Water Resources Development Act of 2026

The Water Resources Development Act of 2026 provides for improvements to U.S. rivers and harbors, and for the conservation and development of water and related resources. Division A covers water resources development, including general provisions, studies and reports, deauthorizations and modifications, and water resources infrastructure. Division B covers drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, including drinking water, clean water, geographic programs, and other matters.

Sec. 1001, Definition of Secretary: In this division, the term 'Secretary' means the Secretary of the Army.

Title I, General Provisions: This title includes provisions on notice to Congress on implementation, Corps of Engineers real estate guidance and outreach, contributions by non-Federal interests, congressional communications and reports to Congress, review process, continuing authority programs, capabilities, emergency stream bank and shoreline protection, limited process, Inland Waterways Users Board, shoreline and riverine protection and restoration, crediting and reimbursement authority for federally authorized navigation projects, informed decisionmaking, support of Army civil works missions, procedures, coordination, dredging coordination, nonstructural flood and coastal storm risk management, and in-kind contributions review and technical assistance.

Title II, Studies and Reports: This title authorizes proposed feasibility studies, expedited completion of certain feasibility studies, GAO studies, and addresses specific studies and reports for locations including Juneau, Alaska; Virginia Peninsula, Virginia; Upper Rio Grande Basin; Northern Estuaries, Florida; Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries, Texas; Honolulu Harbor, Hawaii; Charleston, South Carolina; Lake Sakakawea and Missouri River; Table Rock Lake, Missouri; Mobile Harbor, Alabama; Wehrspann Lake, Nebraska; Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint Rivers, Alabama; Imperial Streams Salton Sea, California; Greater Providence, Rhode Island; Missouri River; Alaska; Oceanside, California; hydrokinetic energy; Hoosic River, Massachusetts; projects in Arizona; and emerging harbors. It also includes provisions on briefings, reports, and sense of Congress statements.

Title III, Deauthorizations and Modifications: This title addresses environmental infrastructure, West Tennessee projects, deauthorizations of certain projects, conveyances, rehabilitation of Corps of Engineers constructed dams, and the Rio Grande environmental management program.

Title IV, Water Resources Infrastructure: This title authorizes specific projects, including Surf City and North Topsail Beach, North Carolina.

Division B, Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure: This division covers technical assistance and grants for emergencies affecting public water systems, Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds, assistance for small and disadvantaged communities, reducing lead in drinking water, research investigations, a pilot program for alternative water source projects, sewer overflow and stormwater reuse municipal grants, grants for construction and refurbishing of individual household systems, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, reauthorization of Long Island Sound Programs, Columbia River Basin Restoration, the National Estuary Program, the Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program, Southeast New England programs, water intelligence and cyber threat protection, combating plastic waste, nonpotable aquifer exemptions for Class VI wells, and a microplastic study.