[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 133 (Monday, October 23, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H10519]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              STUDY OF RESOURCES IN SALMON CREEK WATERSHED

  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 2951) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
conduct a study to investigate opportunities to better manage the water 
resources in the Salmon Creek watershed of the upper Columbia River.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 2951

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

     SECTION 1. SALMON CREEK WATERSHED, WASHINGTON, WATER 
                   MANAGEMENT STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior may conduct 
     a study to investigate the opportunities to better manage the 
     water resources in the Salmon Creek Watershed, a tributary to 
     the Upper Columbia River system, Okanagoan County, 
     Washington, so as to restore and enhance fishery resources 
     (especially the endangered Upper Columbia Spring Chinook and 
     Steelhead), while maintaining or improving the availability 
     of water supplies for irrigation practices vital to the 
     economic well-being of the county.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the study under subsection (a) 
     shall be to derive the benefits of and further the objectives 
     of the comprehensive, independent study commissioned by the 
     Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and the 
     Okanagoan Irrigation District, which provides a credible 
     basis for pursuing a course of action to simultaneously 
     achieve fish restoration and improved irrigation conservation 
     and efficiency.
       (c) Cost Share.--The Federal Government's cost share for 
     the feasibility study shall not exceed 50 percent.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George 
Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons).
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2951, a bill to authorize the 
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to investigate 
opportunities to better manage the water resources in the Salmon Creek 
watershed of the upper Columbia River.
  The study would allow the Secretary of the Interior to build on an 
independent study commissioned by the Confederated Tribes of the 
Colville Reservation and the local irrigation district to restore and 
enhance fishery resources, especially the endangered Upper Columbia 
Spring Chinook and Steelhead, while maintaining or improving the 
availability of water supplies for irrigation practices.
  S. 2951 passed the Senate on October 13. I urge an aye vote.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
S. 2951. This legislation would authorize the Secretary of the Interior 
to conduct a study to investigate opportunities to better manage the 
water resources in the Salmon Creek watershed of the upper Columbia 
River. The purpose of the study is to explore ways to improve salmon 
migration while maintaining irrigation for area farms.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is very similar to my legislation 
passed by the House and Senate earlier this year to study the potential 
benefits of replacing water currently removed from the Yakima River 
with water drawn from the Columbia River in order to benefit salmon. 
These two pieces of legislation highlight our commitment to saving the 
salmon in Central Washington without tearing down our dams and 
destroying our way of life. This common sense legislation is a locally 
derived solution that will greatly improve habitat and salmon survival 
while respecting historic water rights in my district.
  Salmon Creek is a tributary of the Okanogan River in my district in 
Central Washington. During irrigation season, water is released from 
the reservoirs to provide water needed by local farms. However, the 
diversion of the creek waters causes approximately 4.3 miles of Salmon 
Creek to dry up during the later months of the irrigation season. This 
creek has historically provided habitat for several threatened and 
endangered salmon species.
  The Okanogan Irrigation District in Okanogan County, Washington and 
the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation have worked 
together to study and develop a series of projects to restore natural 
fish runs in Salmon Creek while protecting irrigation for over 5000 
acres of orchards and farms. As a result of this collaborative effort, 
the Okanogan Irrigation District and the Confederated Tribes of the 
Colville Reservation have developed a proposal that would move the 
intake system for the Okanogan Irrigation District from Salmon Creek to 
the Okanogan River. These projects, which are frequently referred to as 
``pump exchanges,'' allow irrigation districts to terminate withdrawals 
from over appropriated rivers and streams and secure water from more 
abundant rivers further downstream from the initial intake point.
  This legislation authorizes the study of both the pump exchange and 
other irrigation improvements that could return as much as 11,000 acre 
feet of water to Salmon Creek. The bill would limit the federal 
government's share of the total cost of the feasibility study to 50 
percent, and the Congressional Budget Office estimates that 
implementing S. 2951 would cost about $250,000 in fiscal year 2001. The 
Administration testified in favor of this legislation during a hearing 
in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on 
Water and Power.
  This feasibility study offers Okanogan County residents hope for the 
protection and improvement of what is left of their hard-hit economy. 
More than 262 jobs have been lost in the Okanogan Basin in recent 
months due to declines in the forest products industry. Additionally, 
falling apple prices have resulted in the loss of 80 jobs from the 
recent closure of an apple packing facility in Tonasket, Washington. 
This is compounded by the possibility that the National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS) will shut down irrigation facilities, as they 
have elsewhere in my district, due to inadequate stream flow in local 
rivers and creeks for endangered fish species. As more than 5000 acres 
of orchards and fields are served by the Okanogan Irrigation District, 
an irrigation shutdown would be devastating.
  Once again, I thank you for this opportunity to express my support 
for authorizing this essential fish restoration study provided in S. 
2951. I commend the Okanogan Irrigation District and the Confederated 
Tribes of the Colville Reservation for their proactive approach to 
restoring salmon and steelhead populations and maintaining water 
deliveries to irrigators. I urge my colleagues to support this common 
sense local solution to improve the water resources in Salmon Creek.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate bill, S. 2951.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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