WASHINGTON - Montana and Wyoming senators wrangled with the Bureau of Reclamation's commissioner Thursday over the lack of funding for major water projects in the West.

"The water infrastructure in my neck of the woods, in the state of Montana and I think the West overall, is worn out," said Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont. "Some of it is beyond repair. We need to really make this a priority for this country."

Across the West, about $3.2 billion will be needed to rehabilitate, replace and modify assets, testified Robert Johnson, commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, at an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing. Some of that can be funded through water and power customers and its dam safety program, he testified.

Wyoming found that $100 million will be needed for maintenance and repairs to the Midvale Irrigation District near Riverton, said Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. "The district can't afford it, the state can't afford it, I'm not sure where the money is coming from.

"Does it appear to you that we really are reaching a major funding shortfall?" asked Barrasso.

"There is certainly a significant number of facilities that are in need of repair," Johnson replied. "And there's I think funding limitations in some of these areas, and I think St. Mary's is probably the best example."

Johnson was referring to the projected $130 million needed to rehabilitate and replace the St. Mary Diversion & Conveyance Works in north-central Montana.

The administration has said the cost should be borne by non-federal partners.

"The administration wants the farmers to pay for the project," Tester said.

Johnson said that under the bureau's legal framework, rehabilitation costs are required to be repaid in the year they are incurred.

"The answer is yes, we have looked to the water users to pay that," he said. "And the answer is also yes, that's a very tall order for the water users."

In order for the federal government to pay a larger share, it would take legislation giving the bureau authority and the funds to do so. Asked whether he would support such legislation, Johnson said he was not in a position to take a view but would consider it.

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., followed Tester's comments by saying that "the rest of us that are not affected" by projects like St. Mary's will have to weigh whether the federal government should pay for it.

Tester retorted that anyone who eats had a stake in the project, because it supports agriculture.

"I'd sure as hell hate to lose our food independence," Tester said.

On safety issues, Johnson said that after the Truckee Main Canal in Nevada failed in January, the bureau began a new effort to see where similar conditions may exist around the country.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., introduced legislation that Tester co-sponsored to provide an initial $5 million and then $1.5 million a year to the Bureau of Reclamation to carry out regular inspections of canals, dams and other infrastructure under its care. It would also establish standards for the condition and maintenance of facilities.

Barrasso introduced legislation Thursday to provide an enhanced appeals process for states to challenge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"It's been our experience that the Army Corps has repeatedly either disagreed or altered our purpose (for) important water projects for the state," he said.