---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 410fff–8"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "410fff–8"
heading: "Water rights"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/410fff-8"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter LIX–DD — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area"
---

# §410fff–8. Water rights

- (a) **Effect on water rights—** Nothing in this subchapter shall—
  - (1) constitute an express or implied reservation of water for any purpose; or
  - (2) affect any water rights in existence prior to October 21, 1999, including any water rights held by the United States.
- (b) **Additional water rights—** Any new water right that the [Secretary](/usc/16/410fff–1.md?p=4) determines is necessary for the purposes of this subchapter shall be established in accordance with the procedural and substantive requirements of the laws of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Colorado.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–76, § 10, Oct. 21, 1999, 113 Stat. 1131.)