Congress·In Committee·S. 3409

Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act

Congress would lock in federal responsibility for Yellowstone fish bypass, shielding local irrigators from costs

Dec 9, 2025·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

Part of: Congress Proposes Permanent Federal Ownership of Lower Yellowstone Fish Bypass

Next up: A senate committee

A senate committee must act next: committee consideration.

Companion bill: House Bill Would Lock Federal Funding for Yellowstone River Fish Bypass, Shielding Local Irrigators From Costs →

Legislative Progress

Senate

House

President

Law

Key Points

Congress would require the Interior Department to keep full ownership, control, and all costs for the Lower Yellowstone Fish Bypass Channel.
It blocks any federal agency from shifting operation or repair duties to the local irrigation district or other non-federal groups.
The goal is to protect endangered pallid sturgeon and other native fish while keeping irrigation water delivery in eastern Montana and western North Dakota from added burdens.
The bill would authorize $1,000,000 each year starting in 2026 for upkeep, repairs, and improvements to keep the fish channel working.
If the federal government tries to transfer these costs or duties anyway, affected groups could ask a federal court in Montana to stop it.

EnvironmentAgricultureInfrastructureCivil Rights

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Mixed Impacts(1)

Federal Employee

Neutral

Positive Impacts(1)

Farmer Rancher

Helps

State Impacts

MontanaMT

Positive

The fish bypass channel is near Intake, Montana, and the bill protects the local irrigation district from being forced to pay for or operate that federal fish passage project. It also directs coordination with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks while keeping financial responsibility federal.

North DakotaND

Positive

The Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project delivers irrigation water to agricultural lands in western North Dakota, and the bill aims to prevent federal agencies from shifting fish-bypass costs onto the local irrigation partners. It also calls for coordination with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department without making the state pay for or run the bypass.

Milestones

3 milestones3 actions

Mar 17, 2026Senate

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held.

Dec 9, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.

Dec 9, 2025

Introduced in Senate

The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.

Related News

3 articles

The Roundup·Jan 7

Downing, Daines Introduce Bill To Support Irrigation, Protect Montana Endangered Species

Covers the Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act and its aim to keep Bureau of Reclamation ownership, control, and financial responsibility for the Lower Yellowstone fish bypass channel.

Center Right

Senator Steve Daines (official site)·Dec 10, 2025

Daines, Downing Introduce Bill to Support Irrigation, Protect Montana Endangered Species

Announcement of the bill stating the Bureau of Reclamation would retain exclusive ownership, operational control, and financial responsibility for the Lower Yellowstone fish bypass channel.

Right

Representative Troy Downing (official site)·Dec 11, 2025

ICYMI: Downing, Daines Introduce Bill to Support Irrigation, Protect Montana Endangered Species

Reiterates bill details to keep Bureau of Reclamation ownership/control/costs for the Lower Yellowstone fish bypass channel and prevent shifting burdens to local irrigators.

Right

No votes recorded for this bill yet.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act

Bill NumberS 3409

Congress119th Congress

ChamberSenate

Latest ActionCommittee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held.

Data Sources

Congress.gov

Official legislative information

Read Full Bill Text

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)

R: 1

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.