Cooperative Watershed Management Program Reauthorization Act of 2026

Steve Daines

Republican · MT · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• John W. Hickenlooper (D-CO)Original· 2026-03-10

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held.

2026-03-17

Source: Congress.gov

This bill would extend and update a federal program that helps states, tribes, and local communities work together to manage water resources and solve water-related problems in their regions. The program provides funding and support for projects like improving water quality, protecting watersheds, and addressing water shortages, affecting farmers, cities, environmental groups, and water utilities that depend on healthy water systems.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4041 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4041 To reauthorize the Cooperative Watershed Management Program, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 10, 2026 Mr. Daines (for himself and Mr. Hickenlooper) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To reauthorize the Cooperative Watershed Management Program, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Cooperative Watershed Management Program Reauthorization Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. COOPERATIVE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. (a) Definitions.--Section 6001 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (16 U.S.C. 1015) is amended-- (1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (7) as paragraphs (5) through (8), respectively; (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: ``(4) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self- Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).''; and (3) in paragraph (7) (as so redesignated), in subparagraph (B)(v)-- (A) in subclause (I), by striking ``or'' at the end; (B) in subclause (II), by inserting ``or'' after the semicolon; and (C) by adding at the end the following: ``(III) has ancestral lands within the watershed;''. (b) Program.--Section 6002 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (16 U.S.C. 1015a) is amended-- (1) in subsection (c)-- (A) in paragraph (1)(B)-- (i) in clause (i), by striking ``interests; or'' and inserting ``interests, including Indian tribes;''; (ii) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii); and (iii) by inserting after clause (i) the following: ``(ii) demonstrate significant need due to drought, wildfire, or other natural disaster; or''; (B) in paragraph (2)-- (i) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking ``$100,000'' and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting ``$150,000 each year for a period of not less than 3 years, subject to the sufficiency of applications submitted and the availability of appropriations.''; (ii) by striking clause (iii); (iii) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses (iii) and (iv), respectively; and (iv) by adding at the end the following: ``(v) Continuation and extension.-- ``(I) In general.--The Secretary may, at the discretion of the Secretary, issue a continuation of the first-phase grant for not more than 2 additional years if the recipient of the first-phase grant has demonstrated satisfactory performance with implementation of the proposal under the initial grant, as determined by the Secretary. ``(II) Amounts.--A grant continued pursuant to subclause (I) shall be in an amount not greater than $150,000 each year, as determined to be appropriate by the Secretary.''; (C) in paragraph (3)(B)(ii), by striking ``quantity.'' and inserting the following: ``quantity, including-- ``(I) grant writing; ``(II) project management; and ``(III) technical assistance, such as feasibility, design, preliminary environmental review, and engineering.''; and (D) by adding at the end the following: ``(4) Continuous enrollment.--The Secretary shall-- ``(A) make funding opportunities for the program available on a regular basis; and ``(B) allow applications for grants under the program to be submitted and evaluated multiple times during a calendar year.''; (2) in subsection (f), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting ``, and make available to the public,'' after ``House of Representatives''; and (3) by striking subsection (g) and inserting the following: ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.''. <all>

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