Sponsors (5)
The bill directs new federal funding and technical support to boost watershed resilience and prioritize nature‑based risk reduction while preserving state water rights and private land control — trading off modest federal spending and potential faster local action against risks of unequal participation by underfunded communities, burdens on adjacent landowners, implementation capacity shortfalls, and limits on large-scale federal water‑management authority.
Local and state water users and non‑Federal partners gain new federal funding and technical assistance to restore watersheds and protect water supplies on adjacent non‑Federal lands, enabling more on-the-ground infrastructure and watershed projects.
Lowering and clarifying cost‑share to a 20% minimum (with waiver) and enabling non‑Federal partners to lead planning/design increases access to federal grants and builds local capacity for delivering watershed projects.
Communities at high risk of drought, wildfire, or flooding receive prioritized, nature‑based resilience projects that reduce those risks and protect public safety and water supplies.
Underfunded and disadvantaged partners may be blocked from participating because the statutory 20% partner contribution (absent a waiver) could be unaffordable, limiting benefits to wealthier communities.
Private adjacent landowners may face coordination demands and project activities on their land (even without federal acquisition), creating potential burdens, nuisance, or perceived restrictions on how they use their property.
Effectiveness depends on Forest Service and administering agencies' capacity; without strong guidance, oversight, or sufficient targeting, funds may be misallocated or fail to reach highest-need watersheds.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Broadens and funds a Forest Service watershed protection program to allow projects on adjacent non‑Federal land, prioritize resilience, lower cost‑share floors, and fund partner technical assistance.
Official title: Amend the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to reauthorize and improve the Water Source Protection Program, and for other purposes.
Introduced September 3, 2025 by Michael F. Bennet · Last progress September 3, 2025
Expands and funds a Forest Service program to protect drinking water sources and nearby non‑Federal lands by broadening eligible partners, allowing projects on adjacent private lands with landowner consent, and prioritizing drought, wildfire, flood risk reduction, aquatic restoration, nature‑based resilience, and capacity building for disadvantaged partners. It lowers the project cost‑share floor to 20% (with a waiver option), increases authorized annual funding, and sets aside funding for technical assistance while expressly preserving state and federal water law and prohibiting federal acquisition or control of non‑Federal land.