Sponsors (2)
The bill directs federal funding and broader NRCS authority to restore floodplain functions and support rural livelihoods, trading off higher federal costs and increased agency discretion that could cause local conflicts or ecological harm if economic uses are poorly managed.
Rural landowners and communities gain federal funding and support to restore and maintain floodplain vegetation and hydrological functions, reducing future flood damage risk and improving watershed resilience.
States, Tribes, and NGOs can partner with NRCS, unlocking additional technical capacity and expertise to plan and implement more effective watershed and floodplain restoration projects.
Landowners can continue compatible economic uses (hunting, fishing, timber, haying, grazing) on restored floodplain lands, preserving some income and livelihood opportunities while pursuing conservation goals.
Allowing economic activities like timber harvest or grazing on restored floodplains could, if poorly managed, weaken floodplain functions and reduce ecological and flood-mitigation benefits for local communities.
Expanded restoration and maintenance authority and activities may increase federal program costs, potentially requiring more taxpayer funding or reallocation of NRCS resources away from other priorities.
Granting NRCS discretion to exceed minimum restoration needs could create local conflicts over land-use priorities and perceptions of federal regulatory overreach among landowners.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Clarifies and expands the Secretary's authority to restore and maintain floodplain vegetation and hydrology, enter contracts/agreements, allow compatible uses, and pursue long-term restoration beyond immediate emergencies.
Official title: To amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide for floodplain easement restoration and management, and for other purposes.
Introduced January 27, 2026 by Mark B. Messmer · Last progress January 27, 2026
Amends federal law governing Emergency Watershed Program floodplain easements to give the Secretary explicit authority to restore and maintain vegetative cover, hydrologic functions, and other floodplain values on easement lands. The bill also authorizes the Secretary to enter contracts and agreements with landowners, States, Indian Tribes, and nonprofits to carry out those activities, allows specified compatible economic uses consistent with long-term protection, and permits restoration actions that go beyond immediate emergency needs when they serve long-term watershed health.