Klamath Basin Water Supply Enhancement Act of 2000
PL 106-498 (S.2882), enacted 11/09/2000

PUBLIC LAW 106-498—NOV. 9, 2000 
114 STAT. 2221 
Public Law 106-498 
106th Congress 
An Act 
To authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to conduct certain feasibility studies to 
augment water supplies for the Klamath Project, Oregon and California, and 
Nov. 9, 2000 
Act of 2000. 
for other piuposes. 
[S. 2882] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
Klamath Basin 
Water Supply 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
Enhancement 
This Act may be cited as the "Klamath Basin Water Supply 
Enhancement Act of 2000". 
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION TO CONDUCT FEASIBILITY STUDIES. 
In order to help meet the growing water needs in the Klamath 
River Basin, to improve water quality, to facilitate the efforts of 
the State of Oregon to resolve water rights claims in the Upper 
Klamath River Basin including facilitation of Klamath tribal water 
rights claims, and to reduce conflicts over water between the Upper 
and Lower Klamath Basins, the Secretary of the Interior (hereafter 
referred to as the "Secretar)^') is authorized and directed, in con-
sultation with affected State, local and tribal interests, stakeholder 
groups and the interested public, to engage in feasibility studies 
of the following proposals related to the Upper Klamath Basin 
and the Klamath Project, a Federal reclamation project in Oregon 
and California: 
(1) Increasing the storage capacity, and/or the yield of 
the Klamath Project facilities while improving water quality, 
consistent with the protection offish and wildlife. 
(2) The potential for development of additional Klamath 
Basin groundwater supplies to improve water quantity and 
quality, including the effect of such groundwater development 
on nonproject lands, groundwater and surface water supplies, 
and fish and wildlife. 
(3) The potential for further innovations in the use of 
existing water resources, or market-based approaches, in order 
to meet growing water needs consistent with State water law. 
SEC. 3. ADDITIONAL STUDIES. 
(a) NONPROJECT LANDS.—^The Secretary may enter into an 
agreement with the Oregon Department of Water Resources to 
fund studies relating to the water supply needs of nonproject lands 
in the Upper Klamath Basin. 
(b) SURVEYS.—^To further the purposes of this Act, the Secretary 
is authorized to compile information on native fish species in the 
Upper Klamath River Basin, upstream of Upper Klamath Lake. 
114 STAT. 2222 
PUBLIC LAW 106-498—NOV. 9, 2000 
Wherever possible, the Secretary should use data already developed 
by Federal agencies and other stakeholders in the Basin. 
(c) HYDROLOGIC STUDIES.—^The Secretary is directed to complete 
ongoing hydrologic surveys in the Klamath River Basin currently 
being conducted by the United States Geological Survey. 
Deadline. 
(d) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—^The Secretary shall submit the 
findings of the studies conducted under section 2 and section 3(a) 
of this Act to the Congress within 90 days of each study's comple-
tion, together with any recommendations for projects. 
SEC. 4. LIMITATION. 
Activities funded under this Act shall not be considered a 
supplemental or additional benefit under the Act of June 17, 1902 
(82 Stat. 388) and all Acts amendatory thereof or supplementary 
thereto. 
SEC. 5. WATER RIGHTS 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to— 
(1) create, by implication or otherwise, any reserved water 
right or other right to the use of water; 
(2) invalidate, preempt, or create any exception to State 
water law or an interstate compact governing water; 
(3) alter the rights of any State to any appropriated share 
of the waters of any body or surface or groundwater, whether 
determined by past or future interstate compacts or by past 
or future legislative or final judicial allocations; 
(4) preempt or modify any State or Federal law or interstate 
compact dealing with water quality or disposal; or 
(5) confer upon any non-Federal entity the ability to exer-
cise any Federal right to the waters of any stream or to any 
groundwater resources. 
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized such sums as necessary to carry out 
the purposes of this Act. Activities conducted under this Act shall 
be nonreimbursable and nonreturnable. 
Approved November 9, 2000. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2882: 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 106-489 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 146 (2000): 
Oct. 13, considered and passed Senate. 
Oct. 23, considered and passed House.