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119-s-1114119th CongressWALLET

Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

Introduced

Summary

Emergency Forest Watershed Program. This bill would create a new program in the National Forest System to fund rapid projects after natural disasters. It would let the Secretary of Agriculture work through state and local sponsors to pay for work that slows runoff, reduces soil erosion, mitigates floods, and helps restore forest health.

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  • States, tribes, local governments, and water districts could receive payments to carry out emergency watershed protection measures. Matching requirements would be waived and sponsors assume the risk for work done before agreements. The Secretary may make partial payments and must make final payment within 30 days after project completion.
  • Projects would target runoff retardation, soil erosion control, and flood mitigation to protect downstream water users and improve forest health.
  • Agreements would need to be executed quickly and projects completed within 2 years, with an optional monitoring and maintenance period up to 3 years if risks remain. The Natural Resources Conservation Service would coordinate fund use, and the bill reorganizes and renumbers related authorities in the Agricultural Credit Act to create a new cost-sharing and maximum payment framework.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Emergency watershed help for sponsors

This bill would let the Secretary of Agriculture fund emergency watershed work on National Forest land through state, local, tribal, or water district sponsors. It would treat those projects as emergency response actions under forest rules and require NRCS coordination. Sponsors could get payments, including partial payments, and final payment within 30 days after a project finishes. Sponsors would need to finish work within 2 years after the disaster and could monitor or repair work for up to 3 more years when needed. The Secretary would waive any matching money and sponsors who act before an agreement would assume the risk of costs.

Repeal of watershed program authority

This bill would repeal section 406 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978. If enacted, entities that used that authority could lose the legal basis for related programs or help. The repeal would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

CO • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT]

    UT • R

    Sponsored 3/25/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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