Cooperative Watershed Management Program Reauthorization Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Steve Daines
Introduced
Summary
Expanded tribal participation and larger, ongoing grants. This bill reauthorizes the Cooperative Watershed Management Program to explicitly include Indian tribes, boost initial grant sizes, and broaden what grants can pay for to help watersheds hit by drought, wildfire, or other disasters.
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- Indian tribes: The bill adopts the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act definition of "Indian tribe," makes tribes explicitly eligible as participants or recipients, and recognizes tribes with ancestral lands in a watershed.
- Grant size and duration: First-phase grants rise from $100,000 to $150,000 per year for at least three years, with the option to continue the first-phase grant for up to two more years at the same cap if performance is satisfactory.
- Access and uses: The law requires continuous enrollment with multiple application rounds per year and expands allowable uses to include grant writing, project management, feasibility, design, preliminary environmental review, and engineering. It also directs the Secretary to publish funding opportunities publicly and transparently.
*Authorizes up to $40 million per year for FY2027–2031, increasing potential federal spending by up to $200 million over five years if appropriated.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More funding and larger grants
If enacted, the bill would authorize $40 million a year for the watershed program for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. That totals $200 million authorized across those five years, but Congress must still appropriate the money. The bill would also raise first-phase grants to $150,000 per year for at least three years. The Secretary could continue a first-phase grant for up to two more years at up to $150,000 per year, subject to available appropriations and sufficient applications.
More grant uses and cycles
If enacted, the bill would let Cooperative Watershed grants pay for grant writing, project management, and technical help like feasibility studies, design, preliminary environmental review, and engineering. The bill would also require the Secretary to post funding opportunities regularly and allow applications to be submitted and evaluated multiple times each year. These changes would make it easier to apply and use grants for planning and preparation.
Tribes and disaster-hit groups eligible
If enacted, the bill would explicitly include Indian tribes as eligible participants and recipients for the watershed program, using the definition in 25 U.S.C. 5304. The bill would also let entities that show significant need because of drought, wildfire, or other natural disasters qualify for the program. These changes would widen who can apply for program funding and help.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Steve Daines
MT • R
Cosponsors
John Hickenlooper
CO • D
Sponsored 3/10/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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