The Pecos Watershed Protection Act withdraws specific federal lands in New Mexico from mining and mineral leasing activities, protecting the area from commercial resource extraction. The bill also designates approximately 11,599 acres of Forest Service-managed land as the Thompson Peak Wilderness Area, adding it to the National Wilderness Preservation System and subjecting it to wilderness protection standards. The legislation preserves existing rights, allowing livestock grazing that was already established before the bill's enactment and permitting the Forest Service to manage wildfire, insect, and disease control as needed. The bill includes no specific federal funding requirements, as it primarily restricts certain land uses rather than creating new programs. The Secretary of Agriculture is required to file detailed maps and legal descriptions with Congress shortly after the bill becomes law to finalize the exact boundaries of the protected area.
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