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. 107. Electronic submission and tracking of permit applications Since introduced

(a) Electronic system. Section 2040(a) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2345(a)) is amended—

(1) in the subsection heading, by striking Development of Electronic and inserting Electronic;

(2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

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(1) In general. The Secretary shall implement an electronic system to allow the electronic—

(A) preparation and submission of applications for permits and requests for jurisdictional determinations under the jurisdiction of the Secretary; and

(B) tracking of documents related to Federal environmental reviews for projects under the jurisdiction of the Secretary or for which the Corps of Engineers is designated as the lead Federal agency.

(3) in paragraph (2)—

(A) in subparagraph (E), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon;

(B) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

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(G) documents related to Federal environmental reviews for projects under the jurisdiction of the Secretary or for which the Corps of Engineers is designated as the lead Federal agency.

; and

(4) by adding at the end the following:

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(5) Coordination with other agencies. To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall use the electronic system required under paragraph (1) to enhance interagency coordination in the preparation of documents related to Federal environmental reviews.

(b) System requirements. Section 2040(b) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2345(b)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon;

(2) in paragraph (5)(C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

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(6) enable a non-Federal interest for a project to—

(A) submit information related to the preparation of any Federal environmental review document associated with the project; and

(B) track the status of a Federal environmental review associated with the project.

(c) Record retention. Section 2040(d) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2345(d)) is amended—

(1) in the subsection heading, by striking Record of Determinations and inserting Record Retention;

(2) in paragraph (1), by inserting , and all Federal environmental review documents included in the electronic system before the period at the end; and

(3) in paragraph (2), by inserting and all Federal environmental review documents included in the electronic system before after the 5-year.

(d) Availability of records. Section 2040(e) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2345(e)) is amended—

(1) in the subsection heading, by striking Determinations and inserting Records; and

(2) in paragraph (1), by inserting , and all final Federal environmental review documents included in the electronic system, before available to the public.

(e) Deadline for electronic system implementation. Section 2040(f)(1) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2345(f)(1)) is amended by striking 2 years after the date of enactment of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 and inserting 1 year after the date of enactment of the Water Resources Development Act of 2026.

(f) Applicability. Section 2040(g) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2345(g)) is amended by inserting , and the requirements described in subsections (d) and (e) relating to Federal environmental documents shall apply with respect to Federal environmental review documents that are prepared after the date of enactment of the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 before the period at the end.

(g) E–NEPA. Section 2040 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2345) is amended by adding at the end the following:

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(i) Consistency with E–NEPA. In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall take into consideration the results of the permitting portal study conducted pursuant to the amendment made by section 321(b) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (137 Stat. 44).

(h) Conforming amendment. Section 2040 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2345) is amended in the section heading by striking Permit Applications and inserting Permit Applications and Other Documents.

II Studies and Reports

III Deauthorizations and Modifications

IV Water Resources Infrastructure

V Dam Safety