Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73not60
§777g Maintenance of Projects
Title 16 › Chapter 10B— FISH RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT PROJECTS › § 777g
Summary
States must keep up fish-restoration and management projects they set up under this law. Projects finished before July 1, 1953 can be treated the same way. Any land, buildings, or equipment bought with these federal funds belong to the State. Each State must set aside 15% of its yearly share for public boat access projects and may pay up to 75% of those project costs. Regions can shift that 15% among States as long as the regional average is 15% over five years. Unused set-aside money can be used for the next four years; if still unused, the funds go to the Secretary of the Interior to top up the 58.012% apportionment pool. A State may also use up to 15% of its funds for aquatic education and outreach, paying up to 75% of those costs, but not using other federal grants for the nonfederal share. The Secretary must issue rules for these education programs within 120 days. The Secretary must also create a national outreach plan within 1 year after June 9, 1998, review it at least every 3 years, and adopt a public boat-access survey framework within 6 months of that date. States following the framework must report results within 18 months, unless the Secretary certifies they already have adequate access plans. States can use their boat-access set-aside to pay for such surveys.
Full Legal Text
Title 16, §777g
Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)To maintain fish-restoration and management projects established under the provisions of this chapter shall be the duty of the States according to their respective laws. Beginning July 1, 1953, maintenance of projects heretofore completed under the provisions of this chapter may be considered as projects under this chapter. Title to any real or personal property acquired by any State, and to improvements placed on State-owned lands through the use of funds paid to the State under the provisions of this chapter, shall be vested in such State.
(b)(1)Each State shall allocate 15 percent of the funds apportioned to it for each fiscal year under section 777c of this title for the payment of up to 75 per centum of the costs of the acquisition, development, renovation, or improvement of facilities (and auxiliary facilities necessary to insure the safe use of such facilities) that create, or add to, public access to the waters of the United States to improve the suitability of such waters for recreational boating purposes. Notwithstanding this provision, States within a United States Fish and Wildlife Service Administrative Region may allocate more or less than 15 percent in a fiscal year, provided that the total regional allocation averages 15 percent over a 5 year period.
(2)So much of the funds that are allocated by a State under paragraph (1) in any fiscal year that remained unexpended or unobligated at the close of such year are authorized to be made available for the purposes described in paragraph (1) during the succeeding four fiscal years, but any portion of such funds that remain unexpended or unobligated at the close of such period are authorized to be made available for expenditure by the Secretary of the Interior to supplement the 58.012 percent of the balance of each annual appropriation to be apportioned among the States under section 777c(c) of this title.
(c)Each State may use not to exceed 15 percent of the funds apportioned to it under section 777c of this title to pay up to 75 per centum of the costs of an aquatic resource education and outreach and communications program for the purpose of increasing public understanding of the Nation’s water resources and associated aquatic life forms. The non-Federal share of such costs may not be derived from other Federal grant programs. The Secretary shall issue not later than the one hundred and twentieth day after the effective date of this subsection such regulations as he deems advisable regarding the criteria for such programs.
(d)(1)Within 1 year after June 9, 1998, the Secretary of the Interior shall develop and implement, in cooperation and consultation with the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council, a national plan for outreach and communications.
(2)The plan shall provide—
(A)guidance, including guidance on the development of an administrative process and funding priorities, for outreach and communications programs; and
(B)for the establishment of a national program.
(3)Under the plan, the Secretary may obligate amounts available under subsection (a)(5) or subsection (b) of section 777c of this title—
(A)to make grants to any State or private entity to pay all or any portion of the cost of carrying out any outreach and communications program under the plan; or
(B)to fund contracts with States or private entities to carry out such a program.
(4)The plan shall be reviewed periodically, but not less frequently than once every 3 years.
(e)Within 12 months after the completion of the national plan under subsection (d)(1), a State shall develop a plan for an outreach and communications program and submit it to the Secretary. In developing the plan, a State shall—
(1)review the national plan developed under subsection (d);
(2)consult with anglers, boaters, the sportfishing and boating industries, and the general public; and
(3)establish priorities for the State outreach and communications program proposed for implementation.
(f)Amounts apportioned to States under section 777c of this title may be used to pay not more than 75 percent of the costs of constructing, renovating, operating, or maintaining pumpout stations and waste reception facilities (as those terms are defined in the Clean Vessel Act of 1992).
(g)(1)Within 6 months after June 9, 1998, the Secretary, in consultation with the States, shall adopt a national framework for a public boat access needs assessment which may be used by States to conduct surveys to determine the adequacy, number, location, and quality of facilities providing access to recreational waters for all sizes of recreational boats.
(2)Within 18 months after June 9, 1998, each State that agrees to conduct a public boat access needs survey following the recommended national framework shall report its findings to the Secretary for use in the development of a comprehensive national assessment of recreational boat access needs and facilities.
(3)Paragraph (2) does not apply to a State if, within 18 months after June 9, 1998, the Secretary certifies that the State has developed and is implementing a plan that ensures there are and will be public boat access adequate to meet the needs of recreational boaters on its waters.
(4)A State that conducts a public boat access needs survey under paragraph (2) may fund the costs of conducting that assessment out of amounts allocated to it as funding dedicated to motorboat access to recreational waters under subsection (b)(1) of this section.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
For
Effective Date
of this subsection, referred to in subsec. (c), see
Effective Date
of 1984 Amendment note below. The Clean Vessel Act of 1992, referred to in subsec. (f), is subtitle F of title V of Pub. L. 102–587, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5086, which amended this section and section 777c of this title and enacted provisions set out as a note under section 1322 of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 1322 of Title 33 and Tables.
Amendments
2015—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 114–94 substituted “58.012 percent” for “57 percent”. 2005—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 109–59, § 10114(1), substituted “to supplement the 57 percent of the balance of each annual appropriation to be apportioned among the States under section 777c(c) of this title” for “in carrying out the research program of the Fish and Wildlife Service in respect to fish of material value for sport or recreation”. Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 109–59, § 10114(2), substituted “subsection (a)(5) or subsection (b)” for “subsection (c) or (d)” in introductory provisions. 1998—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 105–178, § 7402(c)(1), which directed the substitution of “15 percent” for “12½ percentum” wherever appearing, was executed by making the substitution for “12½ per centum” to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–178, § 7402(c)(3), inserted “and communications” after “outreach”. Pub. L. 105–178, § 7402(c)(2), which directed the substitution of “15 percent” for “10 percentum”, was executed by making the substitution for “10 per centum” to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Subsecs. (d) to (f). Pub. L. 105–178, § 7402(c)(4), added subsecs. (d) and (e) and redesignated former subsec. (d) as (f). Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 105–178, § 7404(b), as amended by Pub. L. 105–206, § 9012(c), added subsec. (g). 1992—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 102–587, § 5604(b)(1), substituted “12½ per centum” for “10 per centum” after “allocate” and inserted at end “Notwithstanding this provision, States within a United States Fish and Wildlife Service Administrative Region may allocate more or less than 12½ per centum in a fiscal year, provided that the total regional allocation averages 12½ per centum over a 5 year period.” Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 102–587, § 5604(b)(2), substituted “four fiscal years” for “fiscal year” after first reference to “succeeding” and “period” for second reference to “succeeding fiscal year”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–587, § 5604(b)(3), inserted “and outreach” after “education”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–587, § 5604(b)(4), added subsec. (d). 1984—Pub. L. 98–369 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsecs. (b) and (c). 1970—Pub. L. 91–503 struck out restriction that not more than 25 percent of the Federal funds be set aside for maintenance projects.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2015 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–94 effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of Pub. L. 114–94, set out as a note under section 5313 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Effective Date
of 2005
Amendments
From Aug. 10, 2005, to end of fiscal year 2005, subsecs. (b)(2) and (d)(3) of this section considered to read as immediately before enactment of Pub. L. 109–59, see section 101(b) of Pub. L. 109–74, set out as a note under section 777b of this title. Amendment by Pub. L. 109–59 effective Oct. 1, 2005, see section 10102 of Pub. L. 109–59, set out as a note under section 777b of this title.
Effective Date
of 1998 AmendmentTitle IX of Pub. L. 105–206 effective simultaneously with enactment of Pub. L. 105–178 and to be treated as included in Pub. L. 105–178 at time of enactment, and provisions of Pub. L. 105–178, as in effect on day before July 22, 1998, that are amended by title IX of Pub. L. 105–206 to be treated as not enacted, see section 9016 of Pub. L. 105–206, set out as a note under section 101 of Title 23, Highways.
Effective Date
of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 98–369 effective Oct. 1, 1984, and applicable with respect to fiscal years beginning after Sept. 30, 1984, see section 1014(b) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 777 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 777g
Title 16 — Conservation
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60