Water Resources Development Act of 1983 (S. 1739 (98th)) — United States

Summary

Water Resources Development Act of 1983 - Title I - Directs the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to obligate no sums in excess of those specified in this title for the combined purpose of the "Construction General" account and the "Flood Control, Mississippi River and Tributaries" account. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1988. Title II: General Provisions - Directs the Secretary to enter into agreements with landowners who are benefitted by local flood control projects to assure that such owners will contribute 50 percent of that project's cost. Limits the commencement period for any such flood control project to ten years from the enactment of this Act unless the Secretary shows that such project remains needed and justified. Authorizes and directs the Secretary to submit to Congress a list of all existing studies that have an inactive or deferred status in order to allow either the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate or the Committee on Public Works and Transportation of the House of Representatives to deauthorize any surveys on such list within 90 days thereafter by resolution. Allows for the submission of Federal projects with a cost of up to 10,000,000 provided, however, that any project with a cost exceeding $10,000,000 must be authorized by Act of Congress. Provides further that each such project must contain benefits directly related to agriculture that account for at least 20 percent of the total benefits of the project. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to study and report to the appropriate congressional committees on the feasibility of requiring full public access to all water impoundment facilities that have recreation-related potential. Declares the development, expansion, and rehabilitation of municipal and industrial water supply and distribution systems to be a legitimate Federal purpose. Amends Federal law to provide for the compatability of Federal flood control projects with any existing or planned local flood control improvement programs. Directs the Secretary to undertake a program for the control of river ice, to assist communities in the breakup of such ice, and to provide technical assistance to local units of government to control or break up such ice. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1988. Directs the Secretary, upon request, to survey the potential of rehabilitating former industrial sites, millraces, etc. already constructed for use as hydroelectric facilities. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1988. Amends the Flood Control Act of 1970 concerning agreements made between Federal and State governments for cooperation in payment of mutually-beneficial flood control projects. Requires a favorable report from the Chief of Engineers before any flood control facility construction may begin. Provides that the Secretary shall not require non-Federal interests to assume operation of any Federally-run facility as a condition to the construction of new recreational facilities. Provides for the sharing of construction costs by the States in proportion to the local benefit realized by such construction. Title III: Project Provisions - Authorizes and directs the Secretary to undertake the following flood control improvement projects: (1) Warrior River, Mound State Park, Moundville, Alabama; (2) Fort Toulouse National Historic Landmark and Taskigi Indian Mound, Alabama; and (3) Tangier Island, Virginia. Authorizes and directs the Secretary to undertake the following navigation and channel improvement projects: (1) Christina River, Wilmington, Delaware; (2) Abiquiu Dam, New Mexico; (3) Richard B. Russell Dam and Lake, Abbeville, South Carolina; (4) Winooski River Basin, Waterbury, Vermont; (5) Tacoma Harbor, Washington; (6) Northern Mariana Islands; and (7) Missouri River Basin, South Dakota. Provides that power provided by this Act for the benefit of the state of South Dakota shall not be resold for less than the current market value. Provides that the operation and maintenance of Jackson Hole Snake River project, Wyoming, shall be the responsibility of the Secretary, provided that non-Federal interest contribute the initial $35,000 in construction costs. Modifies the Rio Grande Floodway project, Truth or Consequences Unit, New Mexico, to authorize the Secretary to construct a flood control dam on the Cuchillo Negro Creek. Authorizes and directs the Secretary to consider Acequia Systems as public entities. Authorizes the Secretary to institute cropland irrigation research for the St. John River Basin, Maine. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes bank protection activities in Starr County, Texas, in accordance with certain specifications. Title IV: Dam Safety - Dam Safety Act of 1983 - Amends public law concerning the definition of "dam". Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1987. Provides for the distribution of such funds among the States. Directs the Secretary to provide assistance to any State that establishes and maintains a dam safety program which includes the following: (1) a procedure for the review of dam plans to determine its safety; (2) a procedure to determine that such dam will be operated in a safe manner; (3) a procedure for inspection at least once every three years, or more if warranted; (4) the State has the power to modify the dam to assure its safety; (5) the State develops a system of emergency procedures to be followed in the event of dam failure; and (6) the State has the necessary emergency funds to make immediate repairs in order to protect human life and property. Provides for the approval of submitted programs within 120 days unless notified prior to that by the Secretary. Provides for periodic review of dam safety programs by the Secretary. Requires the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to report to Congress on the need for Federally-sponsored programs of guarantees of insurance for owners of dams. Authorizes to be established a Federal Dam Safety Review Board responsible for reviewing the design and safety of dams constructed in the United States, and to monitor State implementation of this Act. Requires the Board to file an advisory report on proposed dams prior to their construction. Directs the Board also to study the need for a Federal loan program to assist owners of non-Federal dams in rehabilitating such structures to assure their safety. Provides for the composition of Board members. Directs the Secretary to provide training for dam safety inspectors. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1987. Directs the Secretary to begin research to develop techniques and equipment for more efficient dam inspection. Provides for State participation in such research. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1987. Authorizes the Secretary to maintain and publish information on the inventory of dams authorized under this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Title V: Inland Navigation - Directs the Secretary to obligate no more than $500,000,000 for construction, renovation, and maintenance of the inland waterways of the United States from 1985 through 1999. Directs the Secretary to impose user charges on the commercial users of the inland waterways of the United States to the degree necessary to maintain the system. Establishes an Inland Waterways Users Board (the Users Board) to represent the shippers and users of such waterways. Authorizes the Secretary to operate and maintain any navigational project, provided that when replacement of such project is deemed essential and the cost is less than $25,000,000, the Secretary may proceed with such work. Authorizes the following works of improvement to the inland waterways by the Secretary: (1) Helena Harbor, Arkansas; (2) White River Navigation to Batesville, Arkansas; (3) Lake Pontchartrain, North Shore, Louisiana; (4) Greenville Harbor, Mississippi; (5) Vicksburg Harbor, Mississippi; (6) Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Bridges, North Carolina; (7) Olcott Harbor, New York; (8) Bonneville Lock and Dam, Oregon and Washington; (9) Memphis Harbor, Memphis, Tennessee; (10) Gallipolis Locks and Dam Replacement, Ohio and West Virginia; and (11) the New York State Barge Canal, provided that control and operation of the canal continues to reside with the State of New York. Upper Mississippi River System Management Act - Provides that Congress recognizes the Upper Mississippi River System as a nationally significant ecosystem and commercial navigation system, and provides for the administration and regulation of such system. Provides that Congress approves of a "Master Plan" as a guide for future water policy on the Upper Mississippi River System. Provides for cooperation of several States in the System among one another toward the growth and development of the System. Authorizes the Secretary to provide for the construction of a second lock at locks and dam 26, Mississippi River, Alton, Illinois and Missouri. Authorizes such sums as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. Directs the Secretary to monitor traffic movements on the System in order to determine any future capacity expansion. Authorizes appropriations for such monitoring. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to undertake various programs for the enhancement of the Upper Mississippi River System. Authorizes appropriations for this purpose. Authorizes such Secretary to implement a program of Recreational Projects for the System. Authorizes appropriations for this purpose. Finds that the "Master Plan" is in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Title VI: Cost Sharing - Directs that the construction of any water resource project can only be initiated after the Federal agency and the non-Federal sponsor have contractually agreed to share the project's cost in accordance with certain guidelines (share of cost depends on the type of project provided). Enumerates the non-Federal share for each type of water resource project. Provides for the repayment period of the non- Federal share, with appropriate interest. Provides that any cost-sharing agreement with a non-Federal private or public sponsor shall be consistent with the ability of such sponsor to pay. Provides for the sharing of costs up to the date of enactment of this Act. Title VII: Adopts and authorizes the following works of improvement to rivers, harbors, and other waterways for flood control and other purposes to be undertaken by the Secretary in accordance with specified plans and provisions: (a) Flood Control: (1) Village Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama; (2) Eight Mile Creek, Paragould, Arkansas; (3) Fourche Bayou Basin, Little Rock, Arkansas; (4) Helena and vicinity, Arkansas; (5) Little Colorado River at Holbrook, Arizona; (6) Cache Creek Basin, California; (7) Redbank and Fancher Creeks, California; (8) Santa Ana River Mainstem, including Santiago Creek, California; (9) Fountain Creek, Pueblo, Colorado; (10) Metropolitan Denver and South Platte River and Tributaries, Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska; (11) Oates Creek, Georgia; (12) Agana River, Guam; (13) Big Wood River and Tributaries, Idaho; (14) Rock River at Rockford and vicinity, Illinois; (15) Halstead, Kansas; (16) Atchafalaya Basin Floodway System, Louisiana; (17) Bushley Bayou, Louisiana; (18) Louisiana State Penitentiary Levee, Mississippi River; (19) Quincy Coastal Streams, Massachusetts; (20) Mississippi River at St. Paul, Minnesota; (21) Redwood River at Marshall, Minnesota; (22) Root River Basin, Minnesota; (23) South Fork Zumbro River Watershed at Rochester, Minnesota; (24) Horn Lake Creek and Tributaries, including Cow Pen Creek, Tennessee and Mississippi; (25) Robinson's Branch of the Rahway River at Clark, Scotch Plains, and Rahway, New Jersey; (26) Rahway River and Van Winkles Brook at Springfield, New Jersey; (27) Green Brook Subbasin, Raritan River Basin, New Jersey; (28) Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection, Bernalillo to Belen, New Mexico; (29) Puerco River and Tributaries, Gallup, New Mexico; (30) Cazenovia Creek Watershed, New York; (31) Mamaroneck and Sheldrake Rivers Basin and Byram River Basin, New York and Connecticut; (32) Hocking River at Logan and Nelsonville, Ohio; (33) Miami River, Fairfield, Ohio; (34) Miami River, Little Miami River, West Carrolton, Holes Creek, Ohio; (35) Muskingum River Basin, Ohio; (36) Scioto River at North Chillicothe, Ohio; (37) Mingo Creek, Tulsa, Oklahoma; (38) Parker Lane, Muddy Boggy Creek, Oklahoma; (39) Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; (40) Lock Haven, Pennsylvania; (41) Saw Mill Run, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; (42) Big River Reservoir, Rhode Island; (43) Nonconnah Creek, Tennessee and Mississippi; (44) Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries, Texas; (45) Boggy Creek, Austin, Texas; (46) Lake Wichita, Holliday Creek, Texas; (47) James River Basin, Richmond, Virginia; (48) Chehalis River at South Aberdeen and Cosmopolis, Washington; (49) Yakima Union Gap, Washington; (b) Hydropower Development: (1) South Central Railbelt Area, Alaska, Hydroelectric Power, Valdez and Copper River Basin; (2) Murray Lock and Dam, Hydropower, Arkansas; (3) Metropolitan Atlanta Area Water Resources Management Study, Georgia; (4) Lucky Peak Dam and Lake, Idaho; (5) W. D. Mayo Lock and Dam 14, Hydropower, Oklahoma; (6) McNary Lock and Dam Second Powerhouse, Columbia River, Oregon and Washington; (7) Gregory County Hydroelectric Pumped Storage Facility, South Dakota; (c) Shoreline Protection: (1) Charlotte County, Florida; (2) Indian River County, Florida; (3) Panama City Beaches, Florida; (4) St. John's County, Florida; (5) Jekyll Island, Georgia; (6) Atlantic Coast of Maryland and Assateague Island, Virginia; (7) Atlantic Coast of New York City from Rockaway Inlet to Norton Point, New York; (8) Presque Isle Peninsula, Erie, Pennsylvania; (9) Folly Beach, South Carolina; (d) Mitigation: (1) Fish and Wildlife Program for the Sacramento River Bank Protection Project, California; (2) Richard B. Russell Dam and Lake, Savannah River, Georgia and South Carolina; (3) West Kentucky Tributaries Projects, Obion Creek, Kentucky; (4) Cape May Inlet to Lower Township, New Jersey; (5) Cooper Lake and Channels Project, Texas; (e) Demonstration: (1) Cabin Creek, West Virginia; (2) Lava Flow Control, Island of Hawaii, Hawaii; and (3) San Francisco Harbor, Fisherman's Wharf Area, California.

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Timeline

3 August 1983
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Source: IntroReferral
3 August 1983
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
14 September 1983
Committee
Considered by Subcommittee on Water Resources.
Source: Committee
20 September 1983
Committee
Subcommittee on Water Resources. Approved for full committee consideration with amendments favorably.
Source: Committee
19 October 1983
Committee
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.
Source: Committee
26 October 1983
Committee
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.
Source: Committee
1 November 1983
Committee
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.
Source: Committee
3 November 1983
Committee
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.
Source: Committee
8 November 1983
Reported
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Source: Committee
17 November 1983
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 625.
Source: Calendars
17 November 1983
Reported
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported to Senate by Senator Abdnor with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 98-340.
Source: Committee
17 November 1983
Reported
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported to Senate by Senator Abdnor with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 98-340.
Source: Committee
22 February 1984
Committee
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Hearings held on Titles V and X. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 98-704.
Source: Committee
2 April 1984
Introduced
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources by unanimous consent for not to extend beyond April 27, 1984, for consideration of Section 217, Section 224, Title VI, Section 701 (b)(10) and Title IX.
Source: IntroReferral
4 April 1984
Committee
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested executive comment from Interior Department, Energy Department, Army Corps of Engineers, OMB.
Source: Committee
9 April 1984
Committee
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 98-930.
Source: Committee
25 April 1984
Reported
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Source: Committee
27 April 1984
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 811.
Source: Calendars
27 April 1984
Reported
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator McClure under the authority of the order of Apr 26, 84 with amendments. With written report No. 98-418. Additional views filed.
Source: Committee
27 April 1984
Reported
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator McClure under the authority of the order of Apr 26, 84 with amendments. With written report No. 98-418. Additional views filed.
Source: Committee
16 May 1984
Introduced
Referred to the Committee on Finance by unanimous consent for a period not to extend beyond Friday, June 8, 1984, for the consideration only of the revenue raising implications of section 502 and 1006.
Source: IntroReferral
5 June 1984
Committee
Subcommittee on Taxation and Debt Management. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 98-1047.
Source: Committee
7 June 1984
Reported
Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Source: Committee
8 June 1984
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 973.
Source: Calendars
8 June 1984
Reported
Committee on Finance. Reported to Senate by Senator Dole with amendments. With written report No. 98-509. Additional views filed.
Source: Committee
8 June 1984
Reported
Committee on Finance. Reported to Senate by Senator Dole with amendments. With written report No. 98-509. Additional views filed.
Source: Committee

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Reported to Senate amended, 3rd committee reporting
summary · EN · 8 June 1984
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Reported to Senate amended, 2nd committee reporting
summary · EN · 27 April 1984
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Reported to Senate amended, 1st committee reporting
summary · EN · 17 November 1983
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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 3 August 1983
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Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/98th-congress/senate-bill/1739
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/98/s/1739
us · 98-s-1739 · source updated 24 March 2026

Water Resources Development Act of 1983