Sec. 8309. COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

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## SEC. 8309 COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN ###

(a)Study of Flood Risk Management Activities ####

(1)In general Using funds made available to carry out this section, the Secretary is authorized, at Federal expense, to carry out a study to determine the feasibility of a project for flood risk management and related purposes in the Columbia River Basin and to report to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate with recommendations thereon, including recommendations for a project to potentially reduce the reliance on Canada for flood risk management in the basin. ####

(2)Coordination The Secretary shall carry out the activities described in this subsection in coordination with other Federal and State agencies and Indian Tribes. ###

(b)Funds for Columbia River Treaty Obligations ####

(1)In general The Secretary is authorized to expend funds appropriated for the purpose of satisfying United States obligations under the Columbia River Treaty to compensate Canada for operating Canadian storage on behalf of the United States under such treaty. ####

(2)Notification If the U.S. entity calls upon Canada to operate Canadian reservoir storage for flood risk management on behalf of the United States, which operation may incur an obligation to compensate Canada under the Columbia River Treaty— #####

(A)the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Environment and Public Works and Appropriations of the Senate, by not later than 30 days after the initiation of the call, a written notice of the action and a justification, including a description of the circumstances necessitating the call; #####

(B)upon a determination by the United States of the amount of compensation that shall be paid to Canada, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Environment and Public Works and Appropriations of the Senate a written notice specifying such amount and an explanation of how such amount was derived, which notification shall not delay or impede the flood risk management mission of the U.S. entity; and #####

(C)the Secretary shall make no payment to Canada for the call under the Columbia River Treaty until such time as funds appropriated for the purpose of compensating Canada under such treaty are available. ###

(c)Interim Pre-planned Flood Storage ####

(1)In general The Secretary, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, is authorized to compensate, and make arrangements with, the Government of Canada for reserving and operating 3,600,000 acre-feet of pre-planned flood storage per operating year at Hugh Keenleyside Dam, including operations that the Government of Canada may not be obligated to provide under the Columbia River Treaty, to minimize the flood risk in the Columbia River Basin. ####

(2)Authorization of appropriations To carry out this subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated $37,600,000 for fiscal year 2025 and $37,600,000, adjusted for inflation beginning on August 1, 2024, for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027, to remain available until expended. ####

(3)Sunset The authority to compensate, and make arrangements with, the Government of Canada under this subsection shall expire on August 31, 2027. ###

(d)Definitions In this section: ####

(1)Columbia river basin The term “Columbia River Basin” means the entire United States portion of the Columbia River watershed. ####

(2)Columbia river treaty The term “Columbia River Treaty” means the treaty relating to cooperative development of the water resources of the Columbia River Basin, signed at Washington January 17, 1961, and entered into force September 16, 1964. ####

(3)Flood storage The term “flood storage” means the usable space in a reservoir that is set aside for impounding and releasing water for flood risk management or otherwise for regulating stream flows to minimize flood risk. ####

(4)Government of canada The term “Government of Canada” means the Government of Canada, a Canadian Province, or a subdivision or instrumentality thereof. ####

(5)Operating year The term “operating year” means a 12-month period beginning on August 1 and ending on July 31. ####

(6)U.S. entity The term “U.S. entity” means the entity designated by the United States under Article XIV of the Columbia River Treaty.