§2267b Post-disaster Watershed Assessments

Summary

After the President declares a major disaster, the Secretary may do a watershed assessment to find specific projects that will reduce flood, hurricane, storm, ecosystem, or navigation damage. The goal is to help fix and strengthen damaged infrastructure and natural resources so people and property face less risk from future disasters. The Secretary must use existing watershed studies and other Federal, State, or local information and can point out projects already underway. Projects found by an assessment can be carried out under the rules of one of these authorities: section 205 (33 U.S.C. 701s), section 111 (33 U.S.C. 426i), section 206 (33 U.S.C. 2330), section 1135 (33 U.S.C. 2309a), section 107 (33 U.S.C. 577), or section 3 of the Act of August 13, 1946 (33 U.S.C. 426g). If a project does not meet those criteria, the Secretary must include it in the annual report to Congress under section 2282d. The Secretary must use existing studies and not repeat work done before the disaster. A watershed assessment must start within 2 years of the disaster declaration. For disasters in a U.S. territory declared before October 23, 2018, these activities are paid in full by the Federal Government unless the President decides the territory can pay its share without loans. The term "territory of the United States" means the insular areas named in section 2310(a)(1).