Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act of 2025

Emergency watershed program for forests

If enacted, this bill would create an Emergency Forest Watershed Program to let the Forest Service work with sponsors after sudden natural disasters. States, local governments, Indian Tribes, and water districts could sign agreements to do emergency work on National Forest System land. The bill would let the Secretary pay sponsors (including partial payments) and would require final payment within 30 days after project completion. Matching money would be waived. Sponsors must finish work within 2 years after the event and could monitor or repair measures for up to 3 years when needed to avoid unacceptable risks. Sponsors who act before an agreement would assume the cost and liability risk, while sponsors working under an agreement would not have to indemnify the United States and would be shielded from liability except for willful or reckless misconduct. The bill would also let existing Section 404(b) grants be used to carry out these section 401 activities. The Secretary would be required to execute agreements as expeditiously as possible, and projects done under this authority would be treated as emergency response actions under federal rules.