[Senate Report 106-431]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 853
106th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 106-431
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WATER RESOURCES IN THE SALMON CREEK WATERSHED
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September 28 (legislative day, September 22), 2000.--Ordered to be
printed
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Mr. Murkowski, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 2951]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (S. 2951) to authorize the Commissioner of
Reclamation to conduct a study to investigate opportunities to
better manage the water resources in the Salmon Creek watershed
of the upper Columbia River, having considered the same,
reports favorably thereon with amendments and an amendment to
the title and recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass.
The amendments are as follows:
1. In section 1(a), strike ``The Commissioner of
Reclamation'' and replace with ``The Secretary of the
Interior''.
2. After section (b), add the following:
(c) Cost Share.--The Federal government's cost share
for the feasibility study shall not exceed 50 percent.
3. Amend the title so as to read: ``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.''.
purpose of the measure
The purpose of S. 2951 is 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 purpose of the study is to
derive the benefits of and further the objectives of a study
done by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and
the Okanagan Irrigation District. The Federal Government's
share for the cost of the study shall be 50 percent.
background and need
Salmon Creek, a tributary to the Okanogan River, is part of
the Okanogan River Basin in north central Washington, on the
eastern slope of the North Cascade Range. Draining about 167
square miles, the Salmon Creek watershed contains about 66
miles of perennial streams. The 119 square mile upper Salmon
watershed is drained by North Fork, West Fork, and South Fork
of Salmon Creek, which flow into Conconully Reservoir.
Large differences occur in maximum, average, and median
monthly flows in the creek, indicating how variable flow is
from year to year. Water is released from the reservoirs during
the irrigation season to accommodate the Okanogan Irrigation
District water users' needs. The District's diversion of the
creek waters into its water delivery system during the later
months of the irrigation season completely dewaters the lower
4.3 mile reach of Salmon Creek. The natural runoff of the creek
water in the spring has built up a large rock barrier at its
confluence with the Okanogan River creating a barrier to
natural fish migration.
The 12 miles between Conconully Reservoir and the
District's diversion have been documented as excellent spawning
and rearing habitat for salmon. The upper reaches of Salmon
Creek, above the district's diversion, have also been
identified as favorable rearing habitat for fish. In light of
the national focus on fish restoration, the District in
conjunction with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville
Reservation have joined in a collaborative effort to study, and
if sufficient funding can be obtained, implement a series of
projects to restore natural fish runs in Salmon Creek.
The Colville Tribes' interest in pursuing restoration of
fish runs in the Okanogan and Columbia Rivers led them to
consider Salmon Creek, tributary to the Okanogan River, as a
viable project. Because the District depends almost entirely on
Salmon Creek water, including dewatering of the lower reaches
in the summer months, the District became keenly interested in
the Colville Tribes' activities. After an in-depth study, the
Tribes and District agreed on 7 projects that would conserve
water in the District, allocate water for instream flow for
fish enhancement, and provide the District with the water
necessary to meet its water users' needs. Implementing these
projects is very important to the District. The District's
continued assurance of water delivery service while
facilitating fish restoration is essential to the economic
stability of the mid-Okanogan Valley area, including Omak and
Okanogan, Washington.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
S. 2951 was introduced by Senator Gorton on July 27, 2000.
The Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing on the bill
on September 19, 2000. At the business meeting on September 20,
2000, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered S.
2951, as amended, favorably reported.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION AND TABULATION OF VOTES
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open
business session on September 20, 2000, by a unanimous voice
vote with a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S.
2951 if amended as described herein.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS
During the consideration of S. 2951, the committee adopted
(1) an amendment that authorized the Secretary of the Interior,
rather than the Commissioner of Reclamation, to conduct the
feasibility study, an amendment that limited the Federal
Government's cost share for the study to 50 percent of the
total cost and an amendment to the title.
COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS
The Congressional Budget Office estimate of the costs of
this measure has been requested but was not received at the
time the report was filed. When the report is available, the
Chairman will request it to be printed in the Congressional
Record for the advice of the Senate.
REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION
In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in
carrying out S. 2951. The bill is not a regulatory measure in
the sense of imposing government-established standards or
significant economic responsibilities on private individuals
and businesses.
No personal information would be collected in administering
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal
privacy.
Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the
enactment of S. 2951, as ordered reported.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS
On, September 14, 2000, the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources requested legislative reports from the Department of
the Interior and the Office of Management and Budget setting
forth Executive agency recommendations on S. 2951. These
reports had not been received at the time the report on S. 2951
was filed. When the reports become available, the Chairman will
request that they be printed in the Congressional Record for
the advice of the Senate. The testimony provided by the Acting
Chief of Staff of the Bureau of Reclamation at the Subcommittee
hearing follows:
Statement of Robert J. Quint, Acting Chief of Staff, Bureau of
Reclamation, Department of the Interior
Thank you for the opportunity to provide the views of the
Department of the Interior on S. 2951. This bill would
authorize the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation to
study water management in the Salmon Creek Watershed in
Washington. The Okanogan Irrigation District and the Colville
Confederated Tribes are very interested in identifying
opportunities to restore salmon and steelhead populations, and
maintaining water deliveries to irrigators in this watershed.
The Administration could support the bill if amended to
address two technical concerns. First, the Secretary of the
Interior as opposed to the Commissioner of the Bureau of
Reclamation is the appropriate official to conduct the study,
given the breadth of fish, tribal and water issues involved.
Section 1 should be amended accordingly.
Second, Section 1 should also clarify that the study will
be cost shared 50-50 which is the appropriate cost share for a
feasibility study such as this.
Thank you for holding this hearing. I would be happy to
answer any questions you may have.
changes in existing law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no
changes in existing law are made by the bill S. 2951, as
ordered reported.