass Wilderness Study Area”, and dated , is transferred from the Bureau of Land Management to the Forest Service.

(B)

Administration

The Federal land described in subparagraph (A) shall—
(i)
be known as the “Molas Pass Wilderness Study Area”; and
(ii)
be administered by the Secretary, so as to maintain the wilderness character and potential of the Federal land for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System.
(3)

Release

(A)

Finding

43 U.S.C. 1782Congress finds that the land described in subparagraph (C) has been adequately studied for wilderness designation under section 603 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ().

(B)

Release

Effective beginning on , the land described in subparagraph (C)—
(i)
43 U.S.C. 1782(c) shall not be subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ();
(ii)
43 U.S.C. 1712 shall be managed in accordance with land management plans adopted under section 202 of that Act (); and
(iii)
shall not be subject to Secretarial Order 3310 issued on .
(C)

Description of land

The land referred to in subparagraphs (A) and (B) is the approximately 461 acres located in the West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area of San Juan County, Colorado, that is generally depicted as “Molas Pass Recreation Area” on the map entitled “Molas Pass Recreation Area and Molas Pass Wilderness Study Area” and dated .

(g)

General provisions

(1)

Fish and wildlife

Nothing in this section affects the jurisdiction or responsibility of the State with regard to fish and wildlife in the State.

(2)

Maps and legal descriptions

(A)

In general

As soon as practicable after , the Secretary or the Secretary of the Interior, as appropriate, shall prepare maps and legal descriptions of—
(i)
the Special Management Area;
(ii)
2 the wilderness area designated by the amendment made by subsection (c)(1); 
(iii)
the withdrawal pursuant to subsection (d);
(iv)
the conveyance pursuant to subsection (e);
(v)
the recreation area designated by subsection (f)(1); and
(vi)
the wilderness study area designated by subsection (f)(2)(B)(i).
(B)

Force of law

The maps and legal descriptions prepared under subparagraph (A) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this section, except that the Secretary concerned may correct any clerical or typographical errors in the maps and legal descriptions.

(C)

Public availability

The maps and legal descriptions prepared under subparagraph (A) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.

(3)

Adjacent management

(A)

In general

Nothing in this section establishes a protective perimeter or buffer zone around—
(i)
the Special Management Area;
(ii)
2 the wilderness area designated by an amendment made by subsection (c)(1);  or
(iii)
the wilderness study area designated by subsection (f)(2)(B)(i).
(B)

Nonwilderness activities

2The fact that a nonwilderness activity or use can be seen or heard from areas within the wilderness area designated by an amendment made by subsection (c)(1)  or the wilderness study area designated by subsection (f)(2)(B)(i) shall not preclude the conduct of the activity or use outside the boundary of the wilderness area or wilderness study area.

(4)

Military overflights

Nothing in this section restricts or precludes—
(A)
2 any low-level overflight of military aircraft over an area designated as a wilderness area under an amendment made by this section, including military overflights that can be seen, heard, or detected within the wilderness area;
(B)
flight testing or evaluation; or
(C)
the designation or establishment of—
(i)
new units of special use airspace; or
(ii)
any military flight training route over a wilderness area described in subparagraph (A).

Pub. L. 113–291, div. B, title XXX, § 3062128 Stat. 3821(, , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 94–58890 Stat. 2949section 1600 of this titleThe National Forest Management Act of 1976, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(A)(ii)(I), is , , , which enacted sections 472a, 521b, 1600, and 1611 to 1614 of this title, amended sections 500, 515, 516, 518, 576b, and 1601 to 1610 of this title, repealed sections 476, 513, and 514 of this title, and enacted provisions set out as notes under sections 476, 513, 528, 594–2, and 1600 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1976 Amendment note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 113–291128 Stat. 3292This Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(A)(ii)(II), is , , , known as the Carl Levin and Howard P. “Buck” McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Pub. L. 88–57778 Stat. 890section 1131 of this titleThe Wilderness Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), is , , , which is classified generally to chapter 23 (§ 1131 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

section 2(a)(22) of Pub. L. 103–77Pub. L. 113–291, div. B, title XXX, § 3062(c)(1)128 Stat. 3823section 1132 of this titleSection 2(a)(22) of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), (3), is , as added by , , , which is listed in a table of Wilderness Areas set out under .

act June 14, 1926, ch. 57844 Stat. 741section 869 of Title 43Act of , referred to in subsecs. (d)(3)(A) and (e)(3), is , , popularly known as the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, which is classified to sections 869 to 869–4 of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 94–57990 Stat. 2743section 1701 of Title 43The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, referred to in subsec. (f)(1)(B)(ii), is , , , which is classified principally to chapter 35 (§ 1701 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Codification

section 3062 of Pub. L. 113–291section 3062 of Pub. L. 113–291section 2(a)(22) of Pub. L. 103–77section 1132 of this titleSection is comprised of . Subsec. (c)(1) of enacted , which is listed in a table of Wilderness Areas set out under .