CHAPTER 18A - COOPERATIVE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Title 16 > CHAPTER 18A
Sections (3)
§ 1015 Definitions
In this chapter: The term “affected stakeholder” means an entity that significantly affects, or is significantly affected by, the quality or quantity of water in a watershed, as determined by the Secretary. The term “disadvantaged community” means a community (including a city, town, county, or reasonably isolated and divisible segment of a larger municipality) with an annual median household income that is less than 100 percent of the statewide annual median household income for the State in which the community is located, according to the most recent decennial census. The term “grant recipient” means a watershed group that the Secretary has selected to receive a grant under section 1015a(c)(2) of this title . The term “program” means the Cooperative Watershed Management Program established by the Secretary under section 1015a(a) of this title . The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior. The term “watershed group” means a self-sustaining, cooperative watershed-wide group that— is comprised of representatives of the affected stakeholders of the relevant watershed; incorporates the perspectives of a diverse array of stakeholders, including, to the maximum extent practicable— representatives of— hydroelectric production; livestock grazing; timber production; land development; recreation or tourism; irrigated agricultural production; the environment; potable water purveyors and industrial water users; private property owners within the watershed; and disadvantaged communities; any Federal agency that has authority with respect to the watershed; any State agency that has authority with respect to the watershed; any local agency that has authority with respect to the watershed; and any Indian tribe that— owns land within the watershed; or has land in the watershed that is held in trust; is a grassroots, nonregulatory entity that addresses water availability and quality issues within the relevant watershed; is capable of promoting the sustainable use of the water resources of the relevant watershed and improving the functioning condition of rivers and streams through— water conservation; improved water quality; ecological resiliency; and the reduction of water conflicts; and makes decisions on a consensus basis, as defined in the bylaws of the watershed group. The term “watershed management project” means any project (including a demonstration project) that— enhances water conservation, including alternative water uses; improves water quality; improves ecological resiliency of a river or stream, including benefits to fisheries, wildlife, or habitat; reduces the potential for water conflicts; or advances any other goals associated with water quality or quantity that the Secretary determines to be appropriate. ( Pub. L. 111–11, title VI, § 6001 , Mar. 30, 2009 , 123 Stat. 1165 ; Pub. L. 116–260, div. FF, title XI, § 1107(a) , Dec. 27, 2020 , 134 Stat. 3243 .)
§ 1015a Program
(a) Establishment Not later than 180 days after March 30, 2009 , the Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the “Cooperative Watershed Management Program”, under which the Secretary shall provide grants— to form a watershed group; or to enlarge a watershed group; and to conduct 1 or more projects in accordance with the goals of a watershed group.
(b) Establishment of application process; criteria Not later than September 30, 2021 , the Secretary shall update— the application process for the program; and in consultation with the States, the prioritization and eligibility criteria for considering applications submitted in accordance with the application process.
(c) Distribution of grant funds In distributing grant funds under this section, the Secretary— shall comply with paragraph (2); and may give priority to watershed groups that— represent maximum diversity of interests; or serve subbasin-sized watersheds with an 8-digit hydrologic unit code, as defined by the United States Geological Survey. The Secretary may provide to a grant recipient a first-phase grant in an amount not greater than 1,000,000 each year for a period of not more than 4 years if— the watershed group has applied for and received watershed grants under subparagraph (A); or the Secretary determines that the watershed group has satisfied the requirements of first-phase grants. A grant recipient that receives a second-phase grant shall use the funds to plan and carry out watershed management projects. For each year of the second-phase grant, not later than 270 days after the date on which a grant recipient first receives grant funds for the year, the Secretary shall determine whether the grant recipient has made sufficient progress during the year to justify additional funding. If the Secretary determines under subclause (I) that the progress of a grant recipient during the year justifies additional funding, the Secretary shall provide to the grant recipient grant funds for the following year. A grant recipient shall not be eligible to receive a third-phase grant under subparagraph (C) until the date on which the Secretary determines that the grant recipient has— completed each requirement of the second-phase grant; and demonstrated that 1 or more pilot projects of the grant recipient have resulted in demonstrable improvements, as determined by the Secretary, in the functioning condition of at least 1 river or stream in the watershed. Except as provided in subclause (II), the Secretary may provide to a grant recipient a third-phase grant in an amount not greater than 100,000; the salary of not more than 1 full-time employee of the watershed group; and any legal fees arising from the establishment of the relevant watershed group; and to fund— water quality and quantity studies of the relevant watershed; and the planning, design, and implementation of any projects relating to water quality or quantity.
(d) Cost share The Federal share of the cost of an activity provided assistance through a first-phase grant shall be 100 percent. The Federal share of the cost of any activity of a watershed management project provided assistance through a second-phase grant shall not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the activity. The non-Federal share under subparagraph (A) may be in the form of in-kind contributions. The Federal share of the costs of any activity of a watershed group of a grant recipient relating to a watershed management project provided assistance through a third-phase grant shall not exceed 50 percent of the total costs of the watershed management project. The non-Federal share under subparagraph (A) may be in the form of in-kind contributions.
(e) Annual reports Not later than 1 year after the date on which a grant recipient first receives funds under this section, and annually thereafter, in accordance with paragraph (2), the watershed group shall submit to the Secretary a report that describes the progress of the watershed group. The contents of an annual report required under paragraph (1) shall contain sufficient information to enable the Secretary to complete each report required under subsection (f), as determined by the Secretary.
(f) Report Not later than 5 years after March 30, 2009 , and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report that describes— the ways in which the program assists the Secretary— in addressing water conflicts; in conserving water; in improving water quality; and in improving the ecological resiliency of a river or stream; and benefits that the program provides, including, to the maximum extent practicable, a quantitative analysis of economic, social, and environmental benefits.
(g) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section— 5,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; 20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2026.
§ 1015b Effect of chapter
Nothing in this chapter affects the applicability of any Federal, State, or local law with respect to any watershed group. ( Pub. L. 111–11, title VI, § 6003 , Mar. 30, 2009 , 123 Stat. 1170 .)