H.R. 9497
Water Resources Development Act of 2026
Sponsor: Sam Graves
3 cosponsors
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
I General Provisions
II Studies and Reports
III Deauthorizations and Modifications
(a) In general. The Secretary shall expedite completion of the Buffalo Bayou Tributaries and Resiliency Study, Texas, carried out pursuant to title IV of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (132 Stat. 76; 138 Stat. 3082), any review required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) as part of the study, and the report of the Chief of Engineers for the study.
(b) Reports. The report of the Chief of Engineers for the study described in subsection (a) shall contain recommendations for carrying out a comprehensive project as described in subsection (c), and is not required to include further evaluation of alternatives to the comprehensive project that are not acceptable to the non-Federal interest for the project.
(c) Comprehensive project. For purposes of subsection (b), a comprehensive project is a project—
(1) to be carried out by the Secretary, in partnership with the Harris County Flood Control District, as part of the project in Buffalo Bayou and its tributaries, Texas, authorized by the Act of June 20, 1938 (chapter 535, 52 Stat. 804);
(2) designed considering any prior studies and information provided to the Corps of Engineers by the Harris County Food Control District;
(3) which shall include an analysis of a subterranean tunnel conveyance system; and
(4) that, carried out pursuant to a comprehensive benefits plan developed by the Secretary and determined acceptable by the non-Federal interest—
(A) is capable of conveying, at an appropriate rate, the volume of water in the Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries Study area, based on an analysis that includes conveyance during a storm event equivalent to Hurricane Harvey;
(B) is designed to avoid, or minimize to the extent practicable, any adverse effects on the environment and community; and
(C) is designed to promote infrastructure resiliency, including infrastructure necessary for reservoir operations.
(d) Deadline. The Secretary shall prioritize Federal funding for the completion of the Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries Resiliency Study pursuant to subsection (a) in the first submission after the date of enactment of this Act of each of the following:
(1) A budget submission.
(2) A submission of a work plan to Congress pursuant to the joint explanatory statement for an annual appropriations Act or as part of the submission of a spend plan to Congress for a supplemental appropriations Act under which the Corps of Engineers receives funding.
(e) Report to Congress. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate the report of the Chief of Engineers for the study described in subsection (a), regardless of design maturity status of the project covered by the report.
(f) Comprehensive benefits plan defined. In this section, the term comprehensive benefits plan means a comprehensive benefits plan developed pursuant to the policies described in the memorandum relating to Policy Directive – Comprehensive Documentation of Benefits in Decision Document, dated January 5, 2021, and signed by the Assistant Secretary for Civil Works.
IV Water Resources Infrastructure
V Dam Safety