Summary#
This bill reauthorizes and updates the Cooperative Watershed Management Program. It adds a definition for "Indian tribe." It allows tribes to be counted among partners and says tribes with ancestral lands in a watershed can be included. The bill lets applicants show extra need if their area faces drought, wildfire, or another natural disaster. It raises the size of initial grants and allows those grants to continue for more years in some cases. The bill also says grant money can be used for things like grant writing, project management, and technical help (for example, feasibility, design, environmental review, and engineering). Finally, it requires the program to offer funding opportunities regularly and to accept applications multiple times each year, and it authorizes public availability of reports.
What it means for you#
- If you are a local watershed group, tribe, or other eligible partner, you may be able to apply for larger initial grants (see Expenses).
- Tribes, including those with ancestral lands in a watershed, are explicitly included in the program definitions and eligible interests.
- Communities that can show need because of drought, wildfire, or other natural disasters may qualify under the program.
- Grant recipients may use funds for grant writing, project management, and technical assistance such as feasibility studies, design work, preliminary environmental review, and engineering.
- The program will post funding opportunities on a regular basis and accept applications multiple times per year, so potential applicants can apply in more than one round.
Expenses#
- The bill authorizes $40,000,000 to be appropriated for each fiscal year 2027 through 2031 to carry out the program.
- Initial (first-phase) grants are set at $150,000 each year for a period of not less than 3 years, subject to application sufficiency and appropriations.
- The Secretary may, at their discretion, continue the first-phase grant for up to 2 additional years if the recipient shows satisfactory performance. Continued grants may be up to $150,000 per year.
Proponents' View#
No publicly available information.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.