In order to enhance the recreational and scenic values of the Cow Mountain area in Lake and Mendocino Counties, California, while conserving the wildlife and other natural resource values of the area, there is hereby established the Cow Mountain Recreation Area (in this section referred to as the “recreation area”) consisting of approximately 51,513 acres of land in such counties, as generally depicted on the map entitled “Cow Mountain Recreation Area” and dated July 22, 2006, including the following:

(1) The “South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area”, as generally depicted on the map.

(2) The “North Cow Mountain Recreation Area”, as generally depicted on the map.

As soon as practicable after October 17, 2006, the Secretary of the Interior shall prepare a map and legal descriptions of the boundaries of the recreation area. The Secretary shall submit the map and legal descriptions to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.

(1) Preparation and submission As soon as practicable after October 17, 2006, the Secretary of the Interior shall prepare a map and legal descriptions of the boundaries of the recreation area. The Secretary shall submit the map and legal descriptions to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.

(2) Legal effect The map and legal descriptions of the recreation area shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct clerical and typographical errors in the map and legal descriptions. The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management.

The Secretary of the Interior shall administer the recreation area in accordance with this section and the laws and regulations generally applicable to the public lands, including the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).

(1) In general The Secretary of the Interior shall administer the recreation area in accordance with this section and the laws and regulations generally applicable to the public lands, including the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).

(2) Existing rights The establishment of the recreation area shall be subject to all valid existing rights.

The Secretary of the Interior shall continue to authorize, maintain, and enhance the recreational use of the land included in the recreation area, including motorized recreation, hiking, camping, mountain biking, sightseeing, and horseback riding, as long as such recreational use is consistent with this section and other applicable law.

(1) In general The Secretary of the Interior shall continue to authorize, maintain, and enhance the recreational use of the land included in the recreation area, including motorized recreation, hiking, camping, mountain biking, sightseeing, and horseback riding, as long as such recreational use is consistent with this section and other applicable law.

(2) Off-road and motorized recreation Motorized recreation shall be a prescribed use within the South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area, occurring only on roads and trails designated by the Secretary for such use, except as needed for administrative purposes or to respond to an emergency. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as precluding the Secretary from closing any trail or route from use for purposes of resource protection or public safety.

(3) Mountain biking Mountain biking shall be a prescribed use within the recreation area, occurring only on roads and trails designated by the Secretary for such use. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as precluding the Secretary from closing any trail or route from use for purposes of resource protection or public safety.

The Secretary of the Interior shall provide any owner of private property within the boundaries of the recreation area adequate access to the property to ensure the reasonable use and enjoyment of the property by the owner.

The Secretary of the Interior may acquire lands or interests in lands in the recreation area only by—

The Secretary of the Interior may acquire lands or interests in lands in the recreation area only by—

(A) donation;

(B) exchange with a willing party, as expressed in a written agreement between the Secretary and the party; or

(C) purchase from a willing seller, as expressed in a written agreement between the Secretary and the seller.

(2) Administration of acquired lands Lands or interests in lands within or adjacent to the boundaries of the recreation area that are acquired by the Bureau of Land Management, and title or possession of which is vested in the United States after October 17, 2006, shall be managed by the Secretary as part of the recreation area.

Nothing in this section creates protective perimeters or buffer zones around the recreation area.

(Pub. L. 109–362, § 9, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2071.)