This week, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously approved H.R. 5303, the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) of 2016, bipartisan legislation to address the needs of the country’s harbors, dams, flood protection, and other water resources infrastructure. The legislation contains no earmarks and maintains the reforms included in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014. The legislation has also been referred to the House Natural Resources Committee.
The WRDA is the legislation for authorizing the Corps of Engineers projects. Between 1986 and 2000, Congress typically authorized the legislation every two years; however, since 2000 only three WRDA’s have been enacted. In 2014, Congress enacted the Water Resources Reform and Development Act with the goal of accelerating the infrastructure project delivery process, greater fiscal responsibility and strengthened water transportation networks.
WRDA 2016 is Congress’ return to the regular, biannual process of authorizing projects and activities related to the missions of the Corps of Engineers relating to waterway infrastructure as well as flood protection.
In regard to California, the legislation authorizes the Secretary to conduct a feasibility study for a number of projects for water resources development including a project for flood damage reduction and ecosystem recreation in the Cache Creek Settling Basin and a project for flood damage reduction in the Merced County Streams.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed its WRDA bill at the end of April 2016. Leaders in the House and Senate intend to bring their respective bills to the floor for a vote before Congress adjourns in July for the summer recess.