---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 460rrr–1"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "460rrr–1"
heading: "Establishment of Rio Grande Natural Area"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/460rrr-1"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter CXXIX — Rio Grande Natural Area"
---

# §460rrr–1. Establishment of Rio Grande Natural Area

- (a) **In general—** There is established the Rio Grande [Natural Area](/usc/16/460rrr.md?p=2) in the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Colorado to conserve, restore, and protect the natural, historic, cultural, scientific, scenic, wildlife, and recreational resources of the [Natural Area](/usc/16/460rrr.md?p=2).
- (b) **Boundaries—** The [Natural Area](/usc/16/460rrr.md?p=2) shall include the Rio Grande River from the southern boundary of the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge to the New Mexico [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) border, extending ¼ mile on either side of the bank of the River.
- (c) **Map and legal description—**
  - (1) **In general—** As soon as practicable after October 12, 2006, the [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) shall prepare a [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) and legal description of the [Natural Area](/usc/16/460rrr.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Effect—** The [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) and legal description of the [Natural Area](/usc/16/460rrr.md?p=2) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this subchapter, except that the [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) may correct any minor errors in the [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) and legal description.
  - (3) **Public availability—** The [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) and legal description of the [Natural Area](/usc/16/460rrr.md?p=2) shall be available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–337, § 3, Oct. 12, 2006, 120 Stat. 1777.)