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. 226. New England regional confined aquatic disposal facilities Since introduced

(a) Expedite assessment. The Secretary shall expedite the completion of the assessment of the availability of confined aquatic disposal facilities in the New England District region required under section 8128(c) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (136 Stat. 3716).

(b) Submission to Congress. Upon completion of the assessment under subsection (a), 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 results of such assessment.

(c) Study authorization. The Secretary is authorized to conduct—

(1) a study for the construction of confined aquatic disposal facilities in the Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay region for the disposal of contaminated dredged material in such region; and

(2) any other study recommended by the Secretary in the assessment under subsection (a).

III Deauthorizations and Modifications

IV Water Resources Infrastructure

V Dam Safety