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

II Studies and Reports

III Deauthorizations and Modifications

Sec. 301. Deauthorization of inactive projects Since introduced

Section 301 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (33 U.S.C. 579d–2) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) in paragraph (2), by striking and at the end;

(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

Text this section adds to the law

(4) to address the backlog of water resources development projects that the Secretary is authorized to construct.

(2) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking Water Resources Development Act of 2024 and inserting Water Resources Development Act of 2026 each place it appears; and

(3) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:

Text this section adds to the law

(3) Updates. After submission of the final deauthorization list and appendix under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—

(A) review and update the list and appendix as necessary; and

(B) not less than every six months, beginning after the date of such submission—

(i) provide to the committees described in paragraph (1)(A) the updated list and appendix; and

(ii) publish the updated list and appendix in the Federal Register.

IV Water Resources Infrastructure

V Dam Safety