Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Amendment Act of 2025

The bill would amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to create the "Non-Federal Funding Account for the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program" in the U.S. Treasury. Nonfederal contributions made by state parties under the program's 2005 funding agreement would be deposited into this new fund and made available to the Secretary for program expenditures without further appropriation. The fund would be invested in interest-bearing U.S. obligations; however, interest earnings could only be spent subject to a separate congressional appropriation. Unexpended nonfederal contributions already held before enactment would be transferred into the fund within 90 days; future contributions would be transferred as soon as practicable.

The bill does not change the program's underlying conservation goals or spending rules, which remain governed by the existing program documents. It also makes clear that state parties bear no responsibility for investment losses once their contributions are deposited into the fund.

State parties to the 2005 Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program agreement — principally state and local water agencies in Arizona, California, and Nevada — whose nonfederal cost-share contributions would be deposited into the new fund. The Secretary of the Interior, who administers the program, and the Secretary of the Treasury, who would manage the fund's investment, are also directly involved.

Because the pace of nonfederal funding has outrun the pace of program work, nonfederal contributions have accumulated in the general Treasury without earning interest. This bill would allow that idle money to grow and be drawn down without waiting for congressional action each time, giving program administrators more financial flexibility and ensuring state contributions are not diminished by inflation or delay.

Within 90 days of enactment, the Secretary of the Treasury would transfer any unexpended prior nonfederal contributions from the general fund into the new account. Future contributions would be transferred as soon as practicable after receipt. The Treasury Secretary may invest fund balances not needed for current program needs in interest-bearing U.S. obligations. Deposited principal is available to the Secretary without further appropriation; interest earnings require a separate appropriation before they can be spent. State parties are released from liability for any investment losses once funds are deposited.