The President’s signature is the next step for a crucial piece of legislation that authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects. The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024 authorizes, deauthorizes, and modifies various water resources feasibility studies and projects. The U.S. Senate sent the water infrastructure bill to President Joe Biden’s desk on December 26th.
The biennial WRDA legislation focuses on projects that improve the nation’s water resources infrastructure and protect communities from flooding and storm impacts, as well as improving inland waterway navigation and the nation’s ports and harbors. WRDA also supports initiatives to construct water and wastewater infrastructure, as well as water supply and storage projects.
The legislation strengthens existing alternative project delivery processes and creates similar alternative delivery methods for smaller projects using the Continuing Authorities Program (CAP). The bill requires the Corps to track National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents for water resource projects through an online permitting dashboard.
In addition, the legislation strengthens the High Hazard Potential Dam program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency by requiring rehabilitated dams to be maintained and floodplain management plans remain in place.
The progress of WRDA can be tracked here.