IB 
Union Calendar No. 418 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5345 
[Report No. 117–577] 
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. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 
Mr. MOORE of Utah (for himself, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mrs. LEE of Nevada, Mr. 
THOMPSON of California, Mr. OBERNOLTE, and Mr. COSTA) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Re-
sources 
NOVEMBER 16, 2022 
Additional sponsors: Mr. OWENS, Mr. CURTIS, Mr. STEWART, and Mr. 
AMODEI 
NOVEMBER 16, 2022 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on September 23, 2021] 
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A BILL 
To authorize the Director of the United States Geological 
Survey to establish a regional program to assess, mon-
itor, 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. 
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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 ‘‘Saline Lake Ecosystems 
in the Great Basin States Program Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 2. SALINE LAKE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE GREAT BASIN 
STATES ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means the 
Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States 
Assessment and Monitoring Program established 
under subsection (b). 
(2) SALINE LAKE ECOSYSTEMS.—The term ‘‘sa-
line lake ecosystems’’ means the ecosystems associated 
with the following lakes: 
(A) Abert Lake in Oregon. 
(B) Carson Lake in Nevada. 
(C) Carson Sink in Nevada. 
(D) Eagle Lake in California. 
(E) Franklin Lake in Nevada. 
(F) Goose Lake in California and Oregon. 
(G) Great Salt Lake in Utah. 
(H) Harney Lake in Oregon. 
(I) Honey Lake in California. 
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(J) Malheur Lake in Oregon. 
(K) Mono Lake in California. 
(L) Owens Lake in California. 
(M) Pyramid Lake in Nevada. 
(N) Ruby Lake in Nevada. 
(O) Sevier Lake in Utah. 
(P) Silver Lake in Oregon. 
(Q) Summer Lake in Oregon. 
(R) Walker Lake in Nevada. 
(S) Warner Lake in Oregon. 
(T) Winnemucca Lake in Nevada. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
rector of the United States Geological Survey. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish a 
Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Assess-
ment 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, migra-
tory birds, and other wildlife. 
(c) WORK AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Under the Program, the Sec-
retary, in coordination with the Director of the 
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United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the enti-
ties 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 wild-
life that depend on those ecosystems. 
(2) COORDINATING ENTITIES.—The entities re-
ferred to in paragraph (1) include— 
(A) Federal, State, Tribal, and local agen-
cies; 
(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, lit-
erature, and data, and an assessment of sci-
entific 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 migra-
tory birds; and 
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(iv) environmental changes and other 
stressors, including climatic stressors; 
(B) a description of how the plan should be 
implemented to address the scientific and infor-
mational needs described in subparagraph (A), 
including proposed activities, such as moni-
toring, data infrastructure needs, and develop-
ment of tools necessary to implement the Pro-
gram; 
(C) recommendations and a cost assessment 
for the implementation of the plan; and 
(D) such other matters as the Secretary de-
termines to be appropriate. 
(4) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall sub-
mit to Congress a report describing the work and im-
plementation plan established under paragraph (1). 
(d) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall imple-
ment the Program based on the information, findings, and 
recommendations contained in the work and implementa-
tion 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 sub-
section (g), the Secretary may enter into cooperative fund-
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ing agreements with, or provide grants to, entities described 
in subsection (c)(2) for the purposes of— 
(1) participating in developing, or providing in-
formation 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) EFFECT.—The work and implementation plan es-
tablished under subsection (c)(1) shall not affect— 
(1) any interstate water compacts in existence on 
the date of enactment of this Act, including full devel-
opment of any apportionment made in accordance 
with those compacts; 
(2) valid and existing water rights in any State 
located wholly or partially within the Great Basin; 
(3) water rights held by the United States in the 
Great Basin; and 
(4) the management and operation of Bear Lake 
or Stewart Dam, including the storage, management, 
and release of water. 
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(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Program 
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2027. 
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