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

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I General Provisions

Sec. 127. Harmful algal bloom demonstration program Since introduced

Section 128 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (33 U.S.C. 610 note) is amended—

(1) in subsection (c)—

(A) in paragraph (15), by striking and at the end;

(B) in paragraph (16), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

Text this section adds to the law

(17) Putnam Lake, New York;

(18) Ross Island Lagoon, Oregon;

(19) Lakes and reservoirs in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including Blue Marsh Lake; and

(20) Rio Grande River Basin, Texas.

; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

Text this section adds to the law

(h) Annual update to committees. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate an update on the status of the demonstration program carried out under subsection (a).

II Studies and Reports

III Deauthorizations and Modifications

IV Water Resources Infrastructure

V Dam Safety