Bill · H.R. 10054· House(119-HR-10054)
Chama Basin Watershed Protection Act
- Introduced
- 8/6/2026
- Last activity
- 8/6/2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Sponsored by
- Teresa Leger Fernandez
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the ``Chama Basin Watershed Protection Act'', aims to withdraw specific Federal land in the Rio Chama Watershed area of New Mexico from mineral entry. The withdrawal covers all forms of location, entry, and patent under mining laws for Federal-owned minerals. However, this withdrawal does not affect mineral interests owned by Indian Tribes or qualified land grant-merced communities. Additionally, the Act protects the rights of these groups and others to continue traditional and customary uses of various materials.
Yes· 3 of 8
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+5
The withdrawal of mineral entry aims to protect the Rio Chama Watershed area.
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+5
The bill explicitly protects the mineral interests and rights of Indian Tribes.
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?+4
The bill provides specific management guidelines for traditional and customary uses of the watershed.
The opposite
Would business owners be better off under this?-3
The bill restricts mining-related business opportunities in the designated area.
Does this give the federal government more power?-2
The federal government is exercising its power to withdraw land from mineral entry.
Is this likely to grow the economy?-1
The withdrawal of mineral entry may limit potential economic activity from mining industries in the region.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Protection of Traditional and Customary Uses: Section 2(c) ensures that members of a qualified land grant-merced, acequia community, or other individuals can still gather materials like stone, sand, gravel, clay, or adobe for domestic, cultural, religious, or subsistence purposes.
-
Preservation of Existing Mineral Interests: Section 2(b) states that the withdrawal does not affect or diminish the rights, title, or interest in minerals owned by an Indian Tribe or a qualified land grant-merced.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Restriction of Mineral Entry: Section 2(a) withdraws Federal land within the ``Rio Chama Watershed'' area from all forms of location, entry, and patent under the mining laws for minerals owned by the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+5Improves Public Land Management+4Reduces Fossil Fuel Production+3Improves Rural Development+2
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+5Good For Rural Residents+4Good For Hispanic Americans+3Good For Farmers+2Good For Business Owners-3
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power-2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth-1
- 8/6/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.