H.R. 9497
Water Resources Development Act of 2026
Sponsor: Sam Graves
3 cosponsors
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
I General Provisions
II Studies and Reports
III Deauthorizations and Modifications
Where this section came from
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Jun 29, 2026 · Introduced in House Referred to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Jun 29
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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.
… 6 unchanged passages …
(40)
Gap Creek, Okaloosa County, Florida, for removal of silt and aquatic growth, stump removal, and other material to carry out environmental cleanup; (41)
Lake Waumpi, Orange County, Florida; (
41
42
) Lake Becerra, Glendale Heights, Illinois; (
42
43
) Electric Lake (Mill Pond), Park Ridge, New Jersey; (
43
44
) Pondside Park pond, Harrington Park, New Jersey; and (
44
45
) Putnam Lake, Putnam County, New York.
… 15 unchanged passages …
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) Lakes program. Section 602 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (100 Stat. 4148; 138 Stat. 3164) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) in paragraph (38), by striking and at the end;
(B) in paragraph (39), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
(40) Gap Creek, Okaloosa County, Florida, for removal of silt and aquatic growth, stump removal, and other material to carry out environmental cleanup;
(41) Lake Waumpi, Orange County, Florida;
(42) Lake Becerra, Glendale Heights, Illinois;
(43) Electric Lake (Mill Pond), Park Ridge, New Jersey;
(44) Pondside Park pond, Harrington Park, New Jersey; and
(45) Putnam Lake, Putnam County, New York.
; and
(2) in subsection (e), by striking $40,000,000 and inserting $60,000,000.
(b) Chesapeake Bay oyster recovery program. Section 704(b)(1) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2263) is amended, in the second sentence, by striking $120,000,000 and inserting $150,000,000.
(c) Civil works research and development. Section 7(c)(8) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1988 (33 U.S.C. 2313) is amended by striking 2028 and inserting 2030.
(d) Rehabilitation of Corps of Engineers constructed dams. Section 1177(f) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (33 U.S.C. 467f–2 note) is amended by striking $60,000,000 and inserting $80,000,000.
(e) Chattahoochee River program. Section 8144(k) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (136 Stat. 3724) is amended by striking $40,000,000 and inserting $50,000,000.
(f) Columbia River basin. Section 8309(c)(2) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (136 Stat. 3780; 138 Stat. 3043) is amended by striking 2026 and 2027 and inserting 2026 through 2030.
(g) Lower Missouri River streambank erosion control evaluation and demonstration program. Section 8350(f) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (136 Stat. 3798) is amended by striking 5 years and inserting 8 years.
(h) Non-Federal implementation of feasibility studies. Section 1043(a) of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (33 U.S.C. 2201 note) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (7), by striking terminates on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act and inserting terminates on September 30, 2030; and
(2) in paragraph (8), by striking 2019 and inserting 2030.
(i) Acequias irrigation system. Section 1113(e) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (100 Stat. 4232; 110 Stat. 3719; 136 Stat. 3781; 138 Stat. 3161) is amended by striking $90,000,000 and inserting $120,000,000.
(j) Monitoring and assessment program for Saline Lakes in the Great Basin. Section 8143(f) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (136 Stat. 3724) is amended by striking $10,000,000 and inserting $12,500,000.
(k) Non-Federal interest dredging authority. Section 1113(g) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (33 U.S.C. 2326e) is amended by striking 10 and inserting 14.
IV Water Resources Infrastructure
V Dam Safety