To provide for a memorandum of understanding to address the impacts of a certain record of decision on the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund.

Bill Summary: H.R. 1001 (119th Congress)

Title: To provide for a memorandum of understanding to address the impacts of a certain record of decision on the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund.

Overview

H.R. 1001 is a targeted piece of legislation designed to ensure that the financial stability of the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund is maintained following a 2024 administrative decision regarding water management at the Glen Canyon Dam. The bill mandates a collaborative effort between the Department of the Interior and the Department of Energy to analyze and mitigate the economic and environmental impacts of specific flow experiments intended to protect native fish species.

Purpose and Intent

The primary goal of the bill is to address the financial risks associated with the July 2024 Record of Decision (ROD). This ROD updated the Glen Canyon Dam Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan to allow for water releases that bypass hydropower generators. These releases are intended to disrupt the establishment of invasive smallmouth bass to protect endangered native fish, but they result in a loss of hydroelectric power generation.

Because the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund relies on hydropower sales to fund the operation and maintenance of dams in the Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) system, these bypass experiments create a potential funding shortfall.

Key Provisions

The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior (via the Bureau of Reclamation) and the Secretary of Energy (via the Western Area Power Administration) to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). In consultation with the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group, this MOU must establish a plan to:

• Protect Infrastructure Funding: Address the effects of the ROD on the Fund's ability to pay for routine operations, maintenance, and the replacement of critical infrastructure.
• Manage Energy Impacts: Analyze the impact on hydropower production and identify the costs associated with replacing lost hydropower resources and maintaining grid reliability.
• Environmental Assessment: Identify the impacts the ROD has had on species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Impact and Affected Parties

Financial & Economic Impact

According to the supporting committee report, the bypass experiments could result in an average loss to the Basin Fund ranging from $13.5 million to $26.9 million, with a worst-case scenario exceeding $200 million.
* Power Distributors: May face higher costs as they may need to purchase more expensive replacement power on the open market to meet contractual obligations.
* Infrastructure: Reduced funding could jeopardize the maintenance of dams within the CRSP system.

Environmental Impact

The bill seeks to balance the need to protect native fish (such as the humpback chub) from invasive smallmouth bass with the necessity of maintaining the region's energy and water infrastructure.

Procedural Status

• Introduced: February 5, 2025
• House Action: Passed the House of Representatives on May 13, 2025, via voice vote.
• Current Status: Received in the Senate on May 14, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.