On August 1, 2024, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024 (S. 4367). The legislation includes provisions to help address ongoing climate impacts in California. The bill authorizes $10 million for the Tijuana River Valley Watershed to help address the ongoing transboundary sewage crisis through stormwater conveyance, environmental and ecosystem restoration, and water quality protection projects. Additionally, the bill includes: $20 million to restore ecosystems and bolster salmon recovery; and directs a new study to examine ways to modify the existing Sacramento River levee system for floodplain management and ecosystem restoration.
The Senate and House of Representatives have each passed their respective versions of WRDA, which will now be conferenced to produce final legislation. The full text of the bill is available here.