The Pecos Watershed Protection Act withdraws approximately 11,599 acres of federal land in New Mexico from mining and mineral leasing activities to protect the region's water resources and designates this area as the Thompson Peak Wilderness Area within the National Wilderness Preservation System. The bill, introduced by Senators Heinrich and Luján in April 2025, prevents any new mining operations, oil and gas leasing, or geothermal development on the protected federal lands while allowing existing valid rights to continue. The legislation applies specifically to National Forest Service lands in New Mexico and requires the Forest Service to file detailed maps and legal descriptions with Congress and make them available for public inspection. While the bill restricts extractive uses, it preserves traditional activities like livestock grazing (if established before the law's enactment) and allows the Forest Service to manage wildfire, insect, and disease control within the wilderness area, with New Mexico retaining authority over hunting, fishing, and trapping. The bill contains no specific appropriations or implementation timeline beyond requiring the Forest Service to file maps "as soon as practicable" after enactment.
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