WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate today passed 20 Energy and Natural Resources bills along with one resolution by unanimous consent.. Included in the block of bills that passed was S 2951, sponsored by Sen. Slade Gorton (R- Wash.), which would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to investigate opportunities to better manage the water resources in the Salmon Creek, watershed of the upper Columbia River, in Okanagoan County, Washington. The goal is to restore and enhance fishery resources (especially the endangered Upper Columbia Spring Chinook and Steelhead), while maintaining or improving the availability of water supplies for irrigation practices vital to the economic well-being of the county. The study would assist the efforts by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and the Okanagoan Irrigation District to provide a course of action to achieve fish restoration and improved irrigation conservation and efficiency. The Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of 1999, S 624, sponsored by Sen. Conrad Burns (R- Mont.) was also approved by the Senate. The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to plan, design, construct, operate, maintain, and replace the Assiniboine and Sioux Rural Water System within the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana. It also directs the Secretary to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board regarding the water system. The following bills were cleared by the Senate: S. 2425 - (G. Smith) To authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to participate in the planning, design, andconstruction of the Bend Feed Canal Pipeline Project, Oregon. HR 2348 - (Rep. Hansen) To authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to provide cost sharing for the endangered fish recovery implementation programs for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins. HR 3468 - (Rep. Canon) To direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey to certain water rights to Duchesne City, Utah. S 2594 - (Allard) To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to contract with the Mancos Water Conservancy District to use the Mancos Project facilities for impounding, storage, diverting, and carriage of nonproject water for the purpose of irrigation, domestic, municipal, industrial purposes. HR 3236 - (Rep. Canon) To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into contracts with the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, Utah, to use Weber Basin Project facilities for the impounding, storage, and carriage of nonproject water for domestic, municipal, industrial purposes. HR 3577 - (Rep. Simpson) To increase the amount authorized to be appropriated for the north side pumping division of the Minidoka reclamation project, Idaho. S 1848 - (Campbell) To amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the design, planing, and construction of the Denver Water Reuse project. S 2195 - (Reid) To amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the design, planning, and construction of the Truckee watershed reclamation project for the reclamation and reuse of water. S 2301 - (Gorton) To amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the design, planning, and construction of the Lakehaven water reclamation project for the reclamation and reuse of water. S 2877 - (Wyden) To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study on water optimization in the Burnt River basin, Malheur River basin, Owyhee River basin, and Powder River basin, Oregon. S 3022 - (Craig) To direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain irrigation facilities to the Nampa and Meridian Irrigation District. S 1697 - (G. Smith) To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to refund certain collections received pursuant to the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982. S 2882 - (G. Smith) To authorize Bureau of Reclamation to conduct certain feasibility studies to augment water supplies for the Klamath Project, Oregon and California S. 623 - (Conrad/Dorgan) To amend Public Law 89-108 to increase authorization levels for State and Indian tribal, municipal, rural, and industrial water supplies, to meet current and future water quantity and quality needs of the Red River Valley, to deauthorize certain project features and irrigation service areas, to enhance natural resources and fish and wildlife habitat. S. 1474 - (Hutchison) To provide conveyance of the Palmetto Bend project to the State of Texas. HR 4389 - (Rep. Schaffer) To direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain water distribution facilities to the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. HR 2984 - (Rep. Barrett) To direct the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Reclamation, to convey to the Loup Basin Reclamation District, the Sargent River Irrigation District, and the Farwell Irrigation District, Nebraska, property comprising the assets of the Middle Loup Division of the Missouri River Basin Project, Nebraska. HR 3986 - (Rep. Hastings) To provide for a study of the engineering feasibility of a water exchange in lieu of electrification of the Chandler Pumping Plant at Prosser Diversion Dam, Washington. S Con Res 151 Correcting the enrollment of HR 2348. ###