titative data and required only to the extent that such data 
demonstrates actual harm to species. 
SEC. 310. ADDITIONAL STORAGE AT NEW MELONES. 
The Commissioner of Reclamation is directed to work 
with local water and irrigation districts in the Stanislaus 
River Basin to ascertain the water storage made available 
by the Draft Plan of Operations in New Melones Reservoir 
(DRPO) for water conservation programs, conjunctive use 
projects, water transfers, rescheduled project water and 
other projects to maximize water storage and ensure the 
beneficial use of the water resources in the Stanislaus 
River Basin. All such programs and projects shall be im-
plemented according to all applicable laws and regulations. 
The source of water for any such storage program at New 
Melones Reservoir shall be made available under a valid 
water right, consistent with the State of California water 
transfer guidelines and any other applicable State water 
law. The Commissioner shall inform the Congress within 
18 months setting forth the amount of storage made avail-
able by the DRPO that has been put to use under this 
program, including proposals received by the Commis-
sioner from interested parties for the purpose of this sec-
tion.
SEC. 311. REGARDING THE OPERATION OF FOLSOM RES-
ERVOIR. 
The Secretary of the Interior, in collaboration with 
the Sacramento Water Forum, shall expedite evaluation, 
completion and implementation of the Modified Lower 
American River Flow Management Standard developed by 
the Water Forum in 2015 to improve water supply reli-
ability for Central Valley Project American River water 
contractors and resource protection in the lower American 
River during consecutive dry-years under current and fu-
ture demand and climate change conditions. 
SEC. 312. APPLICANTS. 
In the event that the Bureau of Reclamation or an-
other Federal agency initiates or reinitiates consultation 
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National 
Marine Fisheries Service under section 7(a)(2) of the En-
dangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)), 
with respect to construction or operation of the Central 
Valley Project and State Water Project, or any part there-
of, the State Water Project contractors and the Central 
Valley Project contractors will be accorded all the rights 
and responsibilities extended to applicants in the consulta-
tion process. 
SEC. 313. SAN JOAQUIN RIVER SETTLEMENT. 
(a) CALIFORNIA STATE LAW SATISFIED BY WARM 
WATER FISHERY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Sections 5930 through 5948 
of the California Fish and Game Code, and all appli-
cable Federal laws, including the San Joaquin River 
Restoration Settlement Act (Public Law 111–11) 
and the Stipulation of Settlement (Natural Re-
sources Defense Council, et al. v. Kirk Rodgers, et 
al., Eastern District of California, No. Civ. S–88– 
1658–LKK/GGH), shall be satisfied by the existence 
of a warm water fishery in the San Joaquin River 
below Friant Dam, but upstream of Gravelly Ford. 
(2) DEFINITION OF WARM WATER FISHERY.— 
For the purposes of this section, the term ‘‘warm 
water fishery’’ means a water system that has an 
environment suitable for species of fish other than 
salmon (including all subspecies) and trout (includ-
ing all subspecies). 
(b) REPEAL OF THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER SETTLE-
MENT.—As of the date of enactment of this section, the 
Secretary of the Interior shall cease any action to imple-
ment the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act 
(subtitle A of title X of Public Law 111–11) and the Stip-
ulation of Settlement (Natural Resources Defense Council, 
et al. v. Kirk Rodgers, et al., Eastern District of Cali-
fornia, No. Civ. S–88–1658 LKK/GGH).
SEC. 314. PROGRAM FOR WATER RESCHEDULING. 
By December 31, 2015, the Secretary of the Interior 
shall develop and implement a program, including resched-
uling guidelines for Shasta and Folsom Reservoirs, to 
allow existing Central Valley Project agricultural water 
service contractors within the Sacramento River Water-
shed, and refuge service and municipal and industrial 
water service contractors within the Sacramento River 
Watershed and the American River Watershed to resched-
ule water, provided for under their Central Valley Project 
contracts, from one year to the next; provided, that the 
program is consistent with existing rescheduling guidelines 
as utilized by the Bureau of Reclamation for rescheduling 
water for Central Valley Project water service contractors 
that are located South of the Delta. 
TITLE IV—CALFED STORAGE 
FEASIBILITY STUDIES 
SEC. 401. STUDIES. 
The Secretary of the Interior, through the Commis-
sioner of Reclamation, shall— 
(1) complete the feasibility studies described in 
clauses (i)(I) and (ii)(II) of section 103(d)(1)(A) of 
Public Law 108–361 (118 Stat. 1684) and submit 
such studies to the appropriate committees of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate not later 
than December 31, 2015;
(2) complete the feasibility study described in 
clause (i)(II) of section 103(d)(1)(A) of Public Law 
108–361 and submit such study to the appropriate 
committees of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate not later than November 30, 2016; 
(3) complete a publicly available draft of the 
feasibility study described in clause (ii)(I) of section 
103(d)(1)(A) of Public Law 108–361 and submit 
such study to the appropriate committees of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate not later 
than November 30, 2016; 
(4) complete the feasibility study described in 
clause (ii)(I) of section 103(d)(1)(A) of Public Law 
108–361 and submit such study to the appropriate 
committees of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate not later than November 30, 2017; 
(5) complete the feasibility study described in 
section 103(f)(1)(A) of Public Law 108–361 (118 
Stat. 1694) and submit such study to the appro-
priate Committees of the House of Representatives 
and the Senate not later than December 31, 2017; 
(6) provide a progress report on the status of 
the feasibility studies referred to in paragraphs (1) 
through (3) to the appropriate committees of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate not later
than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act and each 180 days thereafter until December 
31, 2017, as applicable. The report shall include 
timelines for study completion, draft environmental 
impact statements, final environmental impact state-
ments, and Records of Decision; 
(7) in conducting any feasibility study under 
this Act, the reclamation laws, the Central Valley 
Project Improvement Act (title XXXIV of Public 
Law 102–575; 106 Stat. 4706), the Fish and Wild-
life Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.), the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.), and other applicable law, for the purposes of 
determining feasibility the Secretary shall document, 
delineate, and publish costs directly relating to the 
engineering and construction of a water storage 
project separately from the costs resulting from reg-
ulatory compliance or the construction of auxiliary 
facilities necessary to achieve regulatory compliance; 
and 
(8) communicate, coordinate and cooperate with 
public water agencies that contract with the United 
States for Central Valley Project water and that are 
expected to participate in the cost pools that will be
created for the projects proposed in the feasibility 
studies under this section. 
SEC. 402. TEMPERANCE FLAT. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this section: 
(1) PROJECT.—The term ‘‘Project’’ means the 
Temperance Flat Reservoir Project on the Upper 
San Joaquin River. 
(2) RMP.—The term ‘‘RMP’’ means the docu-
ment titled ‘‘Bakersfield Field Office, Record of De-
cision and Approved Resource Management Plan,’’ 
dated December 2014. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(b) APPLICABILITY OF RMP.—The RMP and find-
ings related thereto shall have no effect on or applicability 
to the Secretary’s determination of feasibility of, or on any 
findings or environmental review documents related to— 
(1) the Project; or 
(2) actions taken by the Secretary pursuant to 
section 103(d)(1)(A)(ii)(II) of the Bay-Delta Au-
thorization Act (title I of Public Law 108–361). 
(c) DUTIES OF SECRETARY UPON DETERMINATION 
OF FEASIBILITY.—If the Secretary finds the Project to 
be feasible, the Secretary shall manage the land rec-
ommended in the RMP for designation under the Wild and
Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.) in a manner 
that does not impede any environmental reviews, 
preconstruction, construction, or other activities of the 
Project, regardless of whether or not the Secretary sub-
mits any official recommendation to Congress under the 
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. 
(d) RESERVED WATER RIGHTS.—Effective Decem-
ber 22, 2014, there shall be no Federal reserved water 
rights to any segment of the San Joaquin River related 
to the Project as a result of any designation made under 
the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.). 
SEC. 403. CALFED STORAGE ACCOUNTABILITY. 
If the Secretary of the Interior fails to provide the 
feasibility studies described in section 401 to the appro-
priate committees of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate by the times prescribed, the Secretary shall notify 
each committee chair individually in person on the status 
of each project once a month until the feasibility study 
for that project is provided to Congress. 
SEC. 404. WATER STORAGE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION. 
(a) PARTNERSHIP
AND AGREEMENTS.—The Sec-
retary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner 
of the Bureau of Reclamation, may partner or enter into 
an agreement on the water storage projects identified in 
section 103(d)(1) of the Water Supply Reliability and En-
vironmental Improvement Act (Public Law 108–361) (and 
Acts supplemental and amendatory to the Act) with local 
joint powers authorities formed pursuant to State law by 
irrigation districts and other local water districts and local 
governments within the applicable hydrologic region, to 
advance those projects. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION FOR PROJECT.—If the Secretary 
determines a project described in section 402(a)(1) and 
(2) is feasible, the Secretary is authorized to carry out 
the project in a manner that is substantially in accordance 
with the recommended plan, and subject to the conditions 
described in the feasibility study, provided that no Federal 
funding shall be used to construct the project. 
TITLE V—WATER RIGHTS 
PROTECTIONS 
SEC. 501. OFFSET FOR STATE WATER PROJECT. 
(a) IMPLEMENTATION IMPACTS.—The Secretary of 
the Interior shall confer with the California Department 
of Fish and Wildlife in connection with the implementa-
tion of this Act on potential impacts to any consistency 
determination for operations of the State Water Project 
issued pursuant to California Fish and Game Code section 
2080.1.
(b) ADDITIONAL YIELD.—If, as a result of the appli-
cation of this Act, the California Department of Fish and 
Wildlife— 
(1) revokes the consistency determinations pur-
suant to California Fish and Game Code section 
2080.1 that are applicable to the State Water 
Project; 
(2) amends or issues one or more new consist-
ency determinations pursuant to California Fish and 
Game Code section 2080.1 in a manner that directly 
or indirectly results in reduced water supply to the 
State Water Project as compared with the water 
supply available under the smelt biological opinion 
and the salmonid biological opinion; or 
(3) requires take authorization under California 
Fish and Game Code section 2081 for operation of 
the State Water Project in a manner that directly or 
indirectly results in reduced water supply to the 
State Water Project as compared with the water 
supply available under the smelt biological opinion 
and the salmonid biological opinion, and as a con-
sequence of the Department’s action, Central Valley 
Project yield is greater than it would have been ab-
sent the Department’s actions, then that additional 
yield shall be made available to the State Water
Project for delivery to State Water Project contrac-
tors to offset losses resulting from the Department’s 
action. 
(c) NOTIFICATION RELATED
TO ENVIRONMENTAL 
PROTECTIONS.—The Secretary of the Interior shall imme-
diately notify the Director of the California Department 
of Fish and Wildlife in writing if the Secretary of the Inte-
rior determines that implementation of the smelt biological 
opinion and the salmonid biological opinion consistent with 
this Act reduces environmental protections for any species 
covered by the opinions. 
SEC. 502. AREA OF ORIGIN PROTECTIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior is 
directed, in the operation of the Central Valley Project, 
to adhere to California’s water rights laws governing water 
rights priorities and to honor water rights senior to those 
held by the United States for operation of the Central Val-
ley Project, regardless of the source of priority, including 
any appropriative water rights initiated prior to December 
19, 1914, as well as water rights and other priorities per-
fected or to be perfected pursuant to California Water 
Code Part 2 of Division 2. Article 1.7 (commencing with 
section 1215 of chapter 1 of part 2 of division 2, sections 
10505, 10505.5, 11128, 11460, 11461, 11462, and 
11463, and sections 12200 to 12220, inclusive).
(b) DIVERSIONS.—Any action undertaken by the Sec-
retary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce pur-
suant to both this Act and section 7 of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) that requires 
that diversions from the Sacramento River or the San Joa-
quin River watersheds upstream of the Delta be bypassed 
shall not be undertaken in a manner that alters the water 
rights priorities established by California law. 
(c) ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.—Nothing in this 
title alters the existing authorities provided to and obliga-
tions placed upon the Federal Government under the En-
dangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 
as amended. 
(d) CONTRACTS.—With respect to individuals and en-
tities with water rights on the Sacramento River, the man-
dates of this section may be met, in whole or in part, 
through a contract with the Secretary of the Interior exe-
cuted pursuant to section 14 of Public Law 76–260; 53 
Stat. 1187 (43 U.S.C. 389) that is in conformance with 
the Sacramento River Settlement Contracts renewed by 
the Secretary of the Interior in 2005. 
SEC. 503. NO REDIRECTED ADVERSE IMPACTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior shall 
ensure that, except as otherwise provided for in a water 
service or repayment contract, actions taken in compliance
with legal obligations imposed pursuant to or as a result 
of this Act, including such actions under section 7 of the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) 
and other applicable Federal and State laws, shall not di-
rectly or indirectly— 
(1) result in the involuntary reduction of water 
supply or fiscal impacts to individuals or districts 
who receive water from either the State Water 
Project or the United States under water rights set-
tlement contracts, exchange contracts, water service 
contracts, repayment contracts, or water supply con-
tracts; or 
(2) cause redirected adverse water supply or fis-
cal impacts to those within the Sacramento River 
watershed, the San Joaquin River watershed or the 
State Water Project service area. 
(b) COSTS.—To the extent that costs are incurred 
solely pursuant to or as a result of this Act and would 
not otherwise have been incurred by any entity or public 
or local agency or subdivision of the State of California, 
such costs shall not be borne by any such entity, agency, 
or subdivision of the State of California, unless such costs 
are incurred on a voluntary basis.
(c) RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS NOT MODIFIED OR 
AMENDED.—Nothing in this Act shall modify or amend 
the rights and obligations of the parties to any existing— 
(1) water service, repayment, settlement, pur-
chase, or exchange contract with the United States, 
including the obligation to satisfy exchange contracts 
and settlement contracts prior to the allocation of 
any other Central Valley Project water; or 
(2) State Water Project water supply or settle-
ment contract with the State. 
SEC. 504. ALLOCATIONS FOR SACRAMENTO VALLEY CON-
TRACTORS. 
(a) ALLOCATIONS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2) 
and subsection (b), the Secretary of the Interior is 
directed, in the operation of the Central Valley 
Project, to allocate water provided for irrigation pur-
poses to existing Central Valley Project agricultural 
water service contractors within the Sacramento 
River Watershed in compliance with the following: 
(A) Not less than 100 percent of their con-
tract quantities in a ‘‘Wet’’ year. 
(B) Not less than 100 percent of their con-
tract quantities in an ‘‘Above Normal’’ year.
(C) Not less than 100 percent of their con-
tract quantities in a ‘‘Below Normal’’ year that 
is preceded by an ‘‘Above Normal’’ or a ‘‘Wet’’ 
year. 
(D) Not less than 50 percent of their con-
tract quantities in a ‘‘Dry’’ year that is pre-
ceded by a ‘‘Below Normal,’’ an ‘‘Above Nor-
mal,’’ or a ‘‘Wet’’ year. 
(E) In all other years not identified herein, 
the allocation percentage for existing Central 
Valley Project agricultural water service con-
tractors within the Sacramento River Water-
shed shall not be less than twice the allocation 
percentage to south-of-Delta Central Valley 
Project agricultural water service contractors, 
up to 100 percent; provided, that nothing here-
in shall preclude an allocation to existing Cen-
tral Valley Project agricultural water service 
contractors within the Sacramento River Water-
shed that is greater than twice the allocation 
percentage to south-of-Delta Central Valley 
Project agricultural water service contractors. 
(2) 
CONDITIONS.—The 
Secretary’s 
actions 
under paragraph (a) shall be subject to—
(A) the priority of individuals or entities 
with Sacramento River water rights, including 
those with Sacramento River Settlement Con-
tracts, that have priority to the diversion and 
use of Sacramento River water over water 
rights held by the United States for operations 
of the Central Valley Project; 
(B) the United States obligation to make 
a substitute supply of water available to the 
San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors; and 
(C) the Secretary’s obligation to make 
water available to managed wetlands pursuant 
to section 3406(d) of the Central Valley Project 
Improvement Act (Public Law 102–575). 
(b) PROTECTION OF MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
SUPPLIES.—Nothing in subsection (a) shall be deemed 
to— 
(1) modify any provision of a water service con-
tract that addresses municipal and industrial water 
shortage policies of the Secretary; 
(2) affect or limit the authority of the Secretary 
to adopt or modify municipal and industrial water 
shortage policies;
(3) affect or limit the authority of the Secretary 
to implement municipal and industrial water short-
age policies; or 
(4) affect allocations to Central Valley Project 
municipal and industrial contractors pursuant to 
such policies. 
Neither subsection (a) nor the Secretary’s implementation 
of subsection (a) shall constrain, govern or affect, directly, 
the operations of the Central Valley Project’s American 
River Division or any deliveries from that Division, its 
units or facilities. 
(c) NO EFFECT
ON ALLOCATIONS.—This section 
shall not— 
(1) affect the allocation of water to Friant Divi-
sion contractors; or 
(2) result in the involuntary reduction in con-
tract water allocations to individuals or entities with 
contracts to receive water from the Friant Division. 
(d) PROGRAM
FOR WATER RESCHEDULING.—The 
Secretary of the Interior shall develop and implement a 
program, not later than 1 year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, to provide for the opportunity for exist-
ing Central Valley Project agricultural water service con-
tractors within the Sacramento River Watershed to re-
4706) shall include the area within the boundaries of the 
Kettleman City Community Services District, California, 
as in existence on the date of enactment of this Act. 
(b) LONG-TERM CONTRACT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding the Central 
Valley Project Improvement Act (Public Law 102– 
575; 106 Stat. 4706) and subject to paragraph (2), 
the Secretary of the Interior, in accordance with the 
Federal reclamation laws, shall enter into a long- 
term contract with the Kettleman City Community 
Services District, California, under terms and condi-
tions mutually agreeable to the parties, for the deliv-
ery of up to 900 acre-feet of Central Valley Project 
water for municipal and industrial use. 
(2) LIMITATION.—Central Valley Project water 
deliveries authorized under the contract entered into 
under paragraph (1) shall be limited to the minimal 
quantity necessary to meet the immediate needs of 
the Kettleman City Community Services District, 
California, in the event that local supplies or State 
Water Project allocations are insufficient to meet 
those needs. 
(c) PERMIT.—The Secretary shall apply for a permit 
with the State for a joint place of use for water deliveries 
authorized under the contract entered into under sub-
section (b) with respect to the expanded service area under 
subsection (a), consistent with State law. 
(d) ADDITIONAL COSTS.—If any additional infra-
structure, water treatment, or related costs are needed to 
implement this section, those costs shall be the responsi-
bility of the non-Federal entity. 
SEC. 602. OVERSIGHT BOARD FOR RESTORATION FUND. 
(a) PLAN; ADVISORY BOARD.—Section 3407 of the 
Central Valley Project Improvement Act (Public Law 
102–575; 106 Stat. 4726) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(g) PLAN ON EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For each fiscal year, the 
Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Board, 
shall submit to Congress a plan for the expenditure 
of all of the funds deposited into the Restoration 
Fund during the preceding fiscal year. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The plan shall include an 
analysis of the cost-effectiveness of each expenditure. 
‘‘(h) ADVISORY BOARD.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established 
the Restoration Fund Advisory Board (referred to in 
this section as the ‘Advisory Board’), which shall be 
composed of 11 members appointed by the Sec-
retary.
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
appoint members to the Advisory Board that 
represent the various Central Valley Project 
stakeholders, of whom— 
‘‘(i) 4 members shall be agricultural 
users of the Central Valley Project, includ-
ing at least one agricultural user from 
north-of-the-Delta and one agricultural 
user from south-of-the-Delta; 
‘‘(ii) 2 members shall be municipal 
and industrial users of the Central Valley 
Project, including one municipal and in-
dustrial user from north-of-the-Delta and 
one municipal and industrial user from 
south-of-the-Delta; 
‘‘(iii) 2 members shall be power con-
tractors of the Central Valley Project, in-
cluding at least one power contractor from 
north-of-the-Delta and from south-of-the- 
Delta; 
‘‘(iv) 1 member shall be a representa-
tive of a Federal national wildlife refuge 
that contracts for Central Valley Project
water supplies with the Bureau of Rec-
lamation; 
‘‘(v) 1 member shall have expertise in 
the economic impacts of the changes to 
water operations; and 
‘‘(vi) 1 member shall be a representa-
tive of a wildlife entity that primarily fo-
cuses on waterfowl. 
‘‘(B) OBSERVER.—The Secretary and the 
Secretary of Commerce may each designate a 
representative to act as an observer of the Advi-
sory Board. 
‘‘(C) CHAIR.—The Secretary shall appoint 
1 of the members described in subparagraph 
(A) to serve as Chair of the Advisory Board. 
‘‘(3) TERMS.—The term of each member of the 
Advisory Board shall be 4 years. 
‘‘(4) DATE OF APPOINTMENTS.—The appoint-
ment of a member of the Panel shall be made not 
later than— 
‘‘(A) the date that is 120 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of a vacancy on the Panel 
described in subsection (c)(2), the date that is
120 days after the date on which the vacancy 
occurs. 
‘‘(5) VACANCIES.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—A vacancy on the 
Panel shall be filled in the manner in which the 
original appointment was made and shall be 
subject to any conditions that applied with re-
spect to the original appointment. 
‘‘(B) FILLING UNEXPIRED TERM.—An in-
dividual chosen to fill a vacancy shall be ap-
pointed for the unexpired term of the member 
replaced. 
‘‘(C) EXPIRATION OF TERMS.—The term 
of any member shall not expire before the date 
on which the successor of the member takes of-
fice. 
‘‘(6) REMOVAL.—A member of the Panel may 
be removed from office by the Secretary of the Inte-
rior. 
‘‘(7) FEDERAL
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
ACT.— 
The Panel shall not be subject to the requirements 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. 
‘‘(8) DUTIES.—The duties of the Advisory 
Board are—
‘‘(A) to meet not less frequently than semi-
annually to develop and make recommendations 
to the Secretary regarding priorities and spend-
ing levels on projects and programs carried out 
under this title; 
‘‘(B) to ensure that any advice given or 
recommendation made by the Advisory Board 
reflects the independent judgment of the Advi-
sory Board; 
‘‘(C) not later than December 31, 2015, 
and annually thereafter, to submit to the Sec-
retary and Congress the recommendations 
under subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(D) not later than December 31, 2015, 
and biennially thereafter, to submit to Congress 
details of the progress made in achieving the 
actions required under section 3406. 
‘‘(9) ADMINISTRATION.—With the consent of 
the appropriate agency head, the Advisory Board 
may use the facilities and services of any Federal 
agency. 
‘‘(10) COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(A) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.—Upon 
request of the Panel Chair for information or 
assistance to facilitate carrying out this section,
the Secretary of the Interior shall promptly pro-
vide such information, unless otherwise prohib-
ited by law. 
‘‘(B) SPACE AND ASSISTANCE.—The Sec-
retary of the Interior shall provide the Panel 
with appropriate and adequate office space, to-
gether with such equipment, office supplies, and 
communications facilities and services as may 
be necessary for the operation of the Panel, and 
shall provide necessary maintenance services for 
such offices and the equipment and facilities lo-
cated therein.’’. 
SEC. 603. WATER SUPPLY ACCOUNTING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—All Central Valley Project water, 
except Central Valley Project water released pursuant to 
U.S. Department of the Interior Record of Decision, Trin-
ity River Mainstem Fishery Restoration Final Environ-
mental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report 
dated December 2000 used to implement an action under-
taken for a fishery beneficial purpose that was not im-
posed by terms and conditions existing in licenses, per-
mits, and other agreements pertaining to the Central Val-
ley Project under applicable State or Federal law existing 
on October 30, 1992, shall be credited to the quantity of 
Central Valley Project yield dedicated and managed under
this section; provided, that nothing herein shall affect the 
Secretary of the Interior’s duty to comply with any other-
wise lawful requirement imposed on operations of the Cen-
tral Valley Project under any provision of Federal or State 
law. 
(b) RECLAMATION POLICIES AND ALLOCATIONS.— 
Reclamation policies and allocations shall not be based 
upon any premise or assumption that Central Valley 
Project contract supplies are supplemental or secondary 
to any other contractor source of supply. 
SEC. 604. IMPLEMENTATION OF WATER REPLACEMENT 
PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than October 1, 2016, 
the Secretary of the Interior shall update and implement 
the plan required by section 3408(j) of title XXXIV of 
Public Law 102–575. The Secretary shall notify the Con-
gress annually describing the progress of implementing 
the plan required by section 3408(j) of title XXXIV of 
Public Law 102–575. 
(b) POTENTIAL AMENDMENT.—If the plan required 
in subsection (a) has not increased the Central Valley 
Project yield by 800,000 acre-feet within 5 years after the 
enactment of this Act, then section 3406 of the Central 
Valley Project Improvement Act (title XXXIV of Public 
Law 102–575) is amended as follows:
(1) In subsection (b)— 
(A) by amending paragraph (2)(C) to read: 
‘‘(C) If by March 15, 2021, and any year 
thereafter the quantity of Central Valley 
Project water forecasted to be made available to 
all water service or repayment contractors of 
the Central Valley Project is below 50 percent 
of the total quantity of water to be made avail-
able under said contracts, the quantity of Cen-
tral Valley Project yield dedicated and managed 
for that year under this paragraph shall be re-
duced by 25 percent.’’. 
SEC. 605. NATURAL AND ARTIFICIALLY SPAWNED SPECIES. 
After the date of the enactment of this title, and re-
gardless of the date of listing, the Secretaries of the Inte-
rior and Commerce shall not distinguish between natural- 
spawned and hatchery-spawned or otherwise artificially 
propagated strains of a species in making any determina-
tion under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) that relates to any anadromous or 
pelagic fish species that resides for all or a portion of its 
life in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta or rivers tribu-
tary thereto.
SEC. 606. TRANSFER THE NEW MELONES UNIT, CENTRAL 
VALLEY 
PROJECT 
TO 
INTERESTED 
PRO-
VIDERS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this section, 
the following terms apply: 
(1) INTERESTED
LOCAL
WATER
AND
POWER 
PROVIDERS.—The term ‘‘interested local water and 
power providers’’ includes the Calaveras County 
Water District, Calaveras Public Power Agency, 
Central San Joaquin Water Conservation District, 
Oakdale Irrigation District, Stockton East Water 
District, South San Joaquin Irrigation District, 
Tuolumne Utilities District, Tuolumne Public Power 
Agency, and Union Public Utilities District. 
(2) NEW
MELONES
UNIT, CENTRAL
VALLEY 
PROJECT.—The term ‘‘New Melones Unit, Central 
Valley Project’’ means all Federal reclamation 
projects located within or diverting water from or to 
the watershed of the Stanislaus and San Joaquin 
rivers and their tributaries as authorized by the Act 
of August 26, 1937 (50 Stat. 850), and all Acts 
amendatory or supplemental thereto, including the 
Act of October 23, 1962 (76 Stat. 1173). 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior.
(b) NEGOTIATIONS.—Notwithstanding any other pro-
vision of law, not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into 
negotiations with interested local water and power pro-
viders for the transfer ownership, control, and operation 
of the New Melones Unit, Central Valley Project to inter-
ested local water and power providers within the State of 
California. 
(c) TRANSFER.—The Secretary shall transfer the 
New Melones Unit, Central Valley Project in accordance 
with an agreement reached pursuant to negotiations con-
ducted under subsection (b). 
(d) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 360 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 6 months 
thereafter, the Secretary shall notify the appropriate com-
mittees of the House of Representatives and the Senate— 
(1) if an agreement is reached pursuant to ne-
gotiations conducted under subsection (b), the terms 
of that agreement; 
(2) of the status of formal discussions with in-
terested local water and power providers for the 
transfer of ownership, control, and operation of the 
New Melones Unit, Central Valley Project to inter-
ested local water and power providers;
proval, or decision required for a qualifying project 
under applicable Federal laws and regulations; and 
(2) notify any such agency, within a reasonable 
timeframe, that the agency has been designated as 
a cooperating agency in regards to the qualifying 
project unless that agency responds to the Bureau in 
writing, within a timeframe set forth by the Bureau, 
notifying the Bureau that the agency— 
(A) has no jurisdiction or authority with 
respect to the qualifying project; 
(B) has no expertise or information rel-
evant to the qualifying project or any review, 
analysis, opinion, statement, permit, license, or 
other approval or decision associated therewith; 
or 
(C) does not intend to submit comments 
on the qualifying project or conduct any review 
of such a project or make any decision with re-
spect to such project in a manner other than in 
cooperation with the Bureau. 
(c) STATE AUTHORITY.—A State in which a quali-
fying project is being considered may choose, consistent 
with State law— 
(1) to participate as a cooperating agency; and