Cooperative Watershed Management Program Reauthorization Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Ciscomani
Introduced
Summary
Expands and funds cooperative watershed partnerships by explicitly including Indian tribes and boosting multi-year planning grants.
Show full summary
- Tribes and tribal communities: Tribes would be explicitly eligible by referencing the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act and by allowing entities with ancestral lands in a watershed to qualify.
- Local watershed groups and project sponsors: First-phase grant ceiling would rise from $100,000 to $150,000 per year, and successful recipients could receive up to two additional years of continuation funding at $150,000 annually.
- Applicants and program operation: The bill would broaden eligible activities to fund grant writing, project management, and technical assistance. It would also require continuous enrollment with multiple application windows and public publication of CWMP information.
*Would authorize $40 million per year for fiscal years 2027–2031, increasing potential federal outlays by that amount if Congress appropriates the funds.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Bigger watershed grants and extensions
This bill would raise the CWMP first‑phase grant ceiling to $150,000 per year for an initial period of not less than three years, subject to the sufficiency of applications and available appropriations. The Secretary could extend a first‑phase grant for up to two additional years if the recipient shows satisfactory performance. Each continuation year would be up to $150,000 and would depend on Secretary approval and funding availability.
More federal funding for watersheds
This bill would authorize $40,000,000 to be appropriated each year for the Cooperative Watershed Management Program for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. That is $200 million of authorizations across five years. Congress would still need to appropriate the money before the program could spend it.
More groups and tribes can apply
This bill would expand who can qualify for CWMP grants. It would explicitly include Indian tribes (as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304) and allow entities that have ancestral lands within a watershed to be eligible. It would also let applicants qualify by showing significant need from drought, wildfire, or other natural disasters. Applicants would still need to meet the program's other requirements.
Easier grants, more rounds, public data
This bill would let CWMP grant funds pay for planning and preparation work, including grant writing, project management, feasibility studies, design, preliminary environmental review, and engineering. The Secretary would have to offer funding opportunities on a regular basis and allow applicants to submit and be evaluated multiple times per year. The Secretary would also have to make CWMP information public and report awards and opportunities to the House of Representatives. These changes would make it easier to prepare projects and to find out about funding.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Ciscomani
AZ • R
Cosponsors
Neguse
CO • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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