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

III Deauthorizations and Modifications

Sec. 303. Conveyances Since introduced

(a) Generally applicable provisions

(1) Survey to obtain legal description. The exact acreage and the legal description of any real property to be conveyed under this section shall be determined by a survey that is satisfactory to the Secretary.

(2) Applicability of property screening provisions. Section 2696 of title 10, United States Code, shall not apply to any conveyance under this section.

(3) Costs of conveyance. An entity to which a conveyance is made under this section shall be responsible for all reasonable and necessary costs, including real estate transaction and environmental documentation costs, associated with the conveyance.

(4) Liability. An entity to which a conveyance is made under this section shall hold the United States harmless from any liability with respect to activities carried out, on or after the date of the conveyance, on the real property conveyed. The United States shall remain responsible for any liability with respect to activities carried out, before such date, on the real property conveyed.

(5) Additional terms and conditions. The Secretary may require that any conveyance under this section be subject to such additional terms and conditions as the Secretary considers necessary and appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.

(b) City of Corona, California

(1) Conveyance authorized. The Secretary may convey, without consideration, to the City of Corona, California, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the real property described in paragraph (2), for the purpose of public water reclamation, wastewater treatment, environmental management, or related municipal purposes.

(2) Property. The property to be conveyed under this subsection is the approximately 48 acres of land, including improvements located at 2205 Railroad Street, Corona, California.

(3) Reservation of rights. In carrying out the conveyance under this subsection, the Secretary shall, after consultation with the City of Corona, reserve and retain from the conveyance under this subsection such easements, rights-of-way, and other interests that the Secretary determines to be necessary and appropriate to ensure the continued operation of the Prado Dam Basin flood control project, authorized pursuant to section 5 of the Act of June 22, 1936 (chapter 688, 49 Stat. 1589; 100 Stat. 4113).

(4) Reversion. If the Secretary determines at any time that the property conveyed under this subsection is not in accordance with the purpose specified in paragraph (1), all right, title, and interest in and to the property shall revert, at the discretion of the Secretary, to the United States.

(c) Town of Duck, North Carolina

(1) Conveyance authorized. The Secretary shall convey, without consideration, to the Town of Duck, North Carolina, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the real property described in paragraph (2), for the purpose of housing a fire station and public safety facility.

(2) Property. The property to be conveyed under this subsection is the approximately 4.02 acres of land, with approximately 330 linear feet of road frontage and approximately 530 linear feet of depth, including improvements on that land, located at 1259 Duck Road, Duck, North Carolina.

(3) Reversion. If the Secretary determines at any time that the property conveyed under this subsection is not in accordance with the purpose specified in paragraph (1), all right, title, and interest in and to the property shall revert, at the discretion of the Secretary, to the United States.

(d) City of Toledo, Ohio

(1) Conveyance authorized. The Secretary may convey, without consideration, to the City of Toledo, Ohio, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the real property described in paragraph (2), for the purpose of public benefit, including parks and recreation.

(2) Property. The property to be conveyed under this subsection is the small land mass known as Grassy Island, including any improvements on that land, located in Maumee Bay at the mouth of Maumee River in Ohio.

(3) Reversion. If the Secretary determines at any time that the property conveyed under this subsection is not in accordance with the purpose specified in paragraph (1), all right, title, and interest in and to the property shall revert, at the discretion of the Secretary, to the United States.

(e) County of Umatilla, Oregon

(1) Conveyance authorized. The Secretary may convey to the County of Umatilla, Oregon, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the real property described in paragraph (2), for the purpose of public benefit.

(2) Property. The property to be conveyed under this subsection is approximately 25 acres of Federal land, including improvements on that land, in Umatilla County, Oregon, and described as follows:

(A) All of Tax Lot 1301.

(B) Approximately 12 acres of Tax Lot 1001.

(3) Reservation of rights. The Secretary shall, after consultation with the County of Umatilla, reserve and retain from the conveyance under this subsection such easements, rights-of-way, licenses, and other interests that the Secretary determines to be necessary and appropriate to ensure the continued operation of the project for flood control and other purposes, John Day Dam, Columbia River, Washington and Oregon, authorized under section 204 of the Flood Control Act of 1950 (64 Stat. 179).

(4) Additional requirements. The Secretary shall—

(A) identify all agreements and other encumbrances entered into with a non-Federal entity on the property to be conveyed under this subsection; and

(B) in a form and manner determined by the Secretary, transfer any such agreements and encumbrances identified under subparagraph (A) to the County of Umatilla, as appropriate.

(5) Deed. The Secretary shall convey the property under this subsection by quitclaim deed under such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.

(6) Consideration. The County of Umatilla shall pay to the Secretary an amount that is not less than the fair market value of the property conveyed under this subsection, as determined by the Secretary.

IV Water Resources Infrastructure

V Dam Safety