---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 410hhh–4"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "410hhh–4"
heading: "Baca National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/410hhh-4"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter LIX–FF — Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve"
---

# §410hhh–4. Baca National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado

- (a) **Establishment and purpose—**
  - (1) **Establishment—**
    - (A) **In general—** When the [Secretary](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=9) determines that sufficient land has been acquired to constitute an [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) that can be efficiently managed as a National [Wildlife Refuge](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=6), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=9) shall establish the Baca National [Wildlife Refuge](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=6), as generally depicted on the [map](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=3).
    - (B) **Effective date—** The establishment of the refuge under [subparagraph (A)](#a-1-A) shall be effective upon publication of a notice of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=9)’s determination in the Federal Register.
  - (2) **Purpose—** The purpose of the Baca National [Wildlife Refuge](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=6) shall be to restore, enhance, and maintain wetland, upland, riparian, and other habitats for [native](/usc/16/3102.md?p=16) wildlife, plant, and fish species in the San Luis Valley.
- (b) **Availability of map—** The [map](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=3) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the United States [Fish and Wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) Service.
- (c) **Administration—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=9) shall administer all lands and interests therein acquired within the boundaries of the national [wildlife refuge](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=6) in accordance with the National [Wildlife Refuge](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=6) System Administration Act of 1966 ([16 U.S.C. 668dd](/usc/16/668dd.md) et seq.) and the Act of September 28, 1962 ([16 U.S.C. 460k](/usc/16/460k.md) et seq.) (commonly known as the Refuge Recreation Act).
  - (2) **Requirements—** In administering the Baca National [Wildlife Refuge](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=6), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=9) shall, to the maximum extent practicable—
    - (A) emphasize migratory bird conservation; and
    - (B) [take](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) into consideration the role of the Refuge in broader landscape conservation efforts.
- (d) **Protection of water resources—** In administering water [resources](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=8) for the national [wildlife refuge](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=6), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=9) shall—
  - (1) protect and maintain irrigation water rights necessary for the protection of monument, [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), [preserve](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=7), and refuge [resources](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=8) and [uses](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=10);
  - (2) minimize, to the extent consistent with the protection of national [wildlife refuge](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=6) [resources](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=8), adverse impacts on other water users; and
  - (3) subject to any agreement in existence as of March 11, 2009, and to the extent consistent with the purposes of the Refuge, use decreed water rights on the Refuge in approximately the same manner that the water rights have been used historically.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–530, § 6, Nov. 22, 2000, 114 Stat. 2530; Pub. L. 111–8, div. E, title I, § 117, Mar. 11, 2009, 123 Stat. 724.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), consists of sections 4 and 5 of Pub. L. 89–669, Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 927, and is classified to sections 668dd and 668ee of this title. For further details, see Short Title note set out under section 668dd of this title.

Act of September 28, 1962, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), is Pub. L. 87–714, Sept. 28, 1962, 76 Stat. 653, popularly known as the Refuge Recreation Act, which is classified generally to subchapter LXVIII (§ 460k et seq.) of this chapter.

### Amendments

2009—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–8, § 117(1), substituted “Establishment and purpose” for “Establishment” in heading, designated existing provisions as par. (1) and inserted heading, redesignated former pars. (1) and (2) as subpars. (A) and (B), respectively, and inserted headings, substituted “The establishment of the refuge under subparagraph (A)” for “Such establishment” in subpar. (B), and added par. (2).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–8, § 117(2), designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted heading, and added par. (2).

Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 111–8, § 117(3), added par. (3).