Acequia Communities Empowered by Qualifying Upgrades for Infrastructure Act

Summary

Expands eligibility for USDA noninsured crop disaster assistance to agricultural producers who rely on acequia (community ditch) irrigation systems, requires USDA to report on the number of such producers and the assistance they receive, and bars federal agencies from requiring special-use permits for the presence, use, or routine maintenance of acequias on federal land. It also defines key terms such as acequia/community ditch and community user and sets a two-year deadline for USDA to deliver a data and access report to congressional agriculture committees.

• Producers who rely on acequia irrigation systems become explicitly eligible for noninsured crop disaster assistance for covered losses.
• Federal agencies may not require special-use permits for acequias' presence or water use on federal land.
• Routine maintenance and minor improvements to acequias on federal land performed by community users are exempt from special-use permit requirements.
• The bill defines acequia/community ditch, community user, and which federal Secretary is 'concerned' for land jurisdiction.
• USDA must produce a detailed report within two years quantifying producers who rely on acequias and analyzing program access and assistance.
• Changes modify program eligibility and regulatory treatment but do not directly appropriate new funding.
• Permit exemptions can be bounded by written agreements between federal land managers and acequia governing bodies.
• The measure focuses on traditional irrigation infrastructure vulnerable to drought and emphasizes cultural and environmental stewardship roles of acequias.