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(e) PUBLICATION.—Upon submission of an annual 
report to Congress, the Secretary shall make the annual 
report publicly available, including through publication on 
the Internet. 
(f) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘project 
report’’ means a final feasibility report developed under 
the Reclamation Act of 1902 (32 Stat. 388), and all Acts 
amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto. 
SEC. 607. APPLICABILITY OF WIIN ACT. 
Sections 4007 and 4009 of the WIIN Act (Public 
Law 114–322) shall not apply to any project (as defined 
in section 602 of this Act). 
TITLE VII—WATER RIGHTS 
PROTECTION 
SEC. 701. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Water Rights Protec-
tion Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 702. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretary’’ 
means, as applicable— 
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture; or 
(B) the Secretary of the Interior. 
(2) WATER RIGHT.—The term ‘‘water right’’ 
means any surface, groundwater, or storage use 
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filed, permitted, certificated, confirmed, decreed, ad-
judicated, or otherwise recognized by a judicial pro-
ceeding or by the State in which the user acquires 
possession of the water or puts it to beneficial use. 
SEC. 703. TREATMENT OF WATER RIGHTS. 
The Secretary shall not— 
(1) condition the issuance, renewal, amendment, 
or extension of any permit, approval, license, lease, 
allotment, easement, right-of-way, or other land use 
or occupancy agreement on the transfer of any water 
right (including joint and sole ownership) directly or 
indirectly to the United States, or on any impair-
ment of title or interest, in whole or in part, granted 
or otherwise recognized under State law, by Federal 
or State adjudication, decree, or other judgment, or 
pursuant to any interstate water compact; or 
(2) require any water user to apply for or ac-
quire a water right in the name of the United States 
under State law as a condition of the issuance, re-
newal, amendment, or extension of any permit, ap-
proval, license, lease, allotment, easement, right-of- 
way, or other land use or occupancy agreement. 
SEC. 704. POLICY DEVELOPMENT. 
In developing any rule, policy, directive, management 
plan, or similar Federal action relating to the issuance, 
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renewal, amendment, or extension of any permit, approval, 
license, lease, allotment, easement, right-of-way, or other 
land use or occupancy agreement, the Secretary— 
(1) shall— 
(A) recognize the longstanding authority of 
the States relating to evaluating, protecting, al-
locating, regulating, permitting, and adjudi-
cating water use; and 
(B) coordinate with the States to ensure 
that any rule, policy, directive, management 
plan, or similar Federal action is consistent 
with, and imposes no greater restriction or reg-
ulatory requirement, than applicable State 
water law; and 
(2) shall not— 
(A) adversely affect— 
(i) the authority of a State in— 
(I) permitting the beneficial use 
of water; or 
(II) adjudicating water rights; 
(ii) any definition established by a 
State with respect to the term ‘‘beneficial 
use’’, ‘‘priority of water rights’’, or ‘‘terms 
of use’’; or 
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(iii) any other right or obligation of a 
State established under State law; or 
(B) assert any connection between surface 
and groundwater that is inconsistent with such 
a connection recognized by State water laws. 
SEC. 705. EFFECT. 
(a) EXISTING AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this title lim-
its or expands any existing legally recognized authority of 
the Secretary to issue, grant, or condition any permit, ap-
proval, license, lease, allotment, easement, right-of-way, or 
other land use or occupancy agreement on Federal land 
that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Secretary. 
(b) RECLAMATION CONTRACTS.—Nothing in this title 
in any way interferes with any existing or future Bureau 
of Reclamation contract entered into pursuant to Federal 
reclamation law (the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388, 
chapter 1093), and Acts supplemental to and amendatory 
of that Act). 
(c) ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.—Nothing in this 
title affects the implementation of the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). 
(d) FEDERAL RESERVED WATER RIGHTS.—Nothing 
in this title limits or expands any existing reserved water 
rights of the Federal Government on land administered 
by the Secretary. 
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(e) FEDERAL POWER ACT.—Nothing in this title lim-
its or expands authorities pursuant to sections 4(e), 10(j), 
or 18 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 797(e), 803(j), 
811). 
(f) INDIAN WATER RIGHTS.—Nothing in this title 
shall have any effect on tribal water rights or their adju-
dication, or the protection, settlement, or enforcement 
and/or administration of such rights by either Indian 
tribes or the United States as trustee for Indian tribes. 
(g) FEDERALLY HELD STATE WATER RIGHTS.— 
Nothing in this title limits the ability of the Secretary, 
through applicable State procedures, to acquire, use, en-
force, or protect a State water right owned by the United 
States. 
Passed the House of Representatives July 12, 2017. 
Attest: 
KAREN L. HAAS, 
Clerk. 
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