This legislation, titled the "America's Red Rock Wilderness Act," seeks to designate a substantial portion of federal lands in Utah as wilderness areas. Specifically, it targets federal portions of the red rock canyons of the Colorado Plateau and the Great Basin Deserts . The overarching goal is to benefit present and future generations by protecting the unique cultural, ecological, and scenic values of these landscapes. The bill outlines several key purposes, including safeguarding the ability of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to continue traditional activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, and spiritual practices. It recognizes the land as a living cultural landscape, a refuge for wild nature, and vital for the continuation and revitalization of Indigenous cultures. Title I of the bill systematically designates numerous specific areas across nine major regions as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System . These regions include the Great Basin, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Moab-La Sal Canyons, Henry Mountains, Glen Canyon, San Juan, Canyonlands Basin, San Rafael Swell, and Book Cliffs-Greater Dinosaur Wilderness Areas. Each section provides findings detailing the unique characteristics and importance of the lands within that region. Title II establishes administrative provisions for these newly designated wilderness areas. They will be managed by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Wilderness Act. A significant provision addresses State school trust land located within wilderness areas, requiring the Secretary to offer an exchange of federal land of approximately equal value. The bill also reserves a quantity of water rights for each designated wilderness area, with a priority date corresponding to the act's enactment, and mandates steps to protect these rights. Furthermore, it details specific setback requirements for roads adjacent to wilderness boundaries, with exceptions for topographical barriers or existing fences to ensure manageable boundaries. Other administrative provisions ensure that existing livestock grazing authorized on the enactment date may continue under reasonable regulations consistent with wilderness management. The bill explicitly states that it does not affect the State's jurisdiction over fish and wildlife or modify any rights or obligations concerning federally recognized Indian Tribes . Finally, any newly acquired land within the wilderness boundaries will become part of the wilderness area, and the designated federal land is withdrawn from public entry, mining, and mineral leasing, subject to valid existing rights.
This legislation, titled the "America's Red Rock Wilderness Act," seeks to designate a substantial portion of federal lands in Utah as wilderness areas. Specifically, it targets federal portions of the red rock canyons of the Colorado Plateau and the Great Basin Deserts . The overarching goal is to benefit present and future generations by protecting the unique cultural, ecological, and scenic values of these landscapes. The bill outlines several key purposes, including safeguarding the ability of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to continue traditional activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, and spiritual practices. It recognizes the land as a living cultural landscape, a refuge for wild nature, and vital for the continuation and revitalization of Indigenous cultures. Title I of the bill systematically designates numerous specific areas across nine major regions as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System . These regions include the Great Basin, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Moab-La Sal Canyons, Henry Mountains, Glen Canyon, San Juan, Canyonlands Basin, San Rafael Swell, and Book Cliffs-Greater Dinosaur Wilderness Areas. Each section provides findings detailing the unique characteristics and importance of the lands within that region. Title II establishes administrative provisions for these newly designated wilderness areas. They will be managed by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Wilderness Act. A significant provision addresses State school trust land located within wilderness areas, requiring the Secretary to offer an exchange of federal land of approximately equal value. The bill also reserves a quantity of water rights for each designated wilderness area, with a priority date corresponding to the act's enactment, and mandates steps to protect these rights. Furthermore, it details specific setback requirements for roads adjacent to wilderness boundaries, with exceptions for topographical barriers or existing fences to ensure manageable boundaries. Other administrative provisions ensure that existing livestock grazing authorized on the enactment date may continue under reasonable regulations consistent with wilderness management. The bill explicitly states that it does not affect the State's jurisdiction over fish and wildlife or modify any rights or obligations concerning federally recognized Indian Tribes . Finally, any newly acquired land within the wilderness boundaries will become part of the wilderness area, and the designated federal land is withdrawn from public entry, mining, and mineral leasing, subject to valid existing rights.