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S2437119th CongressWALLET

Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program Reauthorization Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]

Passed Senate

Summary

This bill would reauthorize and refocus the Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program to support ongoing development and deployment of more accurate, timely snow monitoring and water supply forecasting. It centers on modernizing forecasting with new measurement and modeling technologies and stronger interagency coordination.

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  • Families, water managers, and States: Improves forecasts that inform multi-water-user, multi-basin, and interstate decisions, helping communities plan for water supply changes.
  • Scientists, federal partners, and local partners: Expands the approved technology inventory to include imaging spectroscopy, machine learning, snowpack and hydrologic modeling, and it increases coordination with the Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
  • Program operations and accountability: Shifts reporting to ongoing assessments, requires three deliverables (a basins list, a cross-district technology assessment, and benchmark comparisons to USDA and NOAA forecasts), and sets new funding and evaluation rules at the program level.

*Authorizes $3.0 million per year from 2027–2031 (about $15.0 million total), roughly maintaining the program's prior five-year funding level.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Better snow forecasts and required reports

The bill would shift the program to keep developing and using better snow-measuring and forecasting tools. It would include imaging spectroscopy, machine learning, and advanced snowpack and hydrologic models. USDA and NOAA would be formal partners for data, modeling, and coordination. The program would need to publish a list of basins using these tools, with uses, outcomes, and data sources. It would also publish which technologies work best across districts or states, and compare new forecasts to USDA and NOAA benchmarks. The law would be renamed the Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program Reauthorization Act of 2026, and the term "sub-basin" would be removed from outputs.

Five-year funding for snow forecasts

The bill would authorize $3 million each year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for this program. The money would support grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts with states, researchers, and technology partners. Funds would still need to be appropriated by Congress each year.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]

CO • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT]

    UT • R

    Sponsored 7/24/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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