H.R. 4970 — Orland Project Water Management Act

This section amends the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991 (i.e., authorities for temporary drought assistance programs and water supplies in Reclamation States and Hawaii, operative only after a governor's request, tribal governing body request, or approved drought contingency plan) by (1) authorizing the Secretary of the Interior, upon request by the Orland Unit Water Users Association, to provide water from the Orland Project to the Sacramento Canal Unit of the Central Valley Project at any time without regard to water year type, if consistent with Central Valley Project purposes; and (2) stating that such authority is not a new or supplemental benefit under the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982, does not affect valid or vested water rights or pending water rights applications in existence as of enactment, and does not result in redirected impacts to the Orland Project from any temporary water supply contract executed under the section.