This bill establishes the Endless Mountains National Heritage Area in Pennsylvania, covering Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming counties, with potential expansion based on a future feasibility study. The Endless Mountains Heritage Region, Inc. will serve as the local coordinating entity responsible for managing the area and submitting a management plan to the Secretary of the Interior within three years of enactment. Federal assistance for the heritage area will be authorized for a period of 15 years from the date the bill becomes law, after which the Secretary's authority to provide funding will end.
This bill reauthorizes the Cooperative Watershed Management Program through fiscal year 2031, providing $40 million annually to support collaborative watershed projects. The program directly affects land management agencies, local communities, and Indian tribes by expanding eligibility criteria and increasing grant funding amounts to $150,000 per year for a minimum of three years. Key changes include adding Indian tribes as eligible participants, allowing multiple grant applications per year, and permitting grant extensions for successful projects. The legislation also clarifies what types of technical assistance are covered under the program and requires regular availability of funding opportunities.
This bill, known as the Dakota Water Resources Act Amendments of 2026, authorizes additional funding for water supply projects in North Dakota, including those for Tribal, municipal, rural, and industrial communities. It allocates specific amounts to complete several infrastructure projects, such as the Northwest Area Water Supply Biota Water Treatment Plant, the McClusky Canal, and various rural water distribution systems on Indian reservations. The legislation also establishes a mechanism to transfer funds between projects with a 50 percent increase limit per project and requires final engineering reports to be completed within two years of enactment. Additionally, the bill updates cost indexing provisions to adjust funding amounts based on construction cost fluctuations and modifies a natural resources trust fund to include new project categories.
This bill establishes the Water Project Navigators Program under the Department of the Interior to help communities develop multi-benefit water projects. It provides federal grants to eligible entities (such as states, tribes, rural communities, and nonprofits) to fund "navigators" who assist with planning, grant writing, and technical support for projects that address water supply challenges while benefiting ecosystems. The program prioritizes disadvantaged communities, Tribal nations, and rural areas with limited capacity, requiring navigators to focus on projects that enhance climate resilience, improve water access, and protect natural ecosystems. Funding of $15 million annually (2027-2032) supports these efforts, with a 75% federal cost share and flexibility to waive local contributions for qualifying entities.
This bill authorizes federal funding to support water storage projects in western states (Reclamation States) to improve water security. It creates two main programs: one for small surface and groundwater storage projects (200-30,000 acre-feet for surface, 200-150,000 acre-feet for groundwater) and another for "natural" projects using natural methods like aquifer recharge ($15 million annually for 2027-2031). Eligible applicants include states, tribes, water districts, and local entities, with projects requiring Federal cost-sharing up to 90%. Funding must be distributed across multiple Reclamation States, and the bill explicitly states it doesn’t override state water rights or laws.
The MORE WATER Act reauthorizes and expands federal water recycling and reuse programs while establishing a new Water Conveyance Improvement Program to fund water infrastructure projects. It authorizes $450 million for water recycling projects and $500 million for conveyance projects from 2028-2032, with specific requirements for multi-benefit projects. The bill mandates that at least 50% of conveyance projects must provide environmental benefits or safe drinking water for low-income communities, with 50% of multi-benefit projects specifically providing each type of benefit. It requires projects to include specific water quality and environmental protections, including benefits for endangered species and low-income communities. The legislation aims to improve water infrastructure while ensuring projects address both community needs and environmental conservation.
This bill authorizes a feasibility study to assess constructing a regional water supply project for municipal, rural, and industrial use across South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota. The study, to be conducted by the Secretary of the Interior in partnership with the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System, must follow federal reclamation standards and is limited to a $10 million federal cost (capping at 50% of total study expenses). The study must be completed within 10 years of the bill's enactment. It directly affects communities in the four specified states that could potentially benefit from the project if the study concludes it is feasible.
This bill authorizes a feasibility study to assess expanding the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System, which serves communities in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. The Secretary of the Interior must coordinate with the water system's nonprofit operator to evaluate the project's viability, including cost-sharing (requiring at least 25% non-Federal contribution for construction) and financial feasibility. The study will produce a report for Congress and the public, with the federal government covering up to 50% of the study costs ($10 million authorized). The bill does not fund construction but sets the process for determining whether expansion should proceed. The study authorization expires 10 years after enactment.
This bill directs the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study for a proposed water supply project in Western South Dakota, which would deliver municipal, rural, and industrial water from the Missouri River. The study, to be carried out with a Western South Dakota nonprofit water system (Western Dakota Regional Water System, Inc.), must evaluate project viability, recommend whether construction should proceed, and determine the non-Federal cost share (minimum 25%). It requires the Secretary to submit a report to Congress and the public, including cost analyses based on local financial capacity. The study is authorized with $10 million in federal funding, capped at 50% of costs, and expires 10 years after enactment.
This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study on a selective water withdrawal system at Glen Canyon Dam. The study will assess how to optimize hydropower generation when releasing cold water while preventing invasive species from being drawn into the water system, following existing Colorado River management plans. It requires completion within 18 months using existing federal funds (nonreimbursable), with consultation from the Department of Energy and power contractors. The bill does not change current operations guidelines for Lake Powell or Lake Mead.
This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study for designating the existing 550-mile Bay Area Ridge Trail as a National Scenic Trail. The study, to be completed within one year, will assess the trail's potential for national designation, considering its connection to over 75 parks and open spaces in the San Francisco Bay Area. It requires consultation with federal, state agencies, and the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council. The bill itself does not fund or create the trail but sets a process for evaluating its national scenic trail status.
This bill redesignates Arizona's Chiricahua National Monument as Chiricahua National Park, maintaining its existing boundaries as shown on a 2021 map. It ensures all existing funding, laws, and administrative rules for the monument now apply to the park. The bill also requires the Secretary of the Interior to protect tribal cultural sites by consulting with Native American tribes and providing access for traditional uses, with temporary public closures allowed only for minimal necessary areas and time. This directly affects tribal communities and park management under federal law.
