To provide assistance for the conduct of agricultural and natural resource conservation activities in the Walker River Basin, Nevada.

SA 407. Mr. REID submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1268, Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, to establish and rapidly implement regulations for State driver's license and identification document security standards, to prevent terrorists from abusing the asylum laws of the United States, to unify terrorism-related grounds for inadmissibility and removal, to ensure expeditious construction of the San Diego border fence, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 211, strike lines 3 through 8 and insert the following:

Agricultural and Natural Resources of the Walker River Basin

Sec. 6017. (a)(1) Using amounts made available under section 2507 of the Farm and Security Rural Investment Act of 2002 (43 U.S.C. 2211 note; Public Law 107-171), the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”), acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation, shall provide not more than $850,000 to pay the State of Nevada's share of the costs for the Humboldt Project conveyance required under--

(A) title VIII of the Clark County Conservation of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002 (116 Stat. 2016); and

(B) section 217(a)(3) of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2004 (117 Stat. 1853).

(2) Amounts provided under paragraph (1) may be used to pay--

(A) administrative costs;

(B) the costs associated with complying with--

(i) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and

(ii) the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.); and

(C) real estate transfer costs.

(b)(1) Using amounts made available under section 2507 of the Farm and Security Rural Investment Act of 2002 (43 U.S.C. 2211 note; Public Law 107-171), the Secretary shall provide not more than $70,000,000 to the University of Nevada--

(A) to acquire from willing sellers land, water, and related interests in the Walker River Basin, Nevada; and

(B) to establish and administer an agricultural and natural resources center, the mission of which shall be to undertake research, restoration, and educational activities in the Walker River Basin relating to--

(i) innovative agricultural water conservation;

(ii) cooperative programs for environmental restoration;

(iii) fish and wildlife habitat restoration; and

(iv) wild horse and burro research and adoption marketing.

(2) In acquiring land, water, and related interests under paragraph (1)(A), the University of Nevada shall make acquisitions that the University determines are the most beneficial to--

(A) the establishment and operation of the agricultural and natural resources research center authorized under paragraph (1)(B); and

(B) environmental restoration in the Walker River Basin.

(c)(1) Using amounts made available under section 2507 of the Farm and Security Rural Investment Act of 2002 (43 U.S.C. 2211 note; Public Law 107-171), the Secretary shall provide not more than $10,000,000 for a water lease and purchase program for the Walker River Paiute Tribe.

(2) Water acquired under paragraph (1) shall be--

(A) acquired only from willing sellers; and

(B) designed to maximize water conveyances to Walker Lake.

(d) Using amounts made available under section 2507 of the Farm and Security Rural Investment Act of 2002 (43 U.S.C. 2211 note; Public Law 107-171), the Secretary shall provide--

(1) $10,000,000 for tamarisk eradication, riparian area restoration, and channel restoration efforts within the Walker River Basin that are designed to enhance water delivery to Walker Lake, with priority given to activities that are expected to result in the greatest increased water flows to Walker Lake; and

(2) $5,000,000 to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Walker River Paiute Tribe, and the Nevada Division of Wildlife to undertake activities, to be coordinated by the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to complete the design and implementation of the Western Inland Trout Initiative and Fishery Improvements in the State of Nevada with an emphasis on the Walker River Basin.