Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act of 2020

To authorize the Director of the United States Geological Survey to establish a regional program to assess, monitor, and benefit the hydrology of saline lakes in the Great Basin and the migratory birds and other wildlife dependent on those habitats, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act of 2020 2. Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Assessment and Monitoring Program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Program The term Program (2) Secretary The term Secretary (b) Establishment The Secretary shall establish a Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Assessment and Monitoring Program to assess and monitor the hydrology of saline lake ecosystems in the Great Basin and the migratory birds and other wildlife that depend on those ecosystems to inform and support coordinated management and conservation actions to benefit those ecosystems, migratory birds, and other wildlife. (c) Work and implementation plan (1) In general Under the Program, the Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the entities described in paragraph (2), shall establish a multiyear work and implementation plan to assess, monitor, and conserve saline lake ecosystems in the Great Basin and the migratory birds and other wildlife that depend on those ecosystems. (2) Coordinating entities The entities referred to in paragraph (1) include— (A) Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies; (B) institutions of higher education; (C) nonprofit organizations; and (D) other local stakeholders. (3) Inclusions The work and implementation plan established under paragraph (1) shall include— (A) a synthesis of available information, literature, and data, and an assessment of scientific and informational needs, relating to— (i) water quantity, water quality, water use, and water demand; (ii) migratory bird and other wildlife populations, habitats, and ecology; (iii) annual lifecycle needs of migratory birds; and (iv) environmental changes and other stressors, including climatic stressors; (B) a description of how the plan should be implemented to address the scientific and informational needs described in subparagraph (A), including proposed activities, such as monitoring, data infrastructure needs, and development of tools necessary to implement the Program; (C) recommendations and a cost assessment for the implementation of the plan; and (D) such other matters as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (4) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing the work and implementation plan established under paragraph (1). (d) Implementation The Secretary shall implement the Program based on the information, findings, and recommendations contained in the work and implementation plan established under subsection (c). (e) Cooperative agreements and grants Using such sums as the Secretary considers to be appropriate of amounts made available for each fiscal year under subsection (f), the Secretary may enter into cooperative funding agreements with, or provide grants to, entities described in subsection (c)(2) for the purposes of— (1) participating in developing, or providing information to inform the development of, the work and implementation plan under subsection (c); (2) carrying out assessments and monitoring of water quality, quantity, use, and demand under the Program; and (3) carrying out ecological, biological, and avian assessments and monitoring under the Program. (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Program $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2026.

Summary: Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act of 2020 This bill requires the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to establish a Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Assessment and Monitoring Program. Under the program, the USGS must assess, monitor, and conserve saline lake ecosystems in the Great Basin as well as the wildlife that depend on those ecosystems.