§2267a Watershed and river basin assessments

Summary

The Secretary may assess the water needs of U.S. river basins and watersheds. These studies can cover things like ecosystem protection and restoration, flood damage reduction, navigation and ports, watershed protection, water supply, drought planning, sea level rise, coastal storm damage reduction, and streambank or shoreline protection. The Secretary must work with the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce, the EPA Administrator, and other agencies. The Secretary must also consult federal, tribal, state, interstate, and local governments. Priority basins for study include the Delaware, Kentucky, Potomac, Susquehanna, Willamette, Tuscarawas (Ohio), Sauk (WA), Niagara (NY), Genesee (NY), White (AR/MO), New York–New Jersey watershed (including Hudson, Mohawk, Raritan, Passaic, Hackensack, Bronx), Mississippi, Chattahoochee, Walla Walla, San Francisco Bay, Connecticut, Lower Rouge (MI), and Grand (MI). The Secretary may take cash or in-kind contributions from government partners to help finish an assessment. For assessments on or after December 11, 2000, non-Federal partners must pay 25% of the cost. In-kind work can count toward that 25% but cannot exceed 25% of the total cost. If a non-Federal partner asks, the Secretary may prepare a feasibility report recommending a project to address a need found in an assessment. Priority for those reports goes to the watersheds on Maui (Wahikuli, Honokowai, Kahana, Honokahua, Honolua, and nearby coral reef habitat north of Lahaina) and to the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Guam.