§617e Uses to be made of dam and reservoir; title in whom; leases, regulations; limitation on authority

Summary

The dam and reservoir must be used for three main things: controlling the river and helping navigation and flood control; providing irrigation and household water while protecting current water rights under Article VIII of the Colorado River compact; and producing power. The United States keeps ownership forever and will run and manage the works unless Congress decides otherwise. The Secretary of the Interior can lease parts of the government-built power plant or lease water for power generation. If he does, the rules in section 617d about money, lease terms, renewals, competing claims, and joint use of transmission lines apply. The Secretary must write and enforce rules that follow the Federal Power Act where they fit. These rules cover keeping the works in good repair, accounting, setting rates when states do not, valuing assets for rates, transfers beyond leases, limiting excessive profits, U.S. recapture or emergency use of lessee property, and penalties. The Secretary must also follow other Federal Power Act and Federal Power Commission rules that protect investors and consumers. The Federal Power Commission must not issue permits or licenses under the Federal Power Act for the Colorado River or its tributaries (except the Gila River) in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, and California until this subchapter goes into effect under section 617c.