Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act

This bill, the Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act, ensures the federal government (specifically the Bureau of Reclamation) remains solely responsible for operating, maintaining, and funding the Lower Yellowstone Fish Bypass Channel - a structure built to help endangered pallid sturgeon migrate around a dam. It directly protects the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation District and Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project from being forced to cover costs or operations for this federally mandated conservation measure. The bill prohibits any federal agency from shifting these responsibilities to non-federal entities, authorizes $1 million annually for channel upkeep, and requires the federal government to report on its operations to Congress. This clarifies existing law to prevent future disputes over who bears the financial burden for this environmental mitigation project.