“Montana’s lakes and rivers are essential to providing clean drinking water, irrigation, economic development, and recreation across the state,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “And this bill authorizes federal assistance to ensure they are being properly maintained for the benefit of all Montanans.”

            The Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) provides funds for water restoration, mitigation, and recovery plans across the U.S.  Today, the House passed the House and Senate conference report to the legislation which will now be sent to the President.

            “Clean water is truly a backbone of development for Montana’s rural communities,” said Rehberg.  “As the sole member of the Montana delegation on the Appropriations Committee, I’ll continue to make sure Montana’s needs have a seat at the table in terms of federal funding.”   

Highlights of the WRDA Bill:

·        Authorizes $153 million for necessary environmental studies, an emergency response plan, technical, planning and design assistance, and rehabilitation and construction of the St. Mary Diversion and Conveyance Works in consultation with the Fort Belknap and Blackfeet tribes.

·        Includes language authorizing the Bureau of Reclamation to work with the Corp of Engineers to plan and construct a fish passage at Intake Diversion Dam on the Yellowstone River.  This project will open up 238 miles of critical habitat for the pallid sturgeon in the Upper Missouri River Basin.

·        Authorizes $30 million for restoration projects along the Yellowstone River to benefit the ecosystem and recreational opportunities.

·        Authorizes $5 million to carry out ecosystem restoration, flood damage reduction, and recreation components of the Clark Fork River Revitalization Project in Missoula, Montana.

·        Establishes the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee to assist the Secretary of Interior in conducting studies of the Missouri River and tributaries and determining actions required to mitigate losses of aquatic habitat, recover federally listed endangered species, and restore the ecosystem. 

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