The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would be authorized to carry out emergency watershed protection measures on U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land under bipartisan, bicameral legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. John Curtis (R-UT).
The congressman on Feb. 7 cosponsored the Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act of 2024, H.R. 7294, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO), while U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Mitt Romney (R-UT) the same day introduced the identical S. 3760 in their chamber.
“In the face of devastating wildfires across the West, it’s clear we need a unified approach to protect our vital water resources,” Rep. Curtis said. “The Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act bridges critical gaps, ensuring swift, effective recovery efforts for our national forests and safeguarding the water supply for communities downstream.”
If enacted, the bill would create a new Emergency Forest Watershed Program (EFWP) at USDA to streamline recovery efforts and protect life, private property, and water resources downstream of USFS national forests, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
Additionally, the bill would allow tribes, states, local governments, and water providers to enter into agreements with USFS to implement watershed recovery protection measures; speed up project timelines and require recovery project to be completed within two years after the conclusion of a natural disaster; and fully fund projects on federal lands by waiving matching requirements, the summary says.
“Across the West, our communities continue to grapple with devastating wildfires,” said Rep. Neguse. “These wildfires put watersheds and the drinking water supplies for many of our communities at risk. Our bill… aims to ensure that critical federal resources are available to assist communities addressing these watershed risks in the aftermath of catastrophic wildfires.”