Title 43Public LandsRelease 119-73

§2223 Plan elements

Title 43 › Chapter CHAPTER 40— - RECLAMATION STATES EMERGENCY DROUGHT RELIEF › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLANNING › § 2223

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Require that contingency plans list a range of ways to deal with drought. These can include things like water banks, conservation steps, moving water to other areas, using Reclamation facilities to store or move nonproject water, tapping dead reservoir storage or more groundwater, supplying water for fish and wildlife, and small construction fixes. Each plan must say which parts are the Secretary’s duty under Federal Reclamation law and which parts cover projects not governed by that law. The Secretary may work with other Federal and State agencies to improve hydrologic data and forecasting so drought warnings and triggers are timelier. Plans must follow all applicable Federal law, including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321), section 2265(a) of title 33, and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act [16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.], and must follow State law. Plans must be reviewed regularly and can be changed as needed.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §2223

Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Elements of the contingency plans prepared pursuant to section 2222 of this title may include, but are not limited to, any or all of the following:
(1)Water banks.
(2)Appropriate water conservation actions.
(3)Water transfers to serve users inside or outside authorized Federal Reclamation project service areas in order to mitigate the effects of drought.
(4)Use of Federal Reclamation project facilities to store and convey nonproject water for agricultural, municipal and industrial, fish and wildlife, or other uses both inside and outside an authorized Federal Reclamation project service area.
(5)Use of water from dead or inactive reservoir storage or increased use of ground water resources for temporary water supplies.
(6)Water supplies for fish and wildlife resources.
(7)Minor structural actions.
(b)Each contingency plan shall identify the following two types of plan elements related to Federal Reclamation projects:
(1)Those plan elements which pertain exclusively to the responsibilities and obligations of the Secretary pursuant to Federal Reclamation law and the responsibilities and obligations of the Secretary for a specific Federal Reclamation project.
(2)Those plan elements that pertain to projects, purposes, or activities not constructed, financed, or otherwise governed by the Federal Reclamation law.
(c)The Secretary is authorized to work with other Federal and State agencies to improve hydrologic data collection systems and water supply forecasting techniques to provide more accurate and timely warning of potential drought conditions and drought levels that would trigger the implementation of contingency plans.
(d)The contingency plans and plan elements shall comply with all requirements of applicable Federal law, including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321), section 2265(a) of title 33, and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act [16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.], and shall be in accordance with applicable State law.
(e)The contingency plans shall include provisions for periodic review to assure the adequacy of the contingency plan to respond to current conditions, and such plans may be modified accordingly.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, referred to in subsec. (d), is Pub. L. 91–190, Jan. 1, 1970, 83 Stat. 852, which is classified generally to chapter 55 (§ 4321 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 4321 of Title 42 and Tables. The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, referred to in subsec. (d), is act Mar. 10, 1934, ch. 55, 48 Stat. 401, which is classified generally to sections 661 to 666c–1 of Title 16, Conservation. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 661(a) of Title 16,

Short Title

note set out under section 661 of Title 16, and Tables.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 2223

Title 43Public Lands

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73