H.R. 9497

Water Resources Development Act of 2026

Sponsor: Sam Graves

3 cosponsors
Follow this bill

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

Sec. 203. Expedited modification of existing feasibility studies Changed · Sep 3

Where this section came from

  1. Jun 29, 2026 · Introduced in House Referred to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Jun 29
  2. 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 changed in the text

… 1 unchanged passage …

(b) Columbus and Hickman, Kentucky. The feasibility study for the project for flood risk management, including riverbank stabilization, Columbus, Kentucky, authorized by section 8201(a)(28) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (136 Stat. 3746), is modified to authorize the Secretary to include in the study bluff stabilization as an authorized purpose and to include in the study area the City of Hickman, Kentucky. (c) Alexandria to the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana. The feasibility study for flood control, navigation, wetland conservation and restoration, wildlife habitat, commercial and recreational fishing, saltwater intrusion, freshwater and sediment diversion, and other purposes, in the area drained by the intercepted drainage system of the West Atchafalaya Basin Protection Levee, from Alexandria, Louisiana to the Gulf of Mexico, being carried out under Committee Resolution 2535 of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, adopted July 23, 1997, as authorized by section 1202(4) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (138 Stat. 3064), is modified to include Vermilion Bay. ( c d ) Maurice River, New Jersey. The feasibility study for the project for navigation and for beneficial use of dredged materials for hurricane and storm damage risk reduction and ecosystem restoration, Maurice River, New Jersey, authorized by section 8201(a)(53) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (136 Stat. 3747), is modified to authorize the Secretary to include streambank erosion and shoreline protection and to include in the study area the East Point Lighthouse. (e) Expedited completion. The Secretary shall expedite the completion of the feasibility studies described in subsections (a) and through ( b d ), as modified by such subsections, and if the Secretary determines that a project that is the subject of the feasibility study described in subsection (a ) ), (b), (c), or ( b d ) is justified in the completed report, may proceed directly to preconstruction planning, engineering, and design of the project.

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.

(a) Unalaska (Dutch Harbor), Alaska modification. The feasibility study for navigation, Unalaska (Dutch Harbor) Channels, Alaska, authorized by section 401(1) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (134 Stat. 2734) is modified to authorize the Secretary to include in the study coastal storm risk management and shoreline erosion protection.

(b) Columbus and Hickman, Kentucky. The feasibility study for the project for flood risk management, including riverbank stabilization, Columbus, Kentucky, authorized by section 8201(a)(28) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (136 Stat. 3746), is modified to authorize the Secretary to include in the study bluff stabilization as an authorized purpose and to include in the study area the City of Hickman, Kentucky.

(c) Alexandria to the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana. The feasibility study for flood control, navigation, wetland conservation and restoration, wildlife habitat, commercial and recreational fishing, saltwater intrusion, freshwater and sediment diversion, and other purposes, in the area drained by the intercepted drainage system of the West Atchafalaya Basin Protection Levee, from Alexandria, Louisiana to the Gulf of Mexico, being carried out under Committee Resolution 2535 of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, adopted July 23, 1997, as authorized by section 1202(4) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (138 Stat. 3064), is modified to include Vermilion Bay.

(d) Maurice River, New Jersey. The feasibility study for the project for navigation and for beneficial use of dredged materials for hurricane and storm damage risk reduction and ecosystem restoration, Maurice River, New Jersey, authorized by section 8201(a)(53) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (136 Stat. 3747), is modified to authorize the Secretary to include streambank erosion and shoreline protection and to include in the study area the East Point Lighthouse.

(e) Expedited completion. The Secretary shall expedite the completion of the feasibility studies described in subsections (a) through (d), as modified by such subsections, and if the Secretary determines that a project that is the subject of the feasibility study described in subsection (a), (b), (c), or (d) is justified in the completed report, may proceed directly to preconstruction planning, engineering, and design of the project.

III Deauthorizations and Modifications

IV Water Resources Infrastructure

V Dam Safety