Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act

This bill, titled the "Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act," aims to unequivocally establish the federal government's sole responsibility for the Lower Yellowstone Fish Bypass Channel. It reaffirms that the Bureau of Reclamation retains exclusive ownership, operational control, and financial responsibility for this channel, which was constructed as a federal mitigation measure for the endangered pallid sturgeon under the Endangered Species Act.

A key objective of the legislation is to protect the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project and District from any undue financial or operational burdens associated with the bypass channel. The bill explicitly states that no administrative action, agreement, or transfer can alter or diminish these federal responsibilities, nor can any federal agency impose financial or operational obligations on non-federal entities for the channel. It authorizes appropriations of $1,000,000 annually for the channel's continuous operation, maintenance, repairs, and adaptive management, ensuring dedicated federal funding. Furthermore, it grants the irrigation district and affected stakeholders the right to seek judicial review if the Secretary attempts to transfer these responsibilities, and invalidates any prior attempts to do so.