Water for Conservation and Farming Act
Bill: S.953 | Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron (D-OR)
Policy area: Water Resources Development

Summary:
Water for Conservation and Farming Act
This bill establishes a funding source for certain water resources development projects in western states. The bill also reauthorizes and expands existing water resources development programs, as well as establishes new programs.
Specifically, the bill establishes the Bureau of Reclamation Infrastructure Fund to fund water-related programs, including water reclamation and reuse projects, dam safety projects, and the WaterSMART program (which provides assistance to eligible government entities to increase water supply). Each year from FY2031-FY2061, the Department of the Treasury must deposit $300 million of revenues into this fund that would otherwise be deposited into the Reclamation Fund (which currently funds irrigation works in western states).
The bill also expands the allowable uses for grants under the WaterSMART program.
Next, the bill revises the Reclamation Climate Change and Water program (which assesses the impact of climate change on water supplies) by requiring Reclamation to develop a strategy to address sustaining native biodiversity during periods of drought.
The bill also reauthorizes through FY2028 the Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation program (which funds fish passage projects in certain areas that drain into the Pacific Ocean).
Finally, the bill establishes new programs directed at western states to

To provide for drought preparedness and improved water supply 
                              reliability.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Water for 
Conservation and Farming Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
                  TITLE I--INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

Sec. 101. Technical amendment to the Water Desalination Act of 1996.
Sec. 102. Bureau of Reclamation Infrastructure Fund.
Sec. 103. Watersmart extension and expansion.
             TITLE II--ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION AND RESTORATION

Sec. 201. Waterbird and shorebird habitat creation program.
Sec. 202. Sustaining biodiversity during droughts.
Sec. 203. Reauthorization of Cooperative Watershed Management Program.
Sec. 204. Multibenefit projects to improve watershed health.
Sec. 205. Drought planning and preparedness for critically important 
                            fisheries.
Sec. 206. Reauthorization of the Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation 
                            Mitigation Act of 2000.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the Bureau of 
        Reclamation Infrastructure Fund established by section 102(a).
            (2) Reclamation state.--The term ``Reclamation State'' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 4014 of the Water 
        Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (43 U.S.C. 390b 
        note; Public Law 114-322).
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.

                  TITLE I--INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

SEC. 101. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT TO THE WATER DESALINATION ACT OF 1996.

    Section 4(a) of the Water Desalination Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 10301 
note; Public Law 104-298) is amended by redesignating the second 
paragraph (1) (relating to eligible desalination projects) as paragraph 
(2).

SEC. 102. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION INFRASTRUCTURE FUND.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of the 
United States a fund, to be known as the ``Bureau of Reclamation 
Infrastructure Fund'', consisting of--
            (1) such amounts as are deposited in the Fund under 
        subsection (b)(1); and
            (2) any interest earned on investment of amounts in the 
        Fund under subsection (c)(1)(B).
    (b) Deposits to Fund.--
            (1) In general.--For each of fiscal years 2031 through 
        2061, the Secretary of the Treasury shall deposit in the Fund 
        $300,000,000 of the revenues that would otherwise be deposited 
        for the fiscal year in the reclamation fund established by the 
        first section of the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388, 
        chapter 1093), of which--
                    (A) $100,000,000 shall be expended by the Secretary 
                for water reclamation and reuse projects authorized 
                under--
                            (i) the Reclamation Wastewater and 
                        Groundwater Study and Facilities Act (43 U.S.C. 
                        390h et seq.); or
                            (ii) section 4(a)(2) of the Water 
                        Desalination Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 10301 note; 
                        Public Law 104-298);
                    (B) $100,000,000 shall be expended by the Secretary 
                for grants authorized under section 9504 of the Omnibus 
                Public Land Management Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 10364); 
                and
                    (C) $100,000,000 shall be expended by the Secretary 
                to perform modifications to preserve the structural 
                safety of Bureau of Reclamation dams and related 
                facilities to ensure that Bureau of Reclamation 
                facilities do not present unreasonable risks to public 
                safety, property, or the environment, if the 
                expenditures--
                            (i) account for not more than 85 percent of 
                        the total costs for any dam safety project; and
                            (ii) are made in accordance with section 3 
                        of the Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 
                        (43 U.S.C. 507).
            (2) Availability of amounts.--Amounts deposited in the Fund 
        under paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) be made available in accordance with this 
                section, without further appropriation; and
                    (B) be in addition to amounts appropriated for the 
                purposes described in this section under any other 
                provision of law.
    (c) Expenditures From Fund.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), for each of 
        fiscal years 2031 through 2061, the Secretary may expend from 
        the Fund, in accordance with this section, not more than an 
        amount equal to the sum of--
                    (A) the amounts deposited in the Fund for the 
                applicable fiscal year under subsection (b)(1); and
                    (B) the amount of interest accrued in the Fund for 
                the fiscal year in which the expenditures are made.
            (2) Additional expenditures.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary may expend more in 
                any fiscal year than the amounts described in paragraph 
                (1) if the additional amounts are available in the Fund 
                as a result of a failure of the Secretary to expend all 
                of the amounts available under paragraph (1) in 1 or 
                more prior fiscal years.
                    (B) Retention in accounts.--Any additional amounts 
                referred to in subparagraph (A) shall--
                            (i) accrue interest in accordance with this 
                        section; and
                            (ii) only be expended for the purposes for 
                        which expenditures from the Fund are 
                        authorized.

SEC. 103. WATERSMART EXTENSION AND EXPANSION.

    (a) Water Management Improvement.--Section 9504(a) of the Omnibus 
Public Land Management Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 10364(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (F), by inserting ``, including 
                through temporary, voluntary, and compensated 
                transactions that decrease consumptive water use at a 
                regional or watershed scale'' after ``imbalances''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (J), by striking clause (i) and 
                inserting the following:
                            ``(i) to increase ecological resilience to 
                        climate change by addressing climate-related 
                        impacts to, or vulnerabilities of, the water 
                        supply of the United States, including by 
                        enhancing natural water storage within a 
                        floodplain or riparian wetland;''; and
            (2) in paragraph (3)(B)(i), by striking subclause (II) and 
        inserting the following:
                                    ``(II) to use the assistance 
                                provided under a grant or agreement to 
                                increase the consumptive use of water 
                                for agricultural operations above the 
                                pre-project levels, as determined 
                                pursuant to the law of the State in 
                                which the operation of the eligible 
                                applicant is located.''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 9504 of the Omnibus 
Public Land Management Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 10364) is amended by 
striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $700,000,000, to remain 
available until expended, subject to the condition that $50,000,000 of 
that amount shall be used to carry out section 206 of the Energy and 
Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (43 
U.S.C. 620 note; Public Law 113-235).''.

             TITLE II--ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION AND RESTORATION

SEC. 201. WATERBIRD AND SHOREBIRD HABITAT CREATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Authorization of Habitat Creation Program.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the 
        Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary 
        shall provide financial assistance to eligible agricultural 
        producers in Reclamation States, in the form of direct payments 
        or credits, as applicable, to compensate the eligible 
        agricultural producers for the creation and maintenance of 
        waterbird and shorebird habitats.
            (2) Limitation on amount of financial assistance.--Not more 
        than a total of $3,500,000 of financial assistance may be 
        provided for each fiscal year under paragraph (1).
            (3) Conditions.--Financial assistance shall be provided 
        under paragraph (1) only if the Secretary determines that the 
        activities receiving the financial assistance would--
                    (A) create new habitat that would not otherwise be 
                created; or
                    (B) maintain existing habitat that would not 
                otherwise be maintained.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary $3,500,000 to carry out this section for 
each of fiscal years 2022 through 2027, to remain available until 
expended.
    (c) Report.--Not later than October 1, 2022, and every 2 years 
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that 
describes the environmental performance of activities that are 
receiving, or have received, financial assistance under the program 
established under subsection (a)(1) during the period covered by the 
report.

SEC. 202. SUSTAINING BIODIVERSITY DURING DROUGHTS.

    Section 9503(b) of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 
(42 U.S.C. 10363(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3)(D), by inserting ``and native 
        biodiversity'' after ``wildlife habitat''; and
            (2) in paragraph (4)(B), by inserting ``and drought 
        biodiversity plans to address sustaining native biodiversity 
        during periods of drought'' after ``restoration plans''.

SEC. 203. REAUTHORIZATION OF COOPERATIVE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

    Section 6002 of the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 1976 (16 
U.S.C. 1015a) is amended by striking subsection (g) and inserting the 
following:
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
            ``(1) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 
        2021; and
            ``(2) $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 
        2026.''.

SEC. 204. MULTIBENEFIT PROJECTS TO IMPROVE WATERSHED HEALTH.

    (a) Definition of Eligible Applicant.--In this section, the term 
``eligible applicant'' means--
            (1) any Reclamation State, Indian Tribe, irrigation 
        district, water district, or organization with water or power 
        delivery authority;
            (2) any Reclamation State, regional authority, or local 
        agency or authority; and
            (3) any nonprofit conservation organization.
    (b) Establishment of Competitive Grant Program.--Not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in 
consultation with the heads of relevant agencies, shall establish a 
competitive grant program under which the Secretary shall award grants 
to eligible applicants for the design, implementation, and monitoring 
of conservation outcomes of habitat restoration projects that improve 
watershed health in a Reclamation State by accomplishing 1 or more of 
the following:
            (1) Ecosystem benefits.
            (2) Restoration of native species beyond existing or 
        planned measures necessary to comply with Federal or State laws 
        relating to species recovery.
            (3) Mitigation against the impacts of climate change to 
        fish and wildlife habitats.
            (4) Protection against invasive species.
            (5) Restoration of aspects of the natural ecosystem.
            (6) Enhancement of commercial or recreational fishing.
            (7) Enhancement of river-based recreation, such as 
        kayaking, rafting, and canoeing.
    (c) Requirements.--
            (1) In general.--In awarding a grant to an eligible 
        applicant under subsection (b), the Secretary--
                    (A) shall give priority to an eligible applicant 
                that would carry out a habitat restoration project that 
                achieves more than 1 of the benefits described in that 
                subsection; and
                    (B) may not provide a grant to carry out a habitat 
                restoration project, the purpose of which is to meet 
                existing environmental mitigation or compliance 
                obligations under Federal or State law.
            (2) Compliance.--A habitat restoration project awarded a 
        grant under subsection (a) shall comply with all applicable 
        Federal and State laws.
    (d) Cost-Sharing Requirement.--The Federal share of the cost of any 
habitat restoration project that is awarded a grant under subsection 
(b)--
            (1) shall not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the habitat 
        restoration project; or
            (2) in the case of a habitat restoration project that 
        provides benefits to ecological or recreational values in which 
        the nonconsumptive water conservation benefit or habitat 
        restoration benefit accounts for at least 75 percent of the 
        cost of the habitat restoration project, as determined by the 
        Secretary, shall not exceed 75 percent of the cost of the 
        habitat restoration project.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $150,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2022 through 2025.

SEC. 205. DROUGHT PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS FOR CRITICALLY IMPORTANT 
              FISHERIES.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Critically important fishery.--The term ``critically 
        important fishery'' means--
                    (A) a fishery located in a Reclamation State that 
                is commercially, culturally, or recreationally 
                important;
                    (B) a fishery located in a Reclamation State that 
                contains fish species that are listed as threatened or 
                endangered pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 
                1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and
                    (C) a fishery located in a Reclamation State that 
                is used by 1 or more Indian Tribes in the Reclamation 
                State for ceremonial subsistence or commercial 
                purposes.
            (2) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the 
        meaning given the term ``Indian tribe'' in section 4 of the 
        Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
        U.S.C. 5304).
            (3) Qualified tribal government.--The term ``qualified 
        Tribal Government'' means any government of an Indian Tribe 
        that the Secretary determines--
                    (A) is involved in fishery management and recovery 
                activities, including activities under the Endangered 
                Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and
                    (B) has the management and organizational 
                capability to maximize the benefits of assistance 
                provided under subsection (c).
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary, 
        acting through the Director of the United States Fish and 
        Wildlife Service.
    (b) Drought Plan for Critically Important Fisheries.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than January 1, 2022, and every 
        3 years thereafter, the Secretary, in consultation with the 
        Director of the National Marine Fisheries Service, the 
        Commissioner of Reclamation, the Chief of Engineers, applicable 
        State fish and wildlife agencies, and qualified Tribal 
        Governments, shall prepare a plan to sustain the survival of 
        critically important fisheries during future periods of 
        extended drought through--
                    (A) voluntary, compensated actions by private 
                landowners and water right holders; or
                    (B) other investments in drought preparedness made 
                by the Secretary.
            (2) Considerations.--In preparing the plan under paragraph 
        (1), the Secretary shall consider--
                    (A) habitat restoration efforts designed to provide 
                drought refugia and increased fishery resilience during 
                droughts;
                    (B) relocating the release location and timing of 
                hatchery fish to avoid predation and temperature 
                impacts;
                    (C) barging of hatchery release fish to improve 
                survival and reduce straying;
                    (D) coordination with water users, the Commissioner 
                of Reclamation, State fish and wildlife agencies, 
                qualified Tribal Governments, and interested public 
                water agencies regarding voluntary water transfers, 
                including through groundwater substitution activities, 
                to determine if water releases can be collaboratively 
                managed in a way that provides additional benefits for 
                critically important fisheries without negatively 
                impacting wildlife habitat;
                    (E) hatchery management modifications, such as 
                expanding hatchery production of fish during periods of 
                extended drought, if appropriate for a particular river 
                basin;
                    (F) hatchery retrofit projects, such as the 
                installation and operation of filtration equipment and 
                chillers, to reduce disease outbreak, egg mortality, 
                and other impacts of droughts in high water 
                temperatures;
                    (G) increasing rescue operations of upstream 
                migrating fish;
                    (H) improving temperature modeling and related 
                forecasted information to predict water management 
                impacts to the habitat of critically important 
                fisheries with a higher degree of accuracy than current 
                models;
                    (I) programs to reduce predation losses at 
                artificially created predation hot spots;
                    (J) habitat restoration efforts designed to provide 
                drought refugia and increased fisheries resilience 
                during droughts; and
                    (K) retrofitting existing water facilities to 
                provide improved temperature conditions for fish.
    (c) Public Comment.--Before finalizing a plan under subsection (b), 
the Secretary shall provide for a public comment period of not less 
than 90 days.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations for Fish Recovery Efforts.--
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out 
fish, stream, and hatchery activities relating to fish recovery 
efforts, including activities carried out in coordination with the 
Director of the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Commissioner of 
Reclamation, the Chief of Engineers, applicable State fish and wildlife 
agencies, or a qualified Tribal Government, $25,000,000 for fiscal year 
2022.
    (e) Effect.--Nothing in this section affects any obligation under 
any Federal environmental law.

SEC. 206. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE FISHERIES RESTORATION AND IRRIGATION 
              MITIGATION ACT OF 2000.

    (a) Definition of Pacific Drainage Area.--Section 2(1) of the 
Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 
777 note; Public Law 106-502) is amended by inserting ``or a terminal 
lake'' before the period at the end.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 10(a) of the 
Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 
777 note; Public Law 106-502) is amended by striking ``$15 million 
through 2021'' and inserting ``$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2022 through 2028''.
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