Western Water Reinvestment Act
Extends water-program authorizations and adds watershed grants, drought planning, and habitat support across Western states.
In the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee since Sept. 15, 2026, 23 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 15, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Western water management has to balance water use with healthy rivers, wetlands, and fisheries. The bill would extend several water-program authorizations and revise watershed grants, including tribal participation. It would also support farm bird habitat, drought planning and fisheries restoration, and a streamlined review path for specified aquatic restoration projects.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Extends water-program authorizations
The bill would extend the authorization for the aquatic ecosystem restoration program through 2031 and for the Reclamation basin study program through 2033. It would authorize $40 million per year for the Cooperative Watershed Management Program for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 and change the WaterSMART program’s authorized appropriations from $1 billion to $1.4 billion.
- Expands watershed grants and tribal participation
The bill would include tribes with ancestral lands in a watershed among eligible watershed groups and add drought, wildfire, or other natural disaster as a basis for demonstrating need. First-phase grants could provide $150,000 per year for at least three years, with up to two additional years available for recipients performing satisfactorily; the bill would also require regular funding opportunities and allow applications to be submitted and evaluated multiple times during the year.
- Plans for drought-hit fisheries
The Interior Secretary would prepare plans every three years to help sustain important fisheries through drought, considering steps such as habitat restoration, hatchery changes, and voluntary compensated water actions. The bill would also add native biodiversity to drought-planning provisions and reauthorize the Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act program for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
- Pays farms to create bird habitat
The Interior Secretary would provide payments or credits to eligible agricultural producers in Reclamation States for creating or maintaining waterbird and shorebird habitat that would not otherwise be created or maintained. The program would be capped at $3.5 million in assistance per fiscal year.
- Creates streamlined review for aquatic restoration
The Interior Secretary would develop a categorical exclusion for specified aquatic restoration activities, such as certain culvert work, wetland restoration, and habitat improvements. The Secretary would still have to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and consider extraordinary circumstances when deciding whether to use the exclusion.
- Reauthorizes the Deschutes working group
The bill would continue the Deschutes River Conservancy Working Group through 2032 and set its board membership and representation, including members from environmental, agricultural, tribal, government, and hydroelectric communities. It would also raise the share of funds that may be used for administrative costs from 5 percent to 10 percent.
The bill addresses water management needs that involve watershed health, drought preparation, fish recovery, and habitat for birds. It would extend or renew authorizations for several programs and add tools for planning and restoration, so the terms and duration of those federal efforts would change.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 15, 2026SENATESEP 15, 2026By Sen. Wyden with 1 original cosponsorReferred to Energy and Natural Resources
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 15, 2026ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES NOWSEP 15, 2026In committee for 23 daysHearing Sept. 16, 2026
- 23 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 162026SEP 16, 2026HEARINGCommittee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
- SEP 152026SEP 15, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- SEP 152026SEP 15, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 23, this bill is already older than 8% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
Support from one state
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Sen. Wyden’s record: sponsored 98 bills this Congress. 4 passed the Senate; 0 became law.
- Jeff MerkleyD-ORORIGINAL
Who testified
Hearings to examine S.5402, to extend authorizations for aquatic ecosystem restoration projects, multi-benefit watershed health projects, and WaterSMART grants, S.456, to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to expedite geothermal exploration and development in previously studied or developed areas, S.1568, to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to modify standards for general service lamps, S.2644, to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to assess the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Camden Battlefield area in the State of South Carolina as a unit of the National Park System, S.4103 and H.R. 2709, bills to improve the health and resiliency of giant sequoias, S.4116, to advance next-generation geothermal electricity generation demonstration projects in new regions, S.4166, to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to require States to include supporting the physical security, cybersecurity, and resilience of local distribution systems in State energy security plans, S.4023, to establish the America's Living Library Project, S.4489, to authorize the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System in the State of Montana, S.4787, to expedite resolution of certain administrative proceedings at the Department of the Interior, S.4846, to amend the United States-Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Act to reauthorize the United States-Mexico transboundary aquifer assessment program, S.4870, to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to reauthorize the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, S.4955, to amend the Act of May 17, 1954, to revise the boundary of Gateway Arch National Park, S.5048, to amend the Federal Power Act to modernize the hydropower licensing process, S.5101, to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from taking any action to expand the Mid-Continent Limestone Quarry located near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, S.5169, to expand the boundaries of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District, to recognize and enhance the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District partnership model, S.5338, to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to prohibit the Secretary of Energy from prescribing any new or amended energy conservation standards for a product that is not technologically feasible and economically justified, S.5293, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to establish prepositioning protocols for aerial wildfire suppression for early-season fine fuel wildland fires, S.5352, to amend the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act and the Water Desalination Act of 1996 to reauthorize certain desalination programs, S.5359, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to Pennington County, South Dakota, certain National Forest System land, S.5360, to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to reauthorize the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program, S.5374, to facilitate the conveyance of certain land in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, platted under section 2387 of the Revised Statutes, H.R.900, to direct the Director of the United States Geological Survey to establish a program to map zones that are at greater risk of sinkhole formation, H.R.1682, to amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to provide for lifetime National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes for family members of members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives while serving their country.
- Michael BennetUnited States Senator (D-CO)
- Alex FitzsimmonsAssociate Deputy Secretary of Energy, US Department of Energy
- Sarah J. RykerAssociate Director, Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area, United States Geological Survey, Department of the Interior
What readers think
Discussion
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