H.R. 9497

Water Resources Development Act of 2026

Sponsor: Sam Graves

3 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Water Resources Development Act of 2026

This bill authorizes and modifies certain water resource infrastructure projects and programs of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and makes related requirements. For example, the bill authorizes and modifies various water resources feasibility studies and projects of the Corps of Engineers, such as studies or projects to

  • maintain ports and harbors,
  • make certain waterways more navigable,
  • reduce flood and storm damage,
  • restore aquatic ecosystems and protect fish and wildlife,
  • protect shorelines,
  • address harmful algal blooms,
  • rehabilitate dams,
  • manage recreational sites and facilities,
  • support water supply and storage projects, and
  • support other water resources infrastructure.

The bill also directs the Corps of Engineers to establish an Office on Alternative Delivery Methods in order to accelerate project delivery of infrastructure. 

In addition, the bill directs the Corps of Engineers to issue a rule that establishes categorical permissions for certain harbor or river improvements that will cause only minimal adverse environmental effects.

Text of the bill

Expand all

I General Provisions

II Studies and Reports

III Deauthorizations and Modifications

Sec. 312. Mobile Harbor, Alabama Added Sep 3

Where this section came from

Not in the first version (Introduced in House, Jun 29).

  1. Sep 3, 2026 · Reported in House Marked up by House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Jul 14 Reported by House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Sep 3 Committee members' individual votes aren't in our records.
What is a markup?

A markup is a committee meeting where members go through a bill and vote on changes before sending it to the full chamber.

The undesignated paragraph under the heading Mobile Harbor, Alabama in section 201(a) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (100 Stat. 4090; 110 Stat. 3711) is amended by striking , after compliance with applicable laws and after opportunity for public review and comment, may consider alternatives to disposal of such material in the Gulf of Mexico, including environmentally acceptable alternatives for beneficial uses of dredged material and environmental restoration. and inserting shall prohibit the use of thin layer placement of dredged material unless such disposal is necessary for emergency use, to prevent draft restrictions, or the creation of living shorelines or brackish marsh habitats. The Secretary shall establish, in coordination with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, a multi-year restoration program utilizing suitable dredged material to protect, conserve, and restore the Mobile Bay estuary..

IV Water Resources Infrastructure

V Dam Safety