Headwaters Protection Act of 2025

Summary

Headwaters Protection Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes through FY2033 and expands the Water Source Protection Program (WSPP) under which the Forest Service carries out watershed protection and restoration projects on federal land. It also requires the Forest Service's Watershed Condition Framework for National Forest System land to ensure certain activities and authorizations do not result in long-term degradation of the health of a watershed. The bill authorizes the WSPP to support projects on state, local, or private land that is adjacent to projects on National Forest System land, so long as (1) the adjacent land is within the same watershed as the project on federal land, and (2) the owner of the adjacent land supports the project. Further, the bill expands the types of end water users that may participate in the program to include (1) an acequia association (an organization that manages traditional irrigation systems found in the Southwest); (2) a public entity that manages water infrastructure, such as stormwater or wastewater resources; (3) certain land grant entities in New Mexico called land-grant mercedes; and (4) a local, regional, or other private entity that has water delivery authority. The bill requires projects under the program to (1) protect and restore watershed health, water supply and quality, a municipal or agricultural water supply system, and water-related infrastructure; (2) protect and restore forest health from insect infestation and disease or wildfire; or (3) advance any combination of those purposes. Additionally, the bill reduces the cost share for nonfederal WSPP participants.

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Timeline

1. 22 January 2025

   Introduced

   Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 22 January 2025

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 22 January 2025

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 28 February 2025

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

2 official files

• Introduced in House

  Introduced in House · EN · 22 January 2025

  DownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 22 January 2025

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Jim Costa · D · Sponsor
• David Valadao · R · Sponsor
• Brittany Pettersen · D · Sponsor
• Melanie Stansbury · D · Sponsor
• Marie Perez · D · Sponsor
• Kim Schrier · D · Cosponsor
• Josh Harder · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] · D · Cosponsor
• Doris Matsui · D · Cosponsor
• · hsag00 · Standing
• · hsii00 · Standing

Related records

• related to ← Headwaters Protection Act of 2025