View all text of Chapter 31 [§ 1451 - § 1477]
§ 1477. Snow water supply forecasting
(a) Short title
(b) Definition of program
(c) Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program
(1) Program establishment
(2) Program implementation
To implement the program, the Secretary shall—
(A) develop the program framework in coordination with other Federal agencies pursuant to subsection (d), culminating in the report required under subsection (d)(3); and
(B) after submitting the report required by subsection (d)(3), implement activities to improve snowpack measurement in particular watersheds pursuant to subsection (e).
(d) Development of program framework in coordination with other Federal agencies
(1) Snowpack measurement data
When determining water supply forecasts or allocations to Federal water contractors, the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, shall incorporate, to the greatest extent practicable, information from emerging technologies for snowpack measurement, such as—
(A) synthetic aperture radar;
(B) laser altimetry; and
(C) other emerging technologies that the Secretary determines are likely to provide more accurate or timely snowpack measurement data.
(2) Coordination
(3) Emerging technologies report
Not later than October 1, 2021, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that—
(A) summarizes the use of emerging technologies pursuant to this section;
(B) describes benefits derived from the use of technologies summarized under subparagraph (A) related to the environment and increased water supply reliability; and
(C) describes how Federal agencies will coordinate to implement emerging technologies.
(e) Program implementation
(1) Activities implementing framework
(2) Focus
The program shall focus on activities that will maintain, establish, expand, or advance snowpack measurement consistent with the report required by subsection (d)(3), with an emphasis on—
(A) enhancing activities in river basins to achieve improved snow and water supply forecasting results;
(B) activities in river basins where snow water supply forecasting related activities described in this section are not occurring on December 27, 2020; and
(C) demonstrating or testing new, or improving existing, snow and water supply forecasting technology.
(3) Information sharing
(4) Program partners
(5) Cooperative agreements
The Secretary may—
(A) enter into cooperative agreements with program partners to allow the program to be administered efficiently and cost effectively through cost-sharing or by providing additional in-kind resources necessary for program implementation; and
(B) provide nonreimbursable matching funding for programmatic and operational activities under this section in consultation with program partners.
(6) Environmental laws
(f) Program implementation report
Not later than 4 years after December 27, 2020, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, that includes—
(1) a list of basins and sub-basins for which snowpack measurement technologies are being used under the program, including a description of each technology used; and
(2) a list of Federal agencies and program partners participating in each basin or sub-basin listed in paragraph (1).
(g) Authorization of appropriations
(Pub. L. 116–260, div. FF, title XI, § 1111, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3249.)