H.R. 5762

New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act of 2025

Sponsor: Paul Tonko

27 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act of 2025

This bill establishes programs to restore and protect the New York-New Jersey Watershed. The watershed is composed of all land area the surface water of which drains into the New York-New Jersey Harbor, the waters contained within that land area, and associated estuaries.

Specifically, the bill requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish the New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration Program, a nonregulatory program, to coordinate restoration and protection activities among government entities and conservation partners throughout the watershed.

The bill also establishes the New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration Grant Program, a voluntary grant and technical assistance program, to provide competitive matching grants to certain entities to implement restoration and protection activities for the watershed. The federal government may not maintain ownership of any land acquired under the bill except for the purpose of promptly transferring ownership to grant recipients.

The bill ceases to have force or effect on October 1, 2031.

Text of the bill

Expand all
Sec. 2. Definitions

In this Act:

(1) Approved plan

(A) In general. The term approved plan means any plan for management of the Watershed—

(i) that has been approved by a Federal, regional, State, Tribal, or local governmental entity, including State Wildlife Action Plans, Comprehensive Conservation Management Plans, and Watershed Improvement Plans; or

(ii) that is determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the entities described in clause (i), to contribute to the achievement of the purposes of this Act.

(B) Inclusions. The term approved plan includes—

(i) the New York-New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program (HEP) Action Agenda;

(ii) the Hudson Raritan Comprehensive Restoration Plan;

(iii) the Hudson River Comprehensive Restoration Plan;

(iv) the Hudson River Estuary Program Action Agenda;

(v) the Mohawk River Action Agenda;

(vi) the Sustainable Raritan River Initiative Action Plan;

(vii) the Lower Passaic and Bronx & Harlem Federal Urban Waters Partnership Workplans;

(viii) the New Jersey Sports and Exhibition Authority Meadowlands Restoration Plan; and

(ix) such other conservation projects in the region that achieve the purposes of this Act, as determined by the Secretary.

(2) Environmental justice. The term environmental justice, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies, means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income.

(3) Foundation. The term Foundation means the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

(4) Grant program. The term grant program means the voluntary New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration Grant Program established under section 4(a).

(5) Program. The term program means the New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration Program established under section 3(a).

(6) Restoration and protection. The term restoration and protection means the conservation, stewardship, and enhancement of habitat for fish and wildlife, including water quality—

(A) to preserve and improve ecosystems and ecological processes on which those fish and wildlife depend; and

(B) for use and enjoyment by the public.

(7) Secretary. The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

(8) Watershed. The term Watershed means the New York-New Jersey Watershed, which is composed of—

(A) all land area the surface water of which drains into the New York-New Jersey Harbor;

(B) the waters contained within that land area; and

(C) the estuaries associated with those watersheds.