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Headwaters Protection Act of 2025
H.R. 605, 119th Congress
- Status
- In committee
- Introduced
- 01/22/2025
- Cosponsors
- 9
- Latest action
- 02/28/2025
About this bill
- Official title
- Headwaters Protection Act of 2025
- Sponsor
- Jim Costa (D-CA)
- Introduced in
- House
- Policy area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Committees
- Agriculture Committee, Natural Resources Committee
- Latest action
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
Summary
Congressional Research Service, Introduced in House (01/22/2025)
Headwaters Protection Act of 2025
This bill reauthorizes through FY2033 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.
Actions
Newest first
- 02/28/2025 · House
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
- 01/22/2025 · House
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 01/22/2025
Introduced in House
Subjects: Emergency planning and evacuation, Fires, Forests, forestry, trees, Land use and conservation, Public-private cooperation, Water quality, Water use and supply, Watersheds, Wildlife conservation and habitat protection.
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office, GovInfo Bill Status; Congressional Research Service summaries · Last updated 02/28/2025