Sponsors (3)
The bill directs sustained, flexible federal funding to accelerate watershed projects and prioritize disaster-impacted and tribal communities, trading off higher federal spending and added administrative complexity that may slow awards or delay support for some chronic needs.
Local governments, rural communities, and nonprofits will get sustained federal funding of $40 million per year (FY2027–2031), enabling more watershed projects and local job support.
Watershed groups, nonprofits, and local governments can use grant funds for grant writing, project management, feasibility studies, design, and preliminary environmental review, helping make projects shovel-ready and leverage additional funding.
Watershed groups affected by drought, wildfire, or other natural disasters will be prioritized, speeding assistance to communities with urgent needs.
Taxpayers face higher federal spending from the authorized $40M/year and expanded grant continuations, which could increase budget pressures or crowd out other programs.
New tribal/ancestral eligibility criteria, continuous enrollment, and multiple application windows increase administrative complexity and application volume for the Department and applicants, risking slower award decisions and higher administrative costs.
Prioritizing disaster-affected watersheds could delay assistance for watersheds with chronic but less acute needs, leaving some communities waiting longer for support.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Reauthorizes and expands the Cooperative Watershed Management Program: clarifies tribal membership, adds disaster-need eligibility, revises first-phase grants, and authorizes $40M/year for FY2027–2031.
Official title: Reauthorize the Cooperative Watershed Management Program, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 10, 2026 by Steve Daines · Last progress March 10, 2026
Reauthorizes and expands the Cooperative Watershed Management Program through changes to definitions, eligibility, grant terms, and funding. It adds an explicit definition of "Indian tribe" by cross-reference, allows tribes to qualify more clearly as watershed-group members, creates a new eligibility path for groups with significant need from drought, wildfire, or other disasters, and expands allowable uses of first-phase grant funds to include grant writing, project management, and technical assistance. First-phase grants are recast with a $50,000 per-year cap for at least 3 years (with the Secretary able to extend for up to 2 additional years at up to $150,000/year on satisfactory performance). The bill requires continuous enrollment with multiple application windows per year and authorizes $40 million annually for FY2027–2031 to carry out the program.