Western Water Reinvestment Act

This bill extends and changes several federal water programs run mainly by the Bureau of Reclamation in Western states. It extends the aquatic ecosystem restoration and basin study programs, raises the WaterSMART grant funding limit from $1 billion to $1.4 billion, and authorizes $40 million a year for the cooperative watershed management program for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, with changes that include Indian tribes and raise first-phase grants to $150,000 a year. It creates a program of up to $3.5 million a year to pay farmers to create or maintain waterbird and shorebird habitat, and requires a drought plan for important fisheries every 3 years. It directs the Interior Department to create a categorical exclusion from detailed environmental review for certain aquatic restoration projects, and reauthorizes the Deschutes River Conservancy Working Group in Oregon through 2032.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Ron Wyden Democrat sponsor
• 1 cosponsors