(B) include the development of incremental 
hydroelectric power generation; 
(6) include partnerships that go beyond political 
and institutional jurisdictions to support the effi-
cient use of the limited water resources of the 
United States and the applicable region; 
(7) generate environmental benefits, such as 
benefits to fisheries, wildlife and habitat, and water 
quality and water-dependent ecological systems, as 
well as water supply benefits to agricultural and 
urban water users; and 
(8) the financing of which leverages private and 
other non-Federal resources. 
(c) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost 
of a project carried out under subsection (a) shall be— 
(1) equal to the lesser of— 
(A) 50 percent of total cost of the project; 
and 
(B) $15,000,000, adjusted for inflation; 
and 
(2) nonreimbursable. 
(d) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—The non-Federal share 
of the cost of a project carried out under subsection (a) 
may include in-kind contributions to the planning, design, 
and construction of a project. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:41 Jan 24, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00050
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H291.IH
H291
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(e) TITLE AND COSTS.—A non-Federal entity enter-
ing into a financial assistance agreement under this sec-
tion shall— 
(1) hold title to all facilities constructed under 
this section; and 
(2) be solely responsible for the costs of oper-
ating and maintaining those facilities. 
SEC. 232. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated $700,000,000 
to carry out this subtitle. 
Subtitle C—Title Transfers 
SEC. 241. AUTHORIZATION TO TRANSFER TITLE. 
The Secretary may transfer to any non-Federal oper-
ating entity title to any Reclamation project or facility, 
or any separable element of such a project or facility, that 
is authorized before the date of enactment of this Act, if— 
(1) all previous Federal construction contract 
obligations or other related repayment contracts or 
agreements associated with the project have been 
paid out by a non-Federal project beneficiary; 
(2)(A) a project facility or separable element of 
such a facility is in need of rehabilitation or im-
provement, as determined by the Secretary; and 
(B) the non-Federal operating entity is other-
wise eligible for a loan guarantee under this title; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:41 Jan 24, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00051
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H291.IH
H291
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(3) the title transfer meets all applicable Fed-
eral laws and regulations, as determined by the Sec-
retary; and 
(4)(A) the Secretary notifies each congressional 
committee of jurisdiction of the transfer by not later 
than 60 days before the date of the transfer; and 
(B) no objection to the transfer is raised by any 
such committee. 
TITLE 
III—INNOVATION 
THROUGH RESEARCH, DATA, 
AND TECHNOLOGY 
SEC. 301. OPEN WATER DATA SYSTEM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTION.—The term 
‘‘educational institution’’ means— 
(A) a public or private elementary or sec-
ondary school; 
(B) an institution of vocational, profes-
sional, or higher education (including a junior 
college or teachers’ college); and 
(C) an association of schools or institutions 
described in subparagraphs (A) and (B). 
(2) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:41 Jan 24, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00052
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H291.IH
H291
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 450b). 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
rector of the United States Geological Survey. 
(4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means— 
(A) a State; 
(B) the District of Columbia; 
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; 
and 
(D) any other territory or possession of the 
United States. 
(5) SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘system’’ means the 
open water data system established under subsection 
(b). 
(b) SYSTEM.—The Secretary shall establish and 
maintain an open water data system within the United 
States Geological Survey to advance the availability, time-
ly distribution, and widespread use of water data and in-
formation for water management, education, research, as-
sessment, and monitoring purposes. 
(c) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the system are— 
(1) to advance the quantification of the avail-
ability, use of, and risks to, water resources through-
out the United States; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:41 Jan 24, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00053
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H291.IH
H291
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(2) to increase accessibility to, and expand the 
use of, water data and information in a standard, 
easy-to-use format by Federal, State, local, and trib-
al governments, communities, educational institu-
tions, and the private sector; and 
(3) to facilitate the open exchange of water in-
formation particularly in the face of climate change 
and unprecedented drought. 
(d) ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out this section, the 
Secretary shall— 
(1) integrate water data and information into a 
interoperable, national, geospatially referenced water 
data framework; 
(2) identify new water data and information 
needs, including data on surface and groundwater 
quality and quantity, sediment, erosion, transport, 
water chemistry, precipitation, reservoir storage, 
water cycle, landscape variables, hydrography, cli-
mate and weather impacts, soil moisture, and human 
use; 
(3) leverage existing shared databases, infra-
structure, and tools to provide a platform for water 
data and information innovation, modeling and data 
sharing, and solution development; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:41 Jan 24, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00054
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H291.IH
H291
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS