--- kind: "section" citation: "43 U.S.C. § 1477" title: "43" title_heading: "Public Lands" number: "1477" heading: "Snow water supply forecasting" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/43/1477" units: - "Chapter 31 — Department of the Interior" --- # §1477. Snow water supply forecasting - (a) **Short title—** This section may be cited as the “Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program Authorization Act”. - (b) **Definition of program—** In this section, the term “program” means the Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program established by [subsection (c)](#c). - (c) **Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program—** - (1) **Program establishment—** The Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program is hereby established within the Department of the Interior. - (2) **Program implementation—** To implement the program, the [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) shall— - (A) develop the program framework in coordination with other Federal agencies pursuant to [subsection (d)](#d), culminating in the report required under [subsection (d)(3)](#d-3); and - (B) after submitting the report required by [subsection (d)(3)](#d-3), implement activities to improve snowpack measurement in particular watersheds pursuant to [subsection (e)](#e). - (d) **Development of program framework in coordination with other Federal agencies—** - (1) **Snowpack measurement data—** When determining water supply forecasts or allocations to Federal water contractors, the [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7), acting through the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, shall incorporate, to the greatest extent practicable, information from emerging technologies for snowpack measurement, such as— - (A) synthetic aperture radar; - (B) laser altimetry; and - (C) other emerging technologies that the [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) determines are likely to provide more accurate or timely snowpack measurement data. - (2) **Coordination—** In carrying out [paragraph (1)](#d-1), the [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) shall coordinate data use and collection efforts with other Federal agencies that use or may benefit from the use of emerging technologies for snowpack measurement. - (3) **Emerging technologies report—** Not later than October 1, 2021, the [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) shall submit to Congress a report that— - (A) summarizes the use of emerging technologies pursuant to this section; - (B) describes benefits derived from the use of technologies summarized under [subparagraph (A)](#d-3-A) related to the environment and increased water supply reliability; and - (C) describes how Federal agencies will coordinate to implement emerging technologies. - (e) **Program implementation—** - (1) **Activities implementing framework—** After submitting the report required under [subsection (d)(3)](#d-3), the [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) shall participate with program partners in implementing activities to improve snowpack measurement in particular watersheds. - (2) **Focus—** The program shall focus on activities that will maintain, establish, expand, or advance snowpack measurement consistent with the report required by [subsection (d)(3)](#d-3), with an emphasis on— - (A) enhancing activities in river basins to achieve improved snow and water supply forecasting results; - (B) activities in river basins where snow water supply forecasting related activities described in this section are not occurring on December 27, 2020; and - (C) demonstrating or testing new, or improving existing, snow and water supply forecasting technology. - (3) **Information sharing—** The [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) may provide information collected and analyzed under this section to program partners through appropriate mechanisms, including interagency agreements with Federal agencies, [States](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8), [State](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8) agencies, or a combination thereof, leases, contracts, cooperative agreements, grants, loans, and memoranda of understanding. - (4) **Program partners—** Program partners with whom the [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) enters into cooperative agreements pursuant to [paragraph (5)](#e-5) may include water districts, irrigation districts, water [associations](/usc/43/31b.md?p=2), universities, [State](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8) agencies, other Federal agencies, private sector entities, non-governmental organizations, and other entities, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7). - (5) **Cooperative agreements—** The [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) may— - (A) enter into cooperative agreements with program partners to allow the program to be administered efficiently and cost effectively through cost-sharing or by providing additional in-kind resources necessary for program implementation; and - (B) provide nonreimbursable matching funding for programmatic and operational activities under this section in consultation with program partners. - (6) **Environmental laws—** Nothing in this section shall modify any obligation of the [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) to comply with applicable Federal and [State](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8) environmental laws in carrying out this section. - (f) **Program implementation report—** Not later than 4 years after December 27, 2020, the [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) shall submit a report to the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, that includes— - (1) a list of basins and sub-basins for which snowpack measurement technologies are being used under the program, including a description of each technology used; and - (2) a list of Federal agencies and program partners participating in each basin or sub-basin listed in [paragraph (1)](#f-1). - (g) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) to carry out this section $15,000,000, in the aggregate, for fiscal years 2022 through 2026. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 116–260, div. FF, title XI, § 1111, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3249.) ## Notes ### References in Text This section, referred to in subsecs. (b), (d)(3)(A), (e)(2)(B), (3), (5)(B), (6), and (g), was in the original “this Act”, which was translated as meaning section 1111 of Pub. L. 116–260, div. FF, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3249, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. ### Definitions For definition of “Secretary” as used in this section, see section 1115 of div. FF of Pub. L. 116–260, set out as a note under section 2330c of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters.