Bills · S. 3743 · Text

Reported to Senate

Confirmed from the official record

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S. 3743: the bill

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3743 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 653
119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3743

  To direct the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a feasibility 
 study on a selective water withdrawal system at Glen Canyon Dam, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 29, 2026

  Mr. Lee (for himself and Mr. Curtis) introduced the following bill; 
   which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources

                           September 17, 2026

                 Reported by Mr. Lee, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To direct the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a feasibility 
 study on a selective water withdrawal system at Glen Canyon Dam, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. GLEN CANYON DAM SELECTIVE WATER WITHDRAWAL SYSTEM 
              FEASIBILITY STUDY.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior (acting 
through the Commissioner of Reclamation) (referred to in this section 
as the ``Secretary''), in consultation with the Secretary of Energy and 
Colorado River Storage Project power contractors, shall carry out a 
feasibility study (including all hydrological modeling) on a selective 
water withdrawal system at Glen Canyon Dam to optimize hydropower 
generation when releasing cold water from Glen Canyon Dam, while also 
preventing entrainment of invasive species, pursuant to the 2016 Long-
Term Experimental and Management Plan Record of Decision and the 2024 
Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement and Record of Decision.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Feasibility Determination.--If the Secretary 
determines that a selective water withdrawal system alternative studied 
under subsection (a) is feasible under the reclamation laws, the 
Secretary may, if the Colorado River Storage Project power contractors 
concur with the alternative chosen, begin compliance with, and 
construction of, the chosen alternative.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Feasibility Study Deadline.--The Secretary shall 
complete the feasibility study required under subsection (a) not later 
than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Funding.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The costs of the feasibility 
        study under subsection (a) shall be paid for by the Secretary 
        using appropriated funds.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Treatment of funds.--Any Federal funds made 
        available to carry out this section shall be nonreimbursable 
        and nonreturnable to the United States.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Identification of funds.--Not later than 90 
        days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of Energy and Colorado River 
        Storage Project power contractors, shall identify sources of 
        available funds to carry out this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Effect.--Nothing in this section affects the post-2026 
Colorado River reservoir operations guidelines and strategies for Lake 
Powell and Lake Mead in effect before, on, or after the date of 
enactment of this Act.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. GLEN CANYON DAM FEASIBILITY STUDY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior (acting through the 
Commissioner of Reclamation) (referred to in this section as the 
``Secretary''), in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, the 
Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Director 
of the United States Geological Survey, the Colorado River Basin 
States, and Colorado River Storage Project power contractors, shall 
carry out a feasibility study (including all hydrological modeling) to 
analyze alternatives (including infrastructure upgrades) to address 
downstream invasive species at Glen Canyon Dam.
    (b) Included Alternatives.--The alternatives analyzed under 
subsection (a) may include a thermal curtain or a selective water 
withdrawal system at Glen Canyon Dam to optimize hydropower generation 
when releasing cold water from Glen Canyon Dam, while also preventing 
entrainment of invasive species, pursuant to the 2016 Long-Term 
Experimental and Management Plan Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement and Record of Decision and section 1802 of the Grand Canyon 
Protection Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-575; 106 Stat. 4669).
    (c) Feasibility Determination.--If the Secretary determines that an 
alternative studied under subsection (a) is feasible under the 
reclamation laws, the Secretary may initiate design, construction, and 
associated activities of, as applicable, the recommended alternative, 
including any necessary policy actions allowable under the reclamation 
laws.
    (d) Feasibility Report.--After completion of the feasibility study 
required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall develop a summarized 
feasibility study report that includes, at a minimum--
            (1) an analysis of the alternatives analyzed and 
        identification of the recommended alternative;
            (2) an allocation of the construction, operation, 
        maintenance, and replacement costs of the recommended 
        alternative to the authorized purposes of the Colorado River 
        Storage Project;
            (3) the major structural features and nonstructural 
        features of the recommended alternative, any special 
        considerations for implementation of the recommended 
        alternative, and the estimated cost of implementation of the 
        recommended alternative;
            (4) an analysis of the effects of the recommended 
        alternative on hydropower production and rates, which shall be 
        developed in consultation with the Western Area Power 
        Administration;
            (5) a recommendation of the Secretary on whether--
                    (A) the recommended alternative is found to be 
                technically and financially feasible in accordance with 
                the reclamation laws; and
                    (B) the recommended alternative should be 
                authorized for construction; and
            (6) any other recommendations determined to be necessary by 
        the Secretary.
    (e) Feasibility Study and Feasibility Report Deadlines.--The 
Secretary shall--
            (1) not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of 
        this Act, complete the feasibility study required under 
        subsection (a); and
            (2) not later than 90 days after the date on which the 
        Secretary completes the feasibility report required under 
        subsection (d), submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
        Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources 
        of the House of Representatives the feasibility report required 
        under that subsection.
    (f) Funding.--
            (1) In general.--The costs of the feasibility study 
        required under subsection (a) shall be paid for by the 
        Secretary using appropriated funds.
            (2) Treatment of funds.--Any Federal funds made available 
        to carry out this section shall be nonreimbursable and 
        nonreturnable to the United States.
            (3) Identification of funds.--Not later than 90 days after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of Energy and Colorado River 
        Storage Project power contractors, shall identify sources of 
        available funds to carry out this section.
    (g) Effect.--Nothing in this section affects the criteria for the 
coordinated long-range operations of Colorado River reservoirs pursuant 
to section 602 of the Colorado River Basin Project Act (Public Law 90-
537; 82 Stat. 900).
    (h) Termination of Authority.--The authority provided by this 
section expires on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act.
                                                       Calendar No. 653

119th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 3743

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

  To direct the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a feasibility 
 study on a selective water withdrawal system at Glen Canyon Dam, and 
                          for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           September 17, 2026

                       Reported with an amendment
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