16 U.S.C. § 1015a
Not later than 180 days after March 30, 2009, the Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the "Cooperative Watershed Management Program", under which the Secretary shall provide grants-
Not later than September 30, 2021, the Secretary shall update-
In distributing grant funds under this section, the Secretary-
The Secretary may provide to a grant recipient a first-phase grant in an amount not greater than $100,000 each year for a period of not more than 3 years.
A grant recipient that receives a first-phase grant shall use the funds-
For each year of a first-phase grant, not later than 270 days after the date on which a grant recipient first receives grant funds for the year, the Secretary shall determine whether the grant recipient has made sufficient progress during the year to justify additional funding.
If the Secretary determines under subclause (I) that the progress of a grant recipient during the year covered by the determination justifies additional funding, the Secretary shall provide to the grant recipient grant funds for the following year.
A grant recipient shall not be eligible to receive a second-phase grant under subparagraph (B) until the date on which the Secretary determines that the watershed group-
A watershed group that has not applied for or received first-phase grants may apply for and receive second-phase grants under subparagraph (B) if the Secretary determines that the group has satisfied the requirements of first-phase grants.
A watershed group may apply for and receive second-phase grants of $1,000,000 each year for a period of not more than 4 years if-
A grant recipient that receives a second-phase grant shall use the funds to plan and carry out watershed management projects.
For each year of the second-phase grant, not later than 270 days after the date on which a grant recipient first receives grant funds for the year, the Secretary shall determine whether the grant recipient has made sufficient progress during the year to justify additional funding.
If the Secretary determines under subclause (I) that the progress of a grant recipient during the year justifies additional funding, the Secretary shall provide to the grant recipient grant funds for the following year.
A grant recipient shall not be eligible to receive a third-phase grant under subparagraph (C) until the date on which the Secretary determines that the grant recipient has-
Except as provided in subclause (II), the Secretary may provide to a grant recipient a third-phase grant in an amount not greater than $5,000,000 for a period of not more than 5 years.
The Secretary may provide to a grant recipient a third-phase grant in an amount that is greater than the amount described in subclause (I) if the Secretary determines that the grant recipient is capable of using the additional amount to further the purposes of the program in a way that could not otherwise be achieved by the grant recipient using the amount described in subclause (I).
A grant recipient that receives a third-phase grant shall use the funds to plan and carry out at least 1 watershed management project.
A grant recipient that receives a grant under this section may use the funds-
The Federal share of the cost of an activity provided assistance through a first-phase grant shall be 100 percent.
The Federal share of the cost of any activity of a watershed management project provided assistance through a second-phase grant shall not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the activity.
The non-Federal share under subparagraph (A) may be in the form of in-kind contributions.
The Federal share of the costs of any activity of a watershed group of a grant recipient relating to a watershed management project provided assistance through a third-phase grant shall not exceed 50 percent of the total costs of the watershed management project.
The non-Federal share under subparagraph (A) may be in the form of in-kind contributions.
Not later than 1 year after the date on which a grant recipient first receives funds under this section, and annually thereafter, in accordance with paragraph (2), the watershed group shall submit to the Secretary a report that describes the progress of the watershed group.
The contents of an annual report required under paragraph (1) shall contain sufficient information to enable the Secretary to complete each report required under subsection (f), as determined by the Secretary.
Not later than 5 years after March 30, 2009, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report that describes-
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section-
16 U.S.C. § 1015a
EDITORIAL NOTES
AMENDMENTS2020-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116-260, §1107(b)(1), added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which required Secretary to establish application process not later than 1 year after Mar. 30, 2009.Subsec. (g)(4). Pub. L. 116-260, §1107(b)(2), which directed substitution of "2026" for "2020", was executed by making the substitution for "2021" to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the intervening amendment by Pub. L. 116-260, §206. See below. Pub. L. 116-260, §206, substituted "2021" for "2020".
- Secretary
- The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.
- grant recipient
- The term "grant recipient" means a watershed group that the Secretary has selected to receive a grant under section 1015a(c)(2) of this title.
- program
- The term "program" means the Cooperative Watershed Management Program established by the Secretary under section 1015a(a) of this title.
- watershed group
- The term "watershed group" means a self-sustaining, cooperative watershed-wide group that-(A) is comprised of representatives of the affected stakeholders of the relevant watershed;(B) incorporates the perspectives of a diverse array of stakeholders, including, to the maximum extent practicable-(i) representatives of-(I) hydroelectric production;(II) livestock grazing;(III) timber production;(IV) land development;(V) recreation or tourism;(VI) irrigated agricultural production;(VII) the environment;(VIII) potable water purveyors and industrial water users;(IX) private property owners within the watershed; and(X) disadvantaged communities;(ii) any Federal agency that has authority with respect to the watershed;(iii) any State agency that has authority with respect to the watershed;(iv) any local agency that has authority with respect to the watershed; and(v) any Indian tribe that-(I) owns land within the watershed; or(II) has land in the watershed that is held in trust;(C) is a grassroots, nonregulatory entity that addresses water availability and quality issues within the relevant watershed;(D) is capable of promoting the sustainable use of the water resources of the relevant watershed and improving the functioning condition of rivers and streams through-(i) water conservation;(ii) improved water quality;(iii) ecological resiliency; and(iv) the reduction of water conflicts; and(E) makes decisions on a consensus basis, as defined in the bylaws of the watershed group.
- watershed management project
- The term "watershed management project" means any project (including a demonstration project) that-(A) enhances water conservation, including alternative water uses;(B) improves water quality;(C) improves ecological resiliency of a river or stream, including benefits to fisheries, wildlife, or habitat;(D) reduces the potential for water conflicts; or(E) advances any other goals associated with water quality or quantity that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.