Pecos Watershed Protection Act

This bill protects parts of the Pecos Watershed in New Mexico by blocking new mining and mineral or geothermal leasing on certain federal lands. Existing valid rights are not changed. It also creates a new wilderness area, the Thompson Peak Wilderness Area, covering about 11,599 acres managed by the Forest Service, as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. A map and legal description will be filed after the law takes effect.

The wilderness will be managed to stay wild, but normal life nearby can continue. There are no new buffer zones outside the wilderness. If you can see or hear activity from outside, that does not stop it. Grazing that already exists can continue. New Mexico keeps its role in managing hunting and fishing. Agencies can fight wildfires and control insects or disease when needed. The wilderness area is also closed to new mining and mineral leasing.

Key points

• Who is affected: People who live, work, ranch, hunt, fish, or recreate in the Pecos Watershed area on federal lands; mining and energy companies looking to start new projects there.
• What changes: New mining and mineral/geothermal leasing are blocked on specified federal lands; about 11,599 acres become the Thompson Peak Wilderness Area; existing grazing can continue; hunting and fishing remain under state control; wildfire and pest control can still happen.
• When: These changes apply after the bill becomes law; boundaries and details are finalized when the official map and description are filed.