Water Project Navigators Act

Summary#

This Act creates the Water Project Navigators Program, run by the Secretary of the Interior (through the Commissioner of Reclamation). The Program will award grants or cooperative agreements to eligible entities to create or continue navigator positions. Navigators will help plan, develop, and implement multi-benefit water projects in eligible States and territories.

The bill defines who is eligible (States, Indian Tribes, certain local water entities, nonprofit conservation organizations, and combinations of these) and what counts as a multi-benefit water project (projects that improve water supply resilience, support ecosystem and watershed health, encourage water recycling, protect water quality, restore habitat, and similar activities). The Secretary must set criteria and make them available for public comment before finalizing them, and must start the Program within 180 days of enactment.

Grants and cooperative agreements generally last up to 3 years, with the Secretary able to extend up to 2 additional years. The Federal share of project costs is normally up to 75 percent, with non-Federal cost share allowed as cash or in-kind. The Secretary may reduce or waive the non-Federal share for Indian Tribes, acequias, land grants, disadvantaged communities, or eligible entities partnering with those groups if a cost share would cause financial hardship. The Program prioritizes applications that directly serve Indian Tribes, disadvantaged communities, rural communities, and other entities with limited capacity.

Navigator duties listed in the Act include grant writing, project management, technical assistance (feasibility, design, preliminary environmental review, engineering), and other necessary activities. The Secretary must coordinate the Program with other Federal, Tribal, State, and local technical assistance programs and may not use Program funds to meet existing environmental mitigation or compliance obligations.

Five years after enactment, the Secretary must report to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Natural Resources describing how the Program reduced basin- or aquifer-wide supply-demand imbalances, enhanced drought and ecosystem resilience, and supported project development and capacity building for disadvantaged communities, Indian Tribes, and rural communities. The report should include, to the maximum extent practicable, a quantitative analysis of benefits.

What it means for you#

• Communities, Tribes, local water suppliers, conservation groups, and similar eligible entities can apply for grants to hire navigators who help move water projects forward.
• Navigators can help with grant writing, design and engineering help, and managing projects so smaller or under-resourced communities can access funding and complete multi-benefit projects.
• Priority is given to projects that serve Indian Tribes, disadvantaged communities, and rural communities, and to projects that include nature-based features or ecosystem benefits.
• Grants usually cover up to 75% of project costs; some communities (including Tribes and disadvantaged communities) may qualify for reduced or waived cost share.
• Program funds cannot be used to pay for existing legal environmental mitigation or compliance obligations.

Expenses#

• The Act authorizes $15,000,000 for each fiscal year 2027 through 2032, to remain available until expended.
• Grants are generally limited to up to 3 years, with possible 2-year extensions at the Secretary's discretion.
• The Federal share of grant-funded activities generally may not exceed 75% of activity costs; the remainder may be cash or in-kind, unless reduced or waived as described in the Act.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.