Pecos Watershed Protection Act

The Pecos Watershed Protection Act aims to conserve significant federal lands in New Mexico by implementing two primary protective measures. First, it withdraws certain federal land , specifically depicted on a "Proposed Mineral Withdrawal Legislative Map," from all forms of mineral entry, appropriation, disposal, and leasing under public land and mining laws. This action prevents future mining and resource extraction activities in the designated Pecos Watershed area. Second, the bill formally designates approximately 11,599 acres of Forest Service land as the "Thompson Peak Wilderness Area," incorporating it into the National Wilderness Preservation System. This new wilderness area will be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture in accordance with the Wilderness Act, ensuring its preservation while allowing for existing grazing rights and necessary wildfire or disease control measures. The designation also explicitly withdraws this wilderness area from mineral entry and related activities, reinforcing its protected status.