San Juan Wilderness Areas

(a) Findings Congress finds that— (1) more than 1,000 years ago, Indigenous culture flourished in the slickrock canyons and on the piñon-covered mesas of southeastern Utah; (2) evidence of the presence of Indigenous people pervades the Cedar Mesa area of the San Juan area where cliff dwellings, rock art, and ceremonial kivas are found in sandstone overhangs and isolated benchlands; (3) the Cedar Mesa area is in need of protection from the vandalism and theft of its unique cultural resources; (4) the Cedar Mesa wilderness areas should be created to protect both the archaeological heritage and the extraordinary wilderness, scenic, and ecological values of the United States; (5) each of the areas described in subsection (b) (other than Cross Canyon, Monument Canyon, Tin Cup Mesa, and most of Nokai Dome and San Juan River) are located within the Bears Ears National Monument, as established in 2016; and (6) the San Juan area should be protected and managed as a wilderness area to ensure the preservation of the unique and valuable resources of that area. (b) Designation In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in the State are designated as wilderness areas and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1) Allen Canyon (approximately 6,500 acres). (2) Arch Canyon (approximately 30,500 acres). (3) Comb Ridge (approximately 16,000 acres). (4) Cross Canyon (approximately 2,500 acres). (5) Fish and Owl Creek Canyons (approximately 74,000 acres). (6) Grand Gulch (approximately 161,250 acres). (7) Hammond Canyon (approximately 4,750 acres). (8) Lime Creek (approximately 5,500 acres). (9) Monument Canyon (approximately 18,000 acres). (10) Nokai Dome (approximately 94,250 acres). (11) Road Canyon (approximately 64,000 acres). (12) San Juan River (approximately 14,750 acres). (13) The Tabernacle (approximately 7,250 acres). (14) Tin Cup Mesa (approximately 26,000 acres). (15) Valley of the Gods (approximately 14,500 acres).