Open Access Evapotranspiration Data Act

HR 2429, the Open Access Evapotranspiration Data Act, establishes a federal program to provide free, satellite-based data on water loss from soil and plants (evapotranspiration) to water managers, farmers, and communities. The program, run by the U.S. Geological Survey under the Interior Department, delivers this data at no cost to help users make better water management decisions, especially during droughts, by showing how much water is consumed in landscapes. It requires coordination with federal agencies like NASA, NOAA, and USDA, and partnerships with states, tribes, universities, and private groups to develop and maintain the data system. The bill authorizes $23 million annually from 2024-2028 to support this program, which aims to improve water conservation and planning across the U.S.