Cerro de la Olla Wilderness Establishment Act

This bill proposes to establish the Cerro de la Olla Wilderness, a new protected area of approximately 13,000 acres within the Río Grande del Norte National Monument in Taos County, New Mexico. By designating this land as wilderness, the legislation aims to provide the highest level of federal protection to a volcanic shield known locally as "Pot Mountain." This status would generally prohibit commercial development, new road construction, and the use of motorized vehicles or mechanical transport within the area to preserve its natural state and solitude.

If enacted, the bill would protect critical migratory corridors and habitats for wildlife such as elk, mule deer, and mountain lions. It also aims to safeguard traditional and ancestral land uses that have existed for generations, including hunting, the gathering of medicinal herbs, and the collection of firewood and piñon nuts. The proposal includes provisions to maintain existing access routes and allows for the continued maintenance of certain wildlife water development projects, such as "guzzlers," provided they enhance wilderness values and have minimal visual impact.