[118th Congress Public Law 246]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 138 STAT. 2933]]
Public Law 118-246
118th Congress
An Act
To amend the Klamath Basin Water Supply Enhancement Act of 2000 to
provide the Secretary of the Interior with certain authorities with
respect to projects affecting the Klamath Basin watershed, and for other
purposes. <<NOTE: Jan. 4, 2025 - [H.R. 7938]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Klamath Basin
Water Agreement Support Act of 2024.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Klamath Basin Water Agreement Support
Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. KLAMATH PROJECT WATER AND POWER.
(a) Addressing Water, Power, and Facilities Management for
Irrigation.--Section 4 of the Klamath Basin Water Supply Enhancement Act
of 2000 (Public Law 106-498) <<NOTE: 114 Stat. 2221; 132 Stat. 3886.>>
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Restoration Activities.--The Secretary may--
``(1) plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain
projects in the Klamath Basin watershed, including--
``(A) facilities to reduce fish entrainment;
``(B) projects that reduce or avoid impacts on
aquatic resources of facilities involved in the storage
or diversion of water for irrigation in the Klamath
Project service area; and
``(C) projects that restore habitats in the Klamath
Basin watershed, including Tribal fishery resources held
in trust;
``(2) <<NOTE: Studies.>> undertake studies, including
feasibility studies, and improvements that the Secretary
determines to be necessary to implement this subsection;
``(3) <<NOTE: Contracts. Memorandums.>> in implementing
this subsection, enter into contracts, memoranda of
understanding, financial assistance agreements, cost-sharing
agreements, or other appropriate agreements with--
``(A) State, Tribal, and local governmental
agencies; and
``(B) private parties; and
``(4) accept and expend non-Federal funds in order to
facilitate implementation of this subsection.
``(e) Goals.--The goals of activities under subsections (b) and (d)
shall include, as applicable--
``(1) the short-term and long-term reduction and resolution
of conflicts relating to water in the Klamath Basin watershed;
and
[[Page 138 STAT. 2934]]
``(2) compatibility and utility for protecting natural
resources throughout the Klamath Basin watershed, including the
protection, preservation, and restoration of Klamath River
Tribal fishery resources, particularly through collaboratively
developed agreements.
``(f) Pumping Plant D.--The Secretary may enter into 1 or more
agreements with the Tulelake Irrigation District to reimburse the
Tulelake Irrigation District for not more than 69 percent of the cost
incurred by the Tulelake Irrigation District for the operation and
maintenance of Pumping Plant D, subject to the condition that the cost
results in benefits to the United States.
``(g) <<NOTE: Compliance.>> Keno and Link River Dams.--The
Secretary of the Interior shall comply with the terms of the agreement
entitled `2016 Klamath Power and Facilities Agreement' (`Agreement'),
including Attachment A to the Agreement.''.
(b) Administration; Effect.--
(1) Compliance.--In implementing the amendments made by this
section, the Secretary of the Interior shall comply with--
(A) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
(B) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.); and
(C) all other applicable laws.
(2) Effect.--None of the amendments made by this section--
(A) modify any authority or obligation of the United
States with respect to any Tribal trust or treaty
obligation of the United States;
(B) create or determine any water right; or
(C) affect any water right or water right claim in
existence on the date of the enactment of this Act.
Approved January 4, 2025.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 7938:
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 118-847 (Comm. on Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 170 (2024):
Dec. 17, considered and passed House.
Dec. 19, considered and passed Senate.
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