I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4299
To require Federal agencies responsible for managing Federal lake projects
to pursue strategies for enhancing recreational experiences of the public
at such lakes, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 13, 2000
Mr. DEAL of Georgia introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure, and Agriculture, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To require Federal agencies responsible for managing Fed-
eral lake projects to pursue strategies for enhancing rec-
reational experiences of the public at such lakes, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Recreation
Lakes Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
(1) Lakes created by Federal dam projects have
become powerful magnets for diverse recreation ac-
tivities, drawing hundreds of millions of visits annu-
ally and generating tens of billions of dollars in eco-
nomic benefits.
(2) Recreational opportunities are provided at
such lakes, on surrounding lands, and on down-
stream waters, by Federal agencies and through
partnerships among Federal, State, and local gov-
ernment agencies and private persons.
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are the fol-
lowing:
(1) To require Federal agencies responsible for
management of lakes created by Federal dam
projects to pursue strategies for enhancing rec-
reational experiences at such lakes.
(2) To direct Federal agencies to utilize creative
management of lakes created by Federal dam
projects that optimizes both recreational opportuni-
ties and other purposes of such projects, including
the provision of agricultural and municipal water
supplies, flood control and navigation benefits, and
production of hydroelectric power, as applicable.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Council’’ means the
Federal Lakes Recreation Leadership Council, an
interdepartmental coordinating body established by a
memorandum of agreement among the Secretary of
Agriculture, the Secretary of the Army, the Sec-
retary of the Interior, and the Chairman of the Ten-
nessee Valley Authority dated October 27, 1999.
(2) FEDERAL
MANMADE
LAKE.—The term
‘‘Federal manmade lake’’ means—
(A) any impoundment or diversion of water
that is part of a water resources project oper-
ated, maintained, or constructed by any Federal
agency and that has a maximum storage capac-
ity of 50 acre feet or more; and
(B) any water downstream of such an im-
poundment or diversion.
(3) FEDERAL LAKE MANAGEMENT AGENCY.—
The term ‘‘Federal lake management agency’’ means
any Federal agency that manages a Federal man-
made lake.
(4) NATIONAL
DEMONSTRATION
LAKES.—The
term ‘‘National Demonstration Lake’’ means a fed-
eral manmade lake that is designated as a National
Demonstration Lake in accordance with section 6.
(5) 
RECREATION.—The 
term 
‘‘recreation’’
means—
(A) any water-related recreational activity
that may take place on or in a Federal man-
made lake, including boating, swimming, fish-
ing, sailing, and diving;
(B) any water-related recreational activity
that may take place below the impoundment
creating a Federal manmade lake, including
rafting, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing; and
(C) any recreational activities that take
place on federally managed lands in the vicinity
of the Federal manmade lake, including fishing
and wildlife-related activities, that are allowed
under existing land management plans.
SEC. 4. RECREATION AS AUTHORIZED PURPOSE OF ALL
FEDERAL MANMADE LAKE PROJECTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The head of each Federal lake
management agency shall—
(1) treat recreation as an authorized purpose of
each Federal manmade lake that is managed by the
agency; and
(2) give recreation appropriate attention in all
agency decisions and policies relating to such Fed-
eral manmade lakes.
(b) DOWNSTREAM WATERS.—The head of each Fed-
eral agency shall, in conducting any activity relating to
waters that are downstream waters of a Federal manmade
lake, consider recreation uses of such waters.
(c) REPORTS.—
(1) INITIAL REPORT BY FEDERAL LAKE MAN-
AGEMENT
AGENCIES.—Not later than 12 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the head
of each Federal lake management agency shall sub-
mit a report to the Congress and the Council that
describes —
(A) actions taken by the agency to commu-
nicate to personnel of the agency the require-
ments of this Act and other laws relating to
recreation use of Federal manmade lakes; and
(B) actions to be taken by the agency to
expand recreation opportunities at Federal
manmade lakes, including a schedule for taking
such actions
(2) COUNCIL.—Not later than 36 months after
the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 24
months thereafter, the Council, or if the Council
does not exist the head of each Federal lake man-
agement agency that manages 50 or more Federal
manmade lakes, shall submit a report to the Con-
gress describing actions take by the members of the
Council or such agency, as applicable, to expand
recreation opportunities at Federal manmade lakes.
(d) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAW.—This Act does
not affect—
(1) any other authorized purposes of any Fed-
eral manmade lake;
(2) any contract entered into before the date of
the enactment of this Act; or
(3) the authority of States to manage fish and
wildlife.
SEC. 5. RECREATION FEE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
Section 315 of the Land and Water Conservation
Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l–6a note) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) by inserting ‘‘, the Bureau of Reclama-
tion,’’ after ‘‘the National Park Service’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘Service) and’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Service),’’; and
(C) by inserting before ‘‘shall each’’ the
following: ‘‘, and the Secretary of the Army
(acting through the Corps of Engineers)’’;
(2) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘four agen-
cies’’ and inserting ‘‘6 agencies’’; and
(3) in subsection (e)—
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ and inserting a
comma; and
(B) by inserting ‘‘, and the Secretary of
the Army’’ before ‘‘shall carry out’’.
SEC. 
6. 
ESTABLISHMENT 
OF 
NATIONAL 
RECREATION
LAKES DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Na-
tional Recreation Lakes Demonstration Program. The
program shall consist of the conduct of activities in ac-
cordance with this section at up to 20 National Dem-
onstration Lakes designated in accordance with this sec-
tion.
(b) DESIGNATION OF NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION
LAKES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The head of each partici-
pating Federal lake management agency under para-
graph (2) may designate Federal manmade lakes
that are managed by the agency as National Dem-
onstration Lakes. The total number of Federal man-
made lakes designated by each agency may not ex-
ceed the number allocated to the agency by the
Council.
(2) PARTICIPATING
AGENCIES.—For purposes
of paragraph (1), the participating Federal lake
management agencies are the following:
(A) The Corps of Engineers.
(B) The Bureau of Reclamation.
(C) The Forest Service.
(D) The Bureau of Indian Affairs.
(E) The United States Fish and Wildlife
Service.
(F) The National Park Service.
(G) The Tennessee Valley Authority.
(H) The Bureau of Land Management.
(3) CRITERIA.—The Council shall develop and
issue criteria for use by participating agencies in the
selecting candidates for designation as National
Demonstration Lakes. The Council shall consult
with participating agencies to encourage geographic
and opportunity diversity.
(4) ALLOCATION OF LAKES.—The Council shall
allocate to each participating agency under para-
graph (2) a maximum number of Federal manmade
lakes that the agency may designate as National
Demonstration Lakes.
(5) EFFECTIVE PERIOD OF DESIGNATION.—A
designation of a Federal manmade lake as a Na-
tional Demonstration Lake shall be effective for a
period specified by the agency head making the des-
ignation, not to exceed 10 years.
shall not apply to any advisory committee estab-
lished under this section.
(e) REPORTS.—The head of each participating Fed-
eral lake management agency shall periodically report to
the Congress regarding activities of the agency under this
section.
SEC. 7. PERIODIC REVIEW AND REVISION OF OPERATING
POLICIES FOR FEDERAL MANMADE LAKES.
The head of each Federal lake management agency
shall—
(1) conduct a comprehensive review of its oper-
ating policies for Federal manmade lakes managed
by the agency, at least once every 15 years; and
(2) revise such policies as necessary to incor-
porate new information and ensure coordinated man-
agement of such lakes to produce high levels of ben-
efits for all authorized purposes of the lakes.
SEC. 8. REVISED COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS FOR
RECREATION PROJECTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Federal share of the costs to construct,
reconstruct, or operate facilities for recreation at a Fed-
eral manmade lake, including the costs of lands, may be
100 percent.
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS
TO
FEDERAL
WATER PROJECT RECREATION ACT.—The Federal Water
Project Recreation Act is amended—
(1) in section 2 (16 U.S.C. 460l–13)—
(A) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘and to
bear’’ and all that follows through ‘‘recre-
ation,’’; and
(B) in subsection (b)—
(i) by striking ‘‘recreation and’’; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘recreation or’’;
(2) in section 3 (16 U.S.C. 460l–14)—
(A) in subsection (b)(1) by striking ‘‘and
will bear’’ the first place it appears and all that
follows through ‘‘recreation,’’; and
(B) in subsection (c) by striking paragraph
(2); and
(3) in section 4 (16 U.S.C. 460l–15) by striking
‘‘recreation and’’ and all that follows through ‘‘those
purposes’’.
SEC. 9. ASSISTANCE TO UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN
VICINITY 
OF 
NATIONAL 
DEMONSTRATION
LAKES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The head of any Federal lake
management agency that manages a National Demonstra-
tion Lake may carry out activities to improve communica-
tions and cooperation between the agency and local com-
munity interests in the vicinity of the lake with respect
to such management, including planning, advisory boards,
marketing, and other activities.
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year to
remain available until expended—
(1) to the head of each Federal lake manage-
ment agency that manages a National Demonstra-
tion Lake $1,000,000 for each such lake to carry
out this section; and
(2) to the Secretary of the Interior $2,000,000
to coordinate activities of Federal lake management
agencies under this section.
SEC. 10. USE OF FEDERAL WATER PROJECT FUNDING FOR
MATCHING 
REQUIREMENTS 
FOR 
RECRE-
ATION PROJECTS AT NATIONAL DEMONSTRA-
TION LAKES.
(a) FEDERAL AID IN FISH RESTORATION ACT.—The
Act of August 9, 1950 (chapter 658; 16 U.S.C. 777 et
seq.), popularly known as the Federal Aid in Fish Restora-
tion Act, is amended by striking the second section 13 and
inserting the following:
‘‘SEC. 14. APPLICATION OF FEDERAL WATER PROJECT
SPENDING TO NON-FEDERAL SHARE OF COV-
ERED RECREATION PROJECTS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The use for any covered recre-
ation project of amounts appropriated for a Federal water
project shall be treated as payment of the non-Federal
share of costs required under this Act.
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
‘‘(1) COVERED
RECREATION
PROJECT.—The
term ‘covered recreation project’ means construction
or reconstruction of facilities for recreation at a Na-
tional Demonstration Lake that is carried out with
assistance under this Act.
‘‘(2) OTHER TERMS.—Each of the terms ‘Na-
tional Demonstration Lake’ and ‘recreation’ has the
meaning that term has in section 2 of the National
Recreation Lakes Act.’’.
(b) FEDERAL
AID
IN
WILDLIFE
RESTORATION
ACT.—The Act of September 2, 1937 (chapter 899; 16
U.S.C. 669 et seq.), popularly known as the Federal Aid
in Wildlife Restoration Act, is amended by adding at the
end the following:
‘‘SEC. 11. APPLICATION OF FEDERAL WATER PROJECT
SPENDING 
TO 
NON-FEDERAL 
SHARE 
OF
RECREATION PROJECTS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The use for any covered recre-
ation project of amounts appropriated for a Federal water
project shall be treated as payment of the non-Federal
share of costs required under this Act.
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
‘‘(1) COVERED
RECREATION
PROJECT.—The
term ‘covered recreation project’ means construction
or reconstruction of facilities for recreation at a Na-
tional Demonstration Lake that is carried out with
assistance under this Act.
‘‘(2) OTHER TERMS.—Each of the terms ‘Na-
tional Demonstration Lake’ and ‘recreation’ has the
meaning that term has in section 2 of the National
Recreation Lakes Act.’’.
Æ