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. 137. Sense of Congress regarding evaluation of flood risk management projects Since introduced

It is the sense of Congress that, for each flood risk management project completed by the Corps of Engineers prior to the date of enactment of this Act for which an interest in real property is required, the Secretary should—

(1) review and, if necessary, update the minimum real estate interest necessary for the project, based on the As-built Drawings approved by the Secretary with respect to the project—

(A) to maintain project benefits pursuant to applicable guidance of the Corps of Engineers;

(B) to comply with the requirements of the manual prepared under section 5(c)(1) of the Flood Control Act of August 18, 1941 (33 U.S.C. 701n(c)(1)); and

(C) to be able to receive any permissions under section 14 of the Act of March 3, 1899 (33 U.S.C. 408), required for any anticipated construction, operation and maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of the project;

(2) provide a summary of the review under paragraph (1) to the non-Federal interest for, or levee operator of, the project, including with the review, if applicable, identification of any additional interest in real property that the non-Federal interest must acquire to meet the minimum real estate interest determined necessary in the review; and

(3) develop a streamlined process through which the Secretary, upon request of a non-Federal interest, may update project boundaries to reflect any update to the minimum real estate interest necessary for the project, as determined by a review under paragraph (1).

II Studies and Reports

III Deauthorizations and Modifications

IV Water Resources Infrastructure

V Dam Safety