Headwaters Protection Act of 2025
Headwaters Protection Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Headwaters Protection Act of 2025 - Plain Language Summary **What the bill does:** This legislation would extend and expand a federal program that helps protect and restore watersheds (areas of land where water drains into streams and rivers) through 2029. Currently, the program operates mainly on national forest lands managed by the Forest Service. The bill would allow the program to also fund projects on nearby private and state lands if the landowners agree and the projects are in the same watershed. It would also add new types of water users who can participate, including acequia associations (traditional irrigation organizations in the Southwest) and public water management agencies. **Who it affects and key provisions:** The bill primarily affects the Forest Service, landowners near national forests, water utilities, farmers using acequia irrigation systems, and communities that depend on healthy watersheds for water quality and supply.
A major requirement is that the Forest Service must use its "Watershed Condition Framework" to evaluate whether projects could cause long-term damage to watershed health. This adds environmental safeguards before projects are approved. The program would receive continued federal funding through fiscal year 2029. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee (HR 605), meaning it has been introduced but not yet voted on by the full House of Representatives.
CRS Official Summary
Headwaters Protection Act of 2025This bill reauthorizes through FY2029 and expands the Water Source Protection Program (WSPP) under which the Forest Service carries out watershed protection and restoration projects on federal land. It also requires the Forest Service's Watershed Condition Framework for National Forest System land to ensure certain activities and authorizations do not result in long-term degradation of the health of a watershed.The bill authorizes the WSPP to support projects on state, local, or private land that is adjacent to projects on National Forest System land, so long as (1) the adjacent land is within the same watershed as the project on federal land, and (2) the owner of the adjacent land supports the project.Further, the bill expands the types of end water users that may participate in the program to include (1) an acequia association (an organization that manages traditional irrigation systems found in the Southwest); (2) a public entity that manages water infrastructure, such as stormwater or wastewater resources; (3) certain land grant entities in New Mexico called land-grant mercedes; and (4) a local, regional, or other private entity that has water delivery authority.The bill requires projects under the program to (1) protect and restore watershed health, water supply and quality, a municipal or agricultural water supply system, and water-related infrastructure; (2) protect and restore forest health from insect infestation and disease or wildfire; or (3) advance any combination of those purposes.Additionally, the bill reduces the cost share for nonfederal WSPP participants.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.