Great Salt Lake Recovery Act
Bill: S.4536 | Sponsor: Sen. Romney, Mitt (R-UT)
Policy area: Water Resources Development

Summary:
Great Salt Lake Recovery Act
This bill authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study the hydrology of saline lake ecosystems in the Great Basin, including the Great Salt Lake, Utah, as well as to investigate the feasibility of a project for ecosystem restoration and drought solutions in the Great Salt Lake.

To study how the Great Salt Lake and other saline lakes are affected by 
 drought and to require a feasibility study on drought solutions, and 
                          for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Great Salt Lake Recovery Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Program.--The term ``program'' means the program 
        established under section 3(a).
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Army.

SEC. 3. GREAT SALT LAKE MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to carry out a program 
to monitor and assess the hydrology of saline lake ecosystems in the 
Great Basin, including the Great Salt Lake, to inform and support 
Federal and non-Federal management and conservation activities to 
benefit those ecosystems.
    (b) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate implementation of 
the program with relevant--
            (1) Federal and State agencies;
            (2) Indian Tribes;
            (3) local governments; and
            (4) nonprofit organizations.
    (c) Contracts, Grants, and Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary 
is authorized to enter into contracts, grant agreements, and 
cooperative agreements with institutions of higher education and with 
entities described in subsection (b) to implement the program.
    (d) Update.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress an update on the 
progress of the Secretary in carrying out the program.
    (e) Additional Information.--In carrying out the program, the 
Secretary may use available studies, information, literature, or data 
on the Great Basin region published by relevant Federal, State, or 
local entities, including the United States Geological Survey.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000.

SEC. 4. DROUGHT SOLUTIONS FEASIBILITY STUDY.

    The Secretary is authorized to investigate the feasibility of a 
project for ecosystem restoration and water supply in the Great Salt 
Lake, which may include an identification of--
            (1) technology capabilities currently in practice or 
        expected to be commercialized within the next 10 years that can 
        redirect water sources to drought-impacted saline lakes, or 
        conserve and increase water supply and delivery, including--
                    (A) pipelines;
                    (B) coastal desalination plants; and
                    (C) canal reinforcement; and
            (2) necessary permitting to redirect water sources across 
        State borders.
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