Doug LaMalfa Sacramento River Basin Water Security and Reliability Act of 2026

This bill, known as the Doug LaMalfa Sacramento River Basin Water Security and Reliability Act of 2026, aims to improve water management and environmental health in California's Sacramento River Basin by extending deadlines and funding specific restoration efforts. It extends the timeline for completing feasibility studies for federal water storage projects until 2041 and authorizes the federal government to contribute up to 50 percent of the costs for operating and maintaining state-led storage projects that provide public benefits like flood control and ecosystem improvements. The legislation also allocates $500 million over ten years for habitat restoration, fish passage improvements, and scientific monitoring to support endangered species such as Chinook salmon and steelhead trout. Additionally, the bill establishes a new Federal Leadership Committee to coordinate between various government agencies and state partners to accelerate the implementation of water and habitat projects. Finally, it allows water sellers to keep revenue from temporary water transfers to invest in dam safety, drought resilience, or extraordinary maintenance, provided unused funds are returned to the federal reclamation fund after a decade.