Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1466), to authorize the Director of the United States Geological Survey to establish a regional program to assess, monitor, and benefit the hydrology of saline lakes in the Great Basin and the migratory birds and other wildlife dependent on those habitats, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: S. 1466

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 ``Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act of 2022''. SEC. 2. SALINE LAKE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE GREAT BASIN STATES ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING PROGRAM.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:

(1) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Assessment and Monitoring Program established under subsection (b).

(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey.

(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Assessment and Monitoring Program to assess and monitor the hydrology of saline lake ecosystems in the Great Basin and the migratory birds and other wildlife that depend on those ecosystems to inform and support coordinated management and conservation actions to benefit those ecosystems, migratory birds, and other wildlife.

(c) Work and Implementation Plan.--

(1) In general.--Under the Program, the Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the entities described in paragraph (2), shall establish a multiyear work and implementation plan to assess, monitor, and conserve saline lake ecosystems in the Great Basin and the migratory birds and other wildlife that depend on those ecosystems.

(2) Coordinating entities.--The entities referred to in paragraph (1) include--

(A) Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies;

(B) institutions of higher education;

(C) nonprofit organizations; and

(D) other local stakeholders.

(3) Inclusions.--The work and implementation plan established under paragraph (1) shall include--

(A) a synthesis of available information, literature, and data, and an assessment of scientific and informational needs, relating to--

(i) water quantity, water quality, water use, and water demand;

(ii) migratory bird and other wildlife populations, habitats, and ecology;

(iii) annual lifecycle needs of migratory birds; and

(iv) environmental changes and other stressors, including climatic stressors;

(B) a description of how the plan should be implemented to address the scientific and informational needs described in subparagraph (A), including proposed activities, such as monitoring, data infrastructure needs, and development of tools necessary to implement the Program;

(C) recommendations and a cost assessment for the implementation of the plan; and

(D) such other matters as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(4) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing the work and implementation plan established under paragraph (1).

(d) Implementation.--The Secretary shall implement the Program based on the information, findings, and recommendations contained in the work and implementation plan established under subsection (c).

(e) Cooperative Agreements and Grants.--The Secretary may enter into cooperative funding agreements with, or provide grants to, entities described in subsection (c)(2) for the purposes of--

(1) participating in developing, or providing information to inform the development of, the work and implementation plan under subsection (c);

(2) carrying out assessments and monitoring of water quality, quantity, use, and demand under the Program; and

(3) carrying out ecological, biological, and avian assessments and monitoring under the Program.

(f) Effect.--The work and implementation plan established under subsection (c)(1) shall not affect--

(1) any interstate water compacts in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, including full development of any apportionment made in accordance with those compacts;

(2) valid and existing water rights in any State located wholly or partially within the Great Basin;

(3) water rights held by the United States in the Great Basin; and

(4) the management and operation of Bear Lake or Stewart Dam, including the storage, management, and release of water.

(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Program $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2027.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1466, introduced by Senator Jeff Merkley and led in the House by my colleague, Representative Blake Moore.

This bill will direct the U.S. Geological Survey to establish a program to assess and monitor the hydrology of saline lakes and associated ecosystems in the Great Basin States in the West.

Saline lakes in the Western United States are shrinking and becoming saltier due to prolonged drought and other effects of climate change. These shrinking lakes are exposing harmful dust that threatens the public health of neighboring communities while harming local economies and eliminating essential migratory bird habitat.

This program will help inform and support coordinated management and conservation actions to benefit saline lakes.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleague in urging support of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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