---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 460rrr–5"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "460rrr–5"
heading: "Administration of Natural Area"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/460rrr-5"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter CXXIX — Rio Grande Natural Area"
---

# §460rrr–5. Administration of Natural Area

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) shall administer the [Federal land](/usc/16/3102.md?p=2) in the [Natural Area](/usc/16/460rrr.md?p=2)—
  - (1) in accordance with—
    - (A) the laws (including regulations) applicable to public land; and
    - (B) the [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k); and
  - (2) in a manner that provides for—
    - (A) the conservation, restoration, and protection of the natural, historic, scientific, scenic, wildlife, and recreational resources of the [Natural Area](/usc/16/460rrr.md?p=2);
    - (B) the continued use of the [Natural Area](/usc/16/460rrr.md?p=2) for purposes of education, scientific study, and limited public recreation in a manner that does not substantially impair the purposes for which the [Natural Area](/usc/16/460rrr.md?p=2) is established;
    - (C) the protection of the wildlife habitat of the [Natural Area](/usc/16/460rrr.md?p=2);
    - (D) a prohibition on the construction of water storage facilities in the [Natural Area](/usc/16/460rrr.md?p=2); and
    - (E) the reduction in the use of or removal of roads in the [Natural Area](/usc/16/460rrr.md?p=2) and, to the maximum extent practicable, the reduction in or prohibition against the use of motorized vehicles in the [Natural Area](/usc/16/460rrr.md?p=2) (including the removal of roads and a prohibition against motorized use on [Federal land](/usc/16/3102.md?p=2) in the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) on the western side of the Rio Grande River from Lobatos Bridge south to the New Mexico [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) line).
- (b) **Changes in streamflow—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) is encouraged to negotiate with the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Colorado, the Rio Grande Water Conservation District, and affected water users in the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) to determine if changes in the streamflow that are beneficial to the [Natural Area](/usc/16/460rrr.md?p=2) may be accommodated.
- (c) **Private land—** The [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) prepared under [section 460rrr–4(b)(2)(A) of this title](/usc/16/460rrr–4.md?p=b-2-A) shall apply to private land in the [Natural Area](/usc/16/460rrr.md?p=2) only to the extent that the private landowner agrees in writing to be bound by the [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k).
- (d) **Withdrawal—** Subject to valid existing rights, all [Federal land](/usc/16/3102.md?p=2) in the [Natural Area](/usc/16/460rrr.md?p=2) is withdrawn from—
  - (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws;
  - (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
  - (3) disposition under the mineral leasing laws (including geothermal leasing laws).
- (e) **Acquisition of land—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) may [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) from willing sellers by purchase, exchange, or donation land or an interest in land in the [Natural Area](/usc/16/460rrr.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Administration—** Any land or interest in land acquired under [paragraph (1)](#e-1) shall be administered in accordance with the [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) and this subchapter.
- (f) **Applicable law—** [Section 1276(d)(1) of this title](/usc/16/1276.md?p=d-1) shall not apply to the [Natural Area](/usc/16/460rrr.md?p=2).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–337, § 7, Oct. 12, 2006, 120 Stat. 1780.)