Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 119.djvu/2377

 PUBLIC LAW 109–110—NOV. 22, 2005

119 STAT. 2359

(6) VERDE RIVER BASIN.—The term ‘‘Verde River Basin’’ means the land area designated by the Arizona Department of Water Resources as encompassing surface water and groundwater resources, including drainage and recharge areas with a hydrologic connection to the Verde River. (7) WATER BUDGET.—The term ‘‘water budget’’ means the accounting of— (A) the quantities of water leaving the Verde River Basin— (i) as discharge to the Verde River and tributaries; (ii) as subsurface outflow; (iii) as evapotranspiration by riparian vegetation; (iv) as surface evaporation; (v) for agricultural use; and (vi) for human consumption; and (B) the quantities of water replenishing the Verde River Basin by precipitation, infiltration, and subsurface inflows. SEC. 203. VERDE RIVER BASIN PARTNERSHIP.

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may participate in the establishment of a partnership, to be known as the ‘‘Verde River Basin Partnership’’, made up of Federal, State, local governments, and other entities with responsibilities and expertise in water to coordinate and cooperate in the identification and implementation of comprehensive science-based policies, projects, and management activities relating to the Verde River Basin. (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—On establishment of the Partnership, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior such sums as are necessary to carry out the activities of the Partnership for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010. SEC. 204. VERDE RIVER BASIN STUDIES.

(a) STUDIES.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Partnership shall prepare a plan for conducting water resource studies in the Verde River Basin that identifies— (A) the primary study objectives to fulfill water resource planning and management needs for the Verde River Basin; and (B) the water resource studies, hydrologic models, surface and groundwater monitoring networks, and other analytical tools helpful in the identification of long-term water supply management options within the Verde River Basin. (2) REQUIREMENTS.—At a minimum, the plan shall— (A) include a list of specific studies and analyses that are needed to support Partnership planning and management decisions; (B) identify any ongoing or completed water resource or riparian studies that are relevant to water resource planning and management for the Verde River Basin; (C) describe the estimated cost and duration of the proposed studies and analyses; and (D) designate as a study priority the compilation of a water budget analysis for the Verde Valley. (b) VERDE VALLEY WATER BUDGET ANALYSIS.—

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