Cooperative Watershed Management Program Reauthorization Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced
Summary
Expands and reauthorizes cooperative watershed grants to broaden who can apply and to increase grant size, multi-year support, and public transparency. The bill adds tribes with ancestral lands as eligible partners and makes funding opportunities regularly available.
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- Indian tribes and Tribal communities: Tribes are explicitly included if they have ancestral lands in a watershed. Applicants can also show acute need from drought, wildfire, or other natural disasters when seeking funds.
- Local watershed partnerships and grant recipients: Initial grants grow from $100,000 to $150,000 per year for at least three years. First-phase grants can be extended for up to two additional years at up to $150,000 per year if performance is satisfactory.
- Program operation and public access: The program must run continuous enrollment so applications can be accepted multiple times a year. The bill expands allowable grant activities to include grant writing, project management, feasibility, design, preliminary environmental review, and engineering, and it requires more public access to program information.
*Authorizes $40.0 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, increasing federal spending authority for the program.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More watershed grants and funding
If enacted, the bill would raise the program's standard first-phase grant to $150,000 per year for at least three years. The Secretary could extend a first-phase grant for up to two more years at up to $150,000 per year for recipients with satisfactory performance. The program would accept applications multiple times each year through continuous enrollment. Grants could pay for grant writing, project management, feasibility, design, preliminary environmental review, and engineering. The bill would authorize $40 million a year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out this section, subject to available appropriations.
More tribal eligibility and transparency
If enacted, the bill would clarify that "Indian tribe" uses the definition in 25 U.S.C. 5304. It would let tribes that have ancestral lands within a watershed be treated as eligible interests for the program. Applicants could also qualify by showing significant need from drought, wildfire, or another natural disaster, and they would need to demonstrate that need in their application. The bill would also require materials given to the House of Representatives about the program to be made available to the public.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Daines, Steve [R-MT]
MT • R
Cosponsors
John Hickenlooper
CO • D
Sponsored 3/10/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov