The Water Resources Development Act provides investments in watershed restoration and healthy fish and wildlife habitat.

Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), advancing funding for fish and wildlife habitat improvements, enhancing aquatic connectivity and water-based recreation, and updating recreational access information for hunters and anglers.  The Senate passage follows bipartisan passage in the U.S. House of Representative on December 10^th. The bill now awaits the president’s signature.  

WRDA is a biennial piece of legislation that authorizes all civil works projects that are carried out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).  

The USACE Civil Works division builds and manages a large amount of our nation’s dams, levees, waterways, and port infrastructure. They are also responsible for managing recreation on more than 400 lake and river projects across the United States that receive over 26 million visitors annually. 

“TRCP applauds the passage of The Water Resources Development Act in both the House and the Senate,” said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “This crucial investment in watershed restoration and healthy fish and wildlife habitat is a win for hunting, fishing, and American communities. We look forward to it being signed into law.”  

This year’s WRDA has numerous TRCP-led provisions that will benefit hunters and anglers. 

Community Project Advisors 

The USACE offers a variety of financial and planning assistance programs to support investments in fish and wildlife habitat improvements and resilience to natural disasters, but navigating these processes can be daunting for some non-Federal partners who lack capacity and experience in utilizing USACE resources. To address this challenge, the WRDA includes a provision requiring the USACE to designate and make publicly available a community project advisor at each district and division office of the USACE. The community project advisor would serve as a resource to non-Federal interests seeking USACE financial and technical assistance including assisting partners in securing resources that benefit fish and wildlife.  

National Low-Head Dam Inventory 

Low-head dams are small structures that consist of water diversions, flood control structures, and other in-river impoundments that are commonplace across the country. Low-head dams also pose public safety risks to boaters and can be barriers to fish passage. Several states and organizations have been working to inventory low-head dams to identify opportunities to rehabilitate these structures to address safety and environmental concerns, yet this information is not consistent across the country.  

This WRDA includes a provision directing the USACE to add low-head dams to the existing national inventory of dams and to include information that can inform strategies to address public safety and fish passage issues at identified structures, which can help direct resources to improve overall aquatic connectivity and enhance water-based recreation.  

MAP Army Corps  

MAP Army Corps builds off the success of the MAPLand Act that passed last Congress amid an ongoing TRCP effort to make data about our public lands and waters more accessible to all Americans.  

This provision would require the USACE to regularly update and make publicly available databases that detail information on USACE recreational sites including the operational status of, and the recreational opportunities available at, such sites.   

Many USACE sites lack publicly accessible boating and fishing regulations, this requires boaters and anglers to go to the USACE site and find a posted sign that outlines the sites particular restrictions. It would be far better if boaters and anglers could simply look online ahead of their trip to discover what equipment, methods of take, and watercraft are allowed.

The 2024 version of WRDA has significant wins for hunters and anglers. It will make investments in Fish and Wildlife habitat easier for communities, it will make information on USACE recreation sites more accessible, and it will make boating safer in areas with low-head dams. TRCP will continue to advocate for hunter and angler priorities in end of Congress legislation. 

TRCP works to maintain and strengthen the future of hunting and fishing by uniting and amplifying our partners’ voices in conserving and restoring wildlife populations and their habitat as challenges continue to evolve.   Learn more about TRCP’s commitment to healthy habitat and clean water HERE.

The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.