117 STAT. 1906
PUBLIC LAW 108–148—DEC. 3, 2003
assistance to Indian tribes for the purpose of expanding tribal stewardship capacities and activities through tribal forestry bestmanagement practices and other means at the tribal level to address watershed issues on land under the jurisdiction of or administered by the Indian tribes. (b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in cooperation with Indian tribes, shall develop a program to provide technical assistance to protect water quality, as described in paragraph (2). (2) PURPOSE OF PROGRAM.—The program under this subsection shall be designed— (A) to build and strengthen watershed partnerships that focus on forested landscapes at the State, regional, tribal, and local levels; (B) to provide tribal forestry best-management practices and water quality technical assistance directly to Indian tribes; (C) to provide technical guidance to tribal land managers and policy makers for water quality protection through forest management; (D) to complement tribal efforts to protect water quality and provide enhanced opportunities for consultation and cooperation among Federal agencies and tribal entities charged with responsibility for water and watershed management; and (E) to provide enhanced forest resource data and support for improved implementation and monitoring of tribal forestry best-management practices. (c) WATERSHED FORESTRY PROGRAM.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a watershed forestry program in cooperation with Indian tribes. (2) PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS.—Funds or other support provided under the program shall be made available for tribal forestry best-management practices programs and watershed forestry projects. (3) ANNUAL AWARDS.—The Secretary shall annually make awards to Indian tribes to carry out this subsection. (4) PROJECT ELEMENTS AND OBJECTIVES.—A watershed forestry project shall accomplish critical forest stewardship, watershed protection, and restoration needs within land under the jurisdiction of or administered by an Indian tribe by demonstrating the value of trees and forests to watershed health and condition through— (A) the use of trees as solutions to water quality problems; (B) application of and dissemination of monitoring information on forestry best-management practices relating to watershed forestry; (C) watershed-scale forest management activities and conservation planning; (D) the restoration of wetland and stream-side forests and the establishment of riparian vegetative buffers; and (E) tribal-based planning, involvement, and action through State, tribal, local, and nonprofit partnerships. (5) PRIORITIZATION.—An Indian tribe that participates in the program under this subsection shall prioritize watersheds in land under the jurisdiction of or administered by the Indian
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