Pub. L. 113-235, div. D, tit. II (as amended)

206.(a)43 U.S.C. 620 noteIn General.—The Secretary of the Interior may fund or participate in pilot projects to increase Colorado River System water in Lake Mead and the initial units of Colorado River Storage Project reservoirs, as authorized by the first section of the Act of April 11, 1956 (43 U.S.C. 620), to address the effects of historic drought conditions.(b)Administration.—Pilot projects under this section are authorized to be funded through—(1)grants by the Secretary to public entities that use water from the Colorado River Basin for municipal purposes for projects that are implemented by 1 or more non-Federal entities; or(2)grants or other appropriate financial agreements to provide funds for new water conservation agreements or for renewing or implementing water conservation agreements that are in existence on the date of enactment of this Act.(c)Limitations.—(1)Funds in the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund established by section 5 of the Colorado River Storage Project Act (43 U.S.C. 620d) and the Lower Colorado River Basin Development Fund established by section 403 of the Colorado River Basin Project Act (43 U.S.C. 1543) shall not be used to carry out this section; and(2)the authority to fund these pilot projects through grants shall terminate on September 30, 2024: Provided, That the Secretary shall not fund pilot projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin without the participation of the Upper Colorado River Division States, acting through the Upper Colorado River Commission.(d)Report and Recommendation.—Not later than September 30, 2025, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Appropriations and Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot projects described in subsection (a) and a recommendation to Congress whether the activities undertaken by the pilot projects should be continued.