HR2944-119

What This Bill Does

The Cerro de la Olla Wilderness Establishment Act amends the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. It updates the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument wilderness-area section and map to include the Proposed Cerro de la Olla Wilderness and Rio Grande del Norte National Monument Boundary map dated April 1, 2025. The bill designates about 12,295 acres of federal land administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Taos County, New Mexico as the Cerro de la Olla Wilderness. It also preserves management details: a reserve common grazing allotment is recognized, the Secretary may authorize maintenance of existing wildlife water development structures such as guzzlers if they enhance wilderness values and visual impacts are minimized, and within one year the Secretary must enter into a cooperative agreement with New Mexico for wildlife management activities under the Wilderness Act.

Who Benefits and How

Public land conservation advocates benefit because 12,295 acres in Taos County receive wilderness designation. Visitors to Rio Grande del Norte National Monument benefit from stronger long-term protection of the Cerro de la Olla landscape. Wildlife populations benefit from allowed maintenance of existing water development structures when the Secretary finds they enhance wilderness values. The State of New Mexico benefits from a required cooperative agreement defining wildlife management terms in the new wilderness.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Bureau of Land Management must administer the new wilderness under the Wilderness Act and updated monument boundary map. Existing land users face wilderness restrictions on mechanized access, structures, and land-disturbing activities subject to preserved exceptions. The Secretary of the Interior must evaluate wildlife water development maintenance and negotiate the New Mexico cooperative agreement within one year. Grazing and wildlife managers must operate within the reserve common grazing allotment and wilderness-value limits.

Key Provisions

• Designates approximately 12,295 acres of BLM land in Taos County as the Cerro de la Olla Wilderness.
• Modifies the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument wilderness map and boundary using the April 1, 2025 map.
• Authorizes maintenance of existing wildlife water development structures when wilderness values are enhanced and visual impacts are minimized.
• Requires a cooperative agreement with New Mexico on wildlife management activities within one year.