[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2977 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2977

 To direct the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of 
 Reclamation, to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of 
  Sciences to conduct a comprehensive study of sustainable water and 
     environmental management in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, 
                  California, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 19, 2009

Mr. Costa (for himself, Mr. Cardoza, Mr. Radanovich, Mr. Nunes, and Mr. 
   McCarthy of California) introduced the following bill; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To direct the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of 
 Reclamation, to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of 
  Sciences to conduct a comprehensive study of sustainable water and 
     environmental management in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, 
                  California, 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. SUSTAINABLE WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN THE 
              SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN DELTA STUDIES AND REPORTS.

    (a) Initial Study.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after funding is 
        made available for this Act, the Secretary, acting through the 
        Bureau of Reclamation, shall offer to and, if the NAS agrees, 
        shall enter into an agreement under which the NAS shall conduct 
        a study to help ensure the scientific basis of plans for 
        management of the Delta so as to help maintain and restore the 
        estuary while enhancing the quality and reliability of 
        California's water supply. The study conducted under this 
        paragraph shall include the following:
                    (A) A review of the scientific information 
                assessing the extent of ecosystem decline in the 
                Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and Delta, including 
                the status and trends of pelagic organisms and 
                anadromous fish species.
                    (B) A list of the factors that may have contributed 
                to the decline of federally and State listed species in 
                the Delta. To the extent practicable, a ranking of the 
                contribution of those factors, in order of their likely 
                impact on the survival and recovery of Delta species, 
                for purposes of informing future conservation actions.
                    (C) A description of gaps in available scientific 
                information and uncertainties that constrain the 
                ability to identify the factors to be listed under 
                subparagraph (B).
                    (D) A review and evaluation of the scientific 
                information referenced in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
                Biological Opinion (USFWS, Dec. 15, 2008), the 
                interpretation of that information by the Fish and 
                Wildlife Service in the effects analysis, and the 
                extent to which the effects analysis supports the Fish 
                and Wildlife Service's jeopardy and adverse 
                modification determination and reasonable and prudent 
                alternatives.
                    (E) A review and evaluation of the scientific 
                information referenced in the National Marine Fisheries 
                Service Biological Opinion (NMFS, available June 2009), 
                the interpretation of that information by the National 
                Marine Fisheries Service in the effects analysis, and 
                the extent to which the effects analysis supports the 
                National Marine Fisheries Service's jeopardy and 
                adverse modification determination and reasonable and 
                prudent alternatives.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 18 months after funding is made 
        available to the NAS for the study under paragraph (1), the NAS 
        shall submit to the Secretary a report containing the findings 
        of that study.
            (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to the Secretary, $900,000 to carry out this 
        subsection.
    (b) Additional Reports.--The Secretary, acting through the Bureau 
of Reclamation, may commission additional studies by the NAS to provide 
more strategic advice on water and environmental management challenges 
facing the Delta. Such studies, if commissioned, shall address issues 
such as the following:
            (1) Review the science underlying the extent of ecosystem 
        decline in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers and Delta, and 
        evaluate its implications for the management of the Delta for 
        water supply and other purposes.
            (2) Identify options for future water supplies for the 
        region and state that reflect proper consideration for climate 
        change and compatibility with objectives of maintaining a 
        healthy Delta hydroecosystems.
            (3) Advise how to most effectively incorporate science and 
        adaptive management concepts into holistic programs for 
        management and restoration of the Delta with the objective of 
        providing a credible basis for providing a sustainable water 
        supply and ecosystem for the future.
    (c) Definitions.--For the purposes of this Act:
            (1) Delta.--The term ``Delta'' means the Sacramento-San 
        Joaquin Delta in California.
            (2) NAS.--The term ``NAS'' means the National Academy of 
        Sciences.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
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