Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act

This bill, titled the "Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act," aims to explicitly reaffirm the federal government's sole responsibility for the Lower Yellowstone Fish Bypass Channel. The channel was constructed as a federal mitigation measure under the Endangered Species Act to aid the endangered pallid sturgeon and other native fish species, and it is distinct from the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project. Specifically, the legislation mandates that the Secretary of the Interior , acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation, retains full ownership, operational authority, and financial responsibility for the bypass channel in perpetuity. It prohibits any administrative action, agreement, or transfer from shifting these responsibilities or costs to non-federal entities, including the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation District or the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project . The bill also nullifies any prior attempts to impose such burdens and authorizes $1,000,000 annually for continuous operations, maintenance, and necessary upgrades, ensuring ongoing federal funding and oversight.