(4)(A) the Secretary notifies each congressional 
committee of jurisdiction of the transfer by not later 
than 60 days before the date of the transfer; and 
(B) no objection to the transfer is raised by any 
such committee. 
TITLE 
III—INNOVATION 
THROUGH RESEARCH, DATA, 
AND TECHNOLOGY 
SEC. 301. OPEN WATER DATA SYSTEM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTION.—The term 
‘‘educational institution’’ means— 
(A) a public or private elementary or sec-
ondary school; 
(B) an institution of vocational, profes-
sional, or higher education (including a junior 
college or teachers’ college); and 
(C) an association of schools or institutions 
described in subparagraphs (A) and (B). 
(2) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 450b). 
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(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
rector of the United States Geological Survey. 
(4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means— 
(A) a State; 
(B) the District of Columbia; 
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; 
and 
(D) any other territory or possession of the 
United States. 
(5) SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘system’’ means the 
open water data system established under subsection 
(b). 
(b) SYSTEM.—The Secretary shall establish and 
maintain an open water data system within the United 
States Geological Survey to advance the availability, time-
ly distribution, and widespread use of water data and in-
formation for water management, education, research, as-
sessment, and monitoring purposes. 
(c) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the system are— 
(1) to advance the quantification of the avail-
ability, use of, and risks to, water resources through-
out the United States; 
(2) to increase accessibility to, and expand the 
use of, water data and information in a standard, 
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easy-to-use format by Federal, State, local, and trib-
al governments, communities, educational institu-
tions, and the private sector; and 
(3) to facilitate the open exchange of water in-
formation particularly in the face of climate change 
and unprecedented drought. 
(d) ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out this section, the 
Secretary shall— 
(1) integrate water data and information into a 
interoperable, national, geospatially referenced water 
data framework; 
(2) identify new water data and information 
needs, including data on surface and groundwater 
quality and quantity, sediment, erosion, transport, 
water chemistry, precipitation, reservoir storage, 
water cycle, landscape variables, hydrography, cli-
mate and weather impacts, soil moisture, and human 
use; 
(3) leverage existing shared databases, infra-
structure, and tools to provide a platform for water 
data and information innovation, modeling and data 
sharing, and solution development; 
(4) support water data and information shar-
ing, applied research, and educational programs of 
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State, local, and tribal governments, communities, 
educational institutions, and the private sector; and 
(5) promote cooperation and sharing of exper-
tise regarding water data and information among 
State, local, and tribal governments, communities, 
educational institutions, and the private sector. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
such sums as are necessary. 
SEC. 302. WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT AMEND-
MENTS. 
(a) CONGRESSIONAL
FINDINGS
AND
DECLARA-
TIONS.—Section 102 of the Water Resources Research 
Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10301) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through 
(9) as paragraphs (8) through (10), respectively; 
(2) in paragraph (8) (as so redesignated), by 
striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(7) additional research is required to increase 
the effectiveness and efficiency of new and existing 
treatment works through alternative approaches, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(A) nonstructural alternatives; 
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‘‘(B) decentralized approaches; 
‘‘(C) water use efficiency and conservation; 
and 
‘‘(D) actions to reduce energy consumption 
or extract energy from wastewater;’’. 
(b) WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
AND TECH-
NOLOGY INSTITUTES.—Section 104 of the Water Re-
sources Research Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10303) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking 
‘‘water-related 
phenomena’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘water resources’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘From the’’ and inserting 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—From the’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than December 31 of 
each fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works of the 
Senate, the Committee on the Budget of the Senate, 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives, and the Committee 
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on the Budget of the House of Representatives a re-
port regarding the compliance of each funding re-
cipient with this subsection for the immediately pre-
ceding fiscal year.’’; 
(3) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(e) EVALUATION OF WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH 
PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall con-
duct a careful and detailed evaluation of each insti-
tute at least once every 3 years to determine— 
‘‘(A) the quality and relevance of the water 
resources research of the institute; 
‘‘(B) the effectiveness of the institute at 
producing measured results and applied water 
supply research; and 
‘‘(C) whether the effectiveness of the insti-
tute as an institution for planning, conducting, 
and arranging for research warrants continued 
support under this section. 
‘‘(2) PROHIBITION ON FURTHER SUPPORT.—If, 
as a result of an evaluation under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary determines that an institute does not qual-
ify for further support under this section, no further 
grants to the institute may be provided until the 
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qualifications of the institute are reestablished to the 
satisfaction of the Secretary.’’; 
(4) 
in 
subsection 
(f)(1), 
by 
striking 
‘‘$12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 
2011’’ and inserting ‘‘$7,500,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2015 through 2020’’; and 
(5) in subsection (g)(1), in the first sentence, 
by striking ‘‘$6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2007 through 2011’’ and inserting ‘‘$1,500,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2015 through 2020’’. 
SEC. 303. REAUTHORIZATION OF WATER DESALINATION 
ACT OF 1996. 
Section 8 of the Water Desalination Act of 1996 (42 
U.S.C. 10301 note; Public Law 104–298) is amended— 
(1) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by 
striking ‘‘2013’’ and inserting ‘‘2020’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘for each of 
fiscal years 2012 through 2013’’ and inserting ‘‘for 
each of fiscal years 2015 through 2020’’. 
SEC. 304. REVIEW OF RESERVOIR OPERATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after receiv-
ing a request of a non-Federal sponsor of a reservoir, the 
Secretary of the Army, in consultation with the Adminis-
trator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration, shall review the operation of the reservoir, includ-
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ing the water control manual and rule curves, using im-
proved weather forecasts and run-off forecasting methods, 
including the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction System of 
the National Weather Service and the Hydrometeorology 
Testbed program of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration. 
(b) DESCRIPTION OF BENEFITS.—In conducting the 
review under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Army 
shall determine if a change in operations, including the 
use of improved weather forecasts and run-off forecasting 
methods, will improve 1 or more of the core functions of 
the Corps of Engineers, including— 
(1) reducing risks to human life, public safety, 
and property; 
(2) reducing the need for future disaster relief; 
(3) improving local water storage capability and 
reliability in coordination with the non-Federal spon-
sor and other water users; 
(4) restoring, protecting, or mitigating the im-
pacts of a water resources development project on 
the environment; and 
(5) improving fish species habitat or population 
within the boundaries and downstream of a water 
resources project. 
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(c) RESULTS REPORTED.—Not later than 90 days 
after completion of a review under this section, the Sec-
retary shall submit a report to Congress regarding the re-
sults of the review. 
(d) MANUAL UPDATE.—As soon as practicable, but 
not later than 3 years after the date on which a report 
under subsection (c) is submitted to Congress, pursuant 
to the procedures required under existing authorities, if 
the Secretary of the Army determines based on that report 
that using improved weather and run-off forecasting meth-
ods improves 1 or more core functions of the Corps of 
Engineers at a reservoir, the Secretary of the Army 
shall— 
(1) incorporate those methods in the operation 
of the reservoir; and 
(2) update the water control manual. 
TITLE IV—DROUGHT PREPARED-
NESS AND RESILIENCE 
SEC. 401. NATIONAL DROUGHT RESILIENCE GUIDELINES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in conjunction 
with the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agri-
culture, the Director of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration, and other appropriate Federal 
agency heads along with State and local governments, 
shall develop nonregulatory national drought resilience 
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guidelines relating to drought preparedness planning and 
investments for communities, water utilities, and other 
water users and providers. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—In developing the national 
drought resilience guidelines, the Administrator and other 
Federal agency heads referred to in subsection (a) shall 
consult with— 
(1) State and local governments; 
(2) water utilities; 
(3) scientists; 
(4) institutions of higher education; 
(5) relevant private entities; and 
(6) other stakeholders. 
(c) CONTENTS.—The national drought resilience 
guidelines developed under this section shall, to the max-
imum extent practicable, provide recommendations for a 
period of 10 years that— 
(1) address a broad range of potential actions, 
including— 
(A) analysis of the impacts of climate 
change and drought on the future effectiveness 
of water management tools; 
(B) the identification of drought-related 
water management challenges in a broad range 
of fields, including— 
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(i) public health and safety; 
(ii) municipal and industrial water 
supply; 
(iii) agricultural water supply; 
(iv) water quality; 
(v) ecosystem health; and 
(vi) water supply planning; 
(C) water management tools to reduce 
drought-related impacts, including— 
(i) water use efficiency through gal-
lons per capita reduction goals, appliance 
efficiency standards, water pricing incen-
tives, and other measures; 
(ii) water recycling; 
(iii) groundwater clean-up and stor-
age; 
(iv) new technologies, such as behav-
ioral water efficiency; and 
(v) stormwater capture and reuse; 
(D) water-related energy and greenhouse 
gas reduction strategies; and 
(E) public education and engagement; and 
(2) include recommendations relating to the 
processes that Federal, State, and local governments 
and water utilities should consider when developing 
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drought resilience preparedness and plans, includ-
ing— 
(A) the establishment of planning goals; 
(B) the evaluation of institutional capacity; 
(C) the assessment of drought-related risks 
and vulnerabilities, including the integration of 
climate-related impacts; 
(D) the establishment of a development 
process, including an evaluation of the cost-ef-
fectiveness of potential strategies; 
(E) the inclusion of private entities, tech-
nical advisors, and other stakeholders in the de-
velopment process; 
(F) implementation and financing issues; 
and 
(G) evaluation of the plan, including any 
updates to the plan. 
SEC. 402. DROUGHT PREPAREDNESS FOR FISHERIES. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 450b). 
(2) QUALIFIED
TRIBAL
GOVERNMENT.—The 
term ‘‘qualified tribal government’’ means a govern-
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mental body of an Indian tribe that the Secretary of 
the Interior determines— 
(A) is involved in salmon management and 
recovery activities under the Endangered Spe-
cies Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and 
(B) has the management and organiza-
tional capability to maximize the benefits of as-
sistance provided under this section. 
(b) SALMON DROUGHT PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 1, 
2016, the Director of the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service shall, in consultation with the Direc-
tor of the National Marine Fisheries Service, the 
Commissioner of Reclamation, the Chief of Engi-
neers, and the head of the California Department of 
Fish and Wildlife, prepare a salmon drought plan 
for the State of California. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The plan developed under 
paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) contribute— 
(i) to the recovery of populations list-
ed as threatened or endangered under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and 
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(ii) to the goals of the Central Valley 
Project Improvement Act (title XXXIV of 
Public Law 102–575; 106 Stat. 4706); and 
(B) include options to protect salmon pop-
ulations originating in the State of California, 
with a particular focus on actions that can be 
taken to aid salmon populations in the State of 
California during the driest 12 years, such as— 
(i) relocating the release location and 
timing of hatchery fish to avoid predation 
and temperature impacts; 
(ii) barging hatchery release fish to 
improve survival and reduce straying; 
(iii) coordinating with water users, the 
Commissioner of Reclamation, and the 
head of the California Department of 
Water 
Resources 
regarding 
voluntary 
water transfers to determine if water re-
leased upstream to meet the needs of 
downstream or South-of-Delta water users 
can be managed in a way that provides ad-
ditional benefits for salmon; 
(iv) hatchery management modifica-
tions, such as expanding hatchery produc-
tion during the driest years of fish listed 
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as endangered or threatened under the En-
dangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.), if appropriate; and 
(v) increasing rescue operations of up-
stream migrating fish. 
(c) FUNDING.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Out of any funds in the 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary 
of the Treasury shall transfer to the Director of the 
United States Fish and Wildlife Service to carry out 
this section $3,000,000, to remain available until ex-
pended, for urgent fish, stream, and hatchery activi-
ties relating to extreme drought conditions, including 
work carried out in conjunction with the Director of 
the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Commis-
sioner of Reclamation, the Chief of Engineers, the 
head of the California Department of Fish and 
Wildlife, or a qualified tribal government. 
(2) RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE.—The Director 
of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall 
be entitled to receive, shall accept, and shall use to 
carry out this section the funds transferred under 
paragraph (1), without further appropriation. 
Æ 
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