Key Takeaways
- The Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA 2026) expands opportunities for water infrastructure investment by authorizing 133 new feasibility studies and 14 projects that are ready for construction.
- The bill introduces policy reforms aimed at accelerating project delivery, helping federal and non-federal entities more effectively leverage U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) authorities, programs, and resources.
- Water supply, drought resilience, dam safety, and dredging and sediment management remain top priorities in WRDA 2026, with dredging and sediment management offering both economic and environmental benefits.
WRDA 2026 Overview
Since 2014, Congress and the USACE have increasingly focused on developing a more resilient national water resources and water transportation program. On Tuesday, July 14, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved WRDA 2026.
The House bill authorizes 133 new feasibility studies for locally proposed water resources infrastructure projects, as well as 14 projects that have been vetted by USACE and are ready for construction, pending congressional authorization. WRDA 2026 is the primary legislative vehicle for authorizing new USACE projects and represents a necessary first step toward advancing flood risk management, navigation, hurricane and storm damage risk reduction, and other water resources infrastructure improvements.
Major USACE construction projects generally require congressional authorization following completion of a feasibility study, often referred to as a Chief’s Report.
WRDA 2026 presents a significant opportunity for local, state, and regional water resources agencies, flood control districts, dam owners, port authorities, and other non-federal sponsors seeking to advance resilience, dredging, sediment management, dam safety, and water infrastructure improvements.
Policy Changes and Project Delivery Reforms
WRDA 2026 includes policy changes designed to improve infrastructure project delivery. Specifically, the bill would strengthen and reauthorize alternative project delivery programs, emphasize non-federal interests’ input in feasibility studies, and help non-federal interests navigate existing USACE authorities and resources for project development.
The act contains five major titles, under which specific proposed actions are identified. Of particular interest is the expansion of the Continuing Authorities Program, including new authorities for drought resilience and improvement of completed flood risk management projects.
Water Supply Continues to Be a Major Focus
Water supply has become an important component of the USACE’s national mission. Drawing on expertise from their own Engineering Research and Development Center, local stakeholders, industry experts and academic institutions, the USACE is evaluating and supporting innovative approaches to help communities improve water supply reliability and resilience. These efforts include Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations, evaporation control, watershed management, and infrastructure improvements and asset protection.
Strengthening Dredging and Sediment Management Programs
Multiple sections of WRDA 2026 address dredging and sediment management, including the beneficial use of dredged materials and reservoir sedimentation. These activities provide opportunities to support environmental protection, increase water supply capacity, improve water quality, and enhance the long-term performance of critical water resources infrastructure.
Several provisions in WRDA 2026 draw attention to reservoir sustainability and the growing challenges associated with sediment accumulation. As reservoirs lose storage capacity over time, sediment management should be viewed as an investment in recovering and preserving functional water storage infrastructure and retaining asset value, rather than simply a recurring maintenance expense. Restoring reservoir capacity through sediment removal, for example, is often one of the most cost-effective ways to increase water supply and improve water quality.
Depending on site conditions, the most effective approach may combine targeted dredging, beneficial use of dredged material, upstream sediment-source control, sediment capture or interception, intake or conveyance improvements, basin reconfiguration, operational changes, and long-term monitoring. Coordinating these measures with drought planning, dam safety, watershed restoration, water-quality objectives, and capital improvement planning can recover capacity, extend infrastructure life, strengthen resilience, improve environmental outcomes, and slow future sediment-related capacity loss.
Beyond reservoir management, dredging and sediment management are critical to maritime commerce, as sedimentation and the coastal migration of sand and silt can limit access to harbors, ports, and docking facilities. Through WRDA 2026, USACE can help protect millions of dollars in economic activity by maintaining access for ships and barges navigating docks, access channels, and turning basins.
The USACE continues to expand and evaluate opportunities for the beneficial use of dredged material to build islands, such as those in the Chesapeake Bay, and restore wetlands along river corridors and in delta areas, including the mouths of the Mississippi and Columbia rivers. These investments create habitats and provide buffers that mitigate storm surges and rising sea levels.
Reauthorizing Key Dam Safety Programs
WRDA 2026 would reauthorize the High Hazard Potential Dam Rehabilitation Grant Program and amend the National Dam Safety Program’s State Assistance Grant allocation formula. The amendments would expand the program to include more non-federal low-head dams.
There are over 90,000 private and other non-federal dams in the nation. USACE owns and operates more than 700 dams and reservoirs nationwide. The National Dam Safety Program provides the primary framework for supporting state dam safety programs, which are responsible for overseeing most non-federal dams and helping ensure they continue to meet applicable safety requirements while protecting downstream communities, property, and infrastructure.
Next Steps for WRDA 2026: How Organizations can Prepare
The next steps for WRDA 2026 include consideration and votes by the full House of Representatives and the Senate, followed by the resolution of differences between the House and Senate bills. Once both chambers pass identical legislation, the bill will be sent to the President for signature. The goal is to complete WRDA 2026 before the end of the year and maintain the biennial legislative cycle.
Federal and non-federal organizations seeking an efficient and cost-effective approach to advancing water, transportation, and infrastructure initiatives through WRDA 2026 should consider partnering with a qualified third party. Woolpert, a global architecture, engineering, and geospatial firm, offers expertise in mapping, geospatial data collection, design and construction management, asset management, sediment and hydrologic modeling, and integrated planning approaches that help clients navigate complex infrastructure and policy challenges.
