16 U.S.C. § 410hhh-4 - U.S. Code - Unannotated Title 16. Conservation § 410hhh-4. Baca National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado

(1)Establishment

(2)Purpose

The purpose of the Baca National Wildlife Refuge shall be to restore, enhance, and maintain wetland, upland, riparian, and other habitats for native wildlife, plant, and fish species in the San Luis Valley.

(1)In general

The Secretary shall administer all lands and interests therein acquired within the boundaries of the national wildlife refuge in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.) and the Act of September 28, 1962 (16 U.S.C. 460k et seq.) (commonly known as the Refuge Recreation Act).

(2)Requirements

In administering the Baca National Wildlife Refuge, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable--

(1) protect and maintain irrigation water rights necessary for the protection of monument, park, preserve, and refuge resources and uses;

(2) minimize, to the extent consistent with the protection of national wildlife refuge resources, 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.