(Q) other interested citizens; and
(R) affected local soil and water conserva-
tion districts;
(9) the Secretary of the Interior, acting through
the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, in
consultation with the entities listed in paragraph
(7), and in cooperation with the Rio Puerco Water-
shed Committee, is best suited to coordinate man-
agement efforts in the Rio Puerco watershed; and
(10) accelerating the pace of improvement in
Rio Puerco watershed on a coordinated, cooperative
basis will benefit persons living in the watershed as
well as downstream users on the Rio Grande.
SEC. 3. MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior, act-
ing through the Bureau of Land Management and in con-
sultation with the Rio Puerco Management Committee es-
tablished pursuant to section 4, shall—
(1) establish a clearinghouse for research and
information on management within the Rio Puerco
watershed, as described in the attached map, includ-
ing—
(A) current and historical natural resource
conditions;
(B) data concerning the extent and causes
of watershed impairment; and
(C) implementation, monitoring, and eval-
uation of best management practices initiated
within the watershed; and
(2) provide support to the Rio Puerco Manage-
ment Committee to identify objectives, coordinate
implementation of best management practices, and
monitor results.
(b) RIO PUERCO MANAGEMENT PLAN.—Not later
than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary, in consultation with the Rio Puerco Manage-
ment Committee, shall prepare a plan for the restoration
of the Rio Puerco watershed. The plan shall—
(1) identify reasonable and appropriate goals
and objectives for landowners and managers in the
Rio Puerco watershed;
(2) describe potential alternative actions to
meet the goals and objectives, including proven best
management practices and costs associated with im-
plementing the actions;
(3) recommend voluntary implementation of ap-
propriate best management practices on both public
and private lands;
(4) provide for cooperative development of man-
agement guidelines for maintaining and improving
the ecological, cultural, and economic conditions on
both public and private lands;
(5) provide for the development of public par-
ticipation and community outreach programs that
would include proposals for—
(A) cooperative efforts with private land-
owners to encourage implementation of best
management practices within the watershed;
and
(B) involving private citizens in restoring
the watershed;
(6) provide for the development of proposals for
voluntary cooperative programs among the Rio
Puerco Management Committee membership to im-
plement best management practices in a coordinated,
consistent, and cost-effective manner;
(7) provide for the encouragement and support
implementation of best management practices on
private lands; and
(8) provide for the development of proposals for
a monitoring system that—
(A) builds upon existing data available
from private, Federal, and State sources;
(B) provides for the coordinated collection,
evaluation, and interpretation of additional data
as needed or collected; and
(C) will provide information to—
(i) assess existing resource and socio-
economic conditions;
(ii) identify priority implementation
actions; and
(iii) assess the effectiveness of actions
taken.
(c) ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE.—If the Secretary of
the Interior determines that employment of additional per-
sonnel is necessary to carry out this Act, the Secretary
shall, where feasible, employ individuals who reside in the
vicinity of the Rio Puerco watershed restoration area.
SEC. 4. RIO PUERCO MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Rio
Puerco Management Committee (referred to in this sec-
tion as the ‘‘Committee’’).
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Committee shall be con-
vened by a representative of the Bureau of Land Manage-
ment, and shall include representatives from—
(1) the Rio Puerco Watershed Committee;
(2) affected tribes and pueblos;
(3) the National Forest Service of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture;
(4) the Bureau of Reclamation;
(5) the Geological Survey;
(6) the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
(7) the Fish and Wildlife Service;
(8) the Army Corps of Engineers;
(9) the Soil and Conservation Service of the
Department of Agriculture;
(10) the State of New Mexico, including the
New Mexico Environment Department and the State
Engineer;
(11) affected local Soil and Water Conservation
Districts;
(12) the Elephant Butte Irrigation District;
(13) private landowners; and
(14) other interested citizens.
(c) DUTIES.—The Rio Puerco Management Commit-
tee shall—
(1) advise the Secretary of the Interior, acting
through the Director of the Bureau of Land Man-
agement, on the development and implementation of
the Rio Puerco Management Program described in
section 3; and
(2) serve as a forum for information about ac-
tivities that may affect or further the development
and implementation of the best management prac-
tices described in section 3.
SEC. 5. REPORT.
Two years after the date of enactment of this Act,
and biennially thereafter, the Secretary of the Interior, in
consultation with the Rio Puerco Management Committee,
shall transmit to the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate and to the Committee on Natural
Resources of the House of Representatives a report con-
taining—
(1) a summary of accomplishments as outlined
in section 3; and
(2) proposals for joint implementation efforts,
including funding recommendations.
SEC. 6. LOWER RIO GRANDE HABITAT STUDY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior, act-
ing through the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service
shall, in cooperation with the States of New Mexico and
Texas, conduct a study of the Rio Grande from Caballo
Lake to the Gulf of Mexico. The study shall include—
(1) a survey of the current habitat conditions of
the river and its riparian environment;
(2) identification of the changes in vegetation
and habitat over the past 400 years and the affect
of the changes on the river and riparian area; and
(3) an assessment of the feasibility, benefits,
and problems associated with activities to prevent
further habitat loss and restoration of habitat
through reintroduction or establishment of appro-
priate native plant species.
(b) TRANSMITTAL.—Not later than 1 year after the
date on which funds are made available to carry out this
Act, the Secretary shall transmit the study authorized by
this section to the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources of the Senate and to the Committee on Natural
Resources of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums
as are necessary to carry out this Act, and to implement
the plan prepared pursuant to section 3(b).
Æ