A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish a program for fisheries habitat protection, restoration, and enhancement, and for other purposes.
Provides for the establishment of federally- assisted State programs for fisheries habitat protection and access enhancement. Requires States to: (1) establish advisory councils to provide recommendations with respect to program decisions; and (2) maintain a fisheries habitat account.
Allows the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to approved State programs.
Sets forth processes for watershed planning, including: (1) data collection; (2) evaluation of geomorphological characteristics; (3) short- and long-term objectives; (4) identification of existing threats to the fisheries habitat; and (5) monitoring for water quality and quantity.
Provides processes for plan approval, public participation, and use of funds.
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to establish a communities fisheries habitat revitalization program for funding to approved project sponsors for watershed restoration, creation of flood plain riparian zones, creation of wetlands, stormwater management, and other revitalization projects.
Requires the establishment by the Secretary of an electronic database of community fisheries habitat clearinghouse information. Requires compilation of other scientific fisheries-related indicators and habitat characteristics.
Directs the Secretary to make grants to State for approved projects. Authorizes funding for restricting livestock access to water within a designated watershed. Gives grant priority to States exceeding other States in certain categories, including hydroelectric instream use, sales of fishing and migratory bird hunting licenses, and the degree of degraded water in the State.
Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
Introduced in Senate
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2760-2761)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
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