Hudson-Mohawk River Basin Act

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a nonregulatory program to support restoration and protection efforts in the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin region, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin Act 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The Hudson-Mohawk River Basin together with the Erie Canal connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean and includes the approximately 13,400 square mile area encompassing the following five large sub-basins: (A) The Upper Hudson River sub-basin. (B) The Mohawk River sub-basin. (C) The Lower Hudson River sub-basin. (D) The Passaic River sub-basin. (E) The Raritan River sub-basin. (2) The Hudson-Mohawk River Basin includes the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area, which is the largest metropolitan area of the country. This metropolitan area, together with the many communities in the Upper Hudson, Mohawk, and Lower Hudson sub-basins, makes the area one of the most densely and heavily populated river basins in the country, with over 15,000,000 people. (3) The water resources of the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin are functionally interrelated and their uses are interdependent. A dedicated program is essential to provide effective communication, coordination, and cooperation among Federal, State, and local governments, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector. (4) The New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary is a complex natural harbor at the junction of three major water bodies, the New York Bight, the Hudson River, and the Long Island Sound. In addition, it receives freshwater inputs from the Raritan and Passaic Rivers. The health and productivity of the New York Bight are affected directly by the quality of the freshwater inputs to the estuary from the Hudson, Passaic, and Raritan Rivers. (5) The Mohawk River and its watershed drain directly into the Hudson River, providing the largest freshwater input to the brackish water mix that characterizes the Hudson River Estuary and supports a biologically rich and productive ecosystem. (6) The Mohawk River is integrated with the Erie Canal along much of its channel, tying the operation of the canal system to the health of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers. (7) Individuals in many communities throughout the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin have experienced devastating flooding that has led to tremendous costs for homeowners, businesses, and State and local governments. A holistic approach to river and stream monitoring, updated floodplain maps, and development of floodplain management strategies based upon improved understanding of the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin’s hydrology would make communities safer and more resilient to flood events. (8) Climate change is occurring and, as a result, sea level rise along the United States eastern coastline will increase the vulnerability of coastal communities to storm surge and flooding in the New York-New Jersey harbors and along the major rivers in the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin. (9) Each of the subwatersheds of the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin receives the support of programs administered by Federal, State, regional, and local organizations. (10) New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut have a long history of achievements working together on resource management issues through their memberships in the Delaware River Basin Commission, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, and the Lake Champlain Basin Program. (11) The impacts experienced as a result of recent hurricanes and storms illustrate the need for integrated, basin-wide planning to address water management challenges and vulnerability to flooding. (12) Protecting wetlands, expanding use of green infrastructure, strengthening dams and levees, and upgrading wastewater and water treatment infrastructure will be necessary to reduce the impacts of extreme weather events and maintain water quality and public health. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Basin state The term Basin State (2) Grant program The term grant program (3) Hudson-Mohawk river basin The term Hudson-Mohawk River Basin (4) Restoration and protection The term restoration and protection (5) Restoration program The term restoration program (6) Secretary The term Secretary (7) Water resources The term water resources 4. Restoration program establishment (a) Establishment Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a nonregulatory program to be known as the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin Restoration Program (b) Duties In carrying out the restoration program, the Secretary shall— (1) draw on existing and new management plans for the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin, or portions of the Basin, and work in consultation with applicable management entities, including representatives of the Federal Government, State and local governments, and regional and nonprofit organizations, as appropriate, to identify, prioritize, and implement water resources activities within the Basin; (2) adopt a Basin-wide strategy that— (A) coordinates activities being undertaken by the Basin States, advisory committees, local governments, institutions of higher education, and nongovernmental organizations to address environmental, economic, and cultural issues associated with the management and use of water resources in the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin; and (B) supports the implementation of a shared set of science-based restoration and protection activities developed in accordance with paragraph (1); and (3) establish the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin grant program in accordance with section 5. (c) Coordination In establishing the restoration program, the Secretary shall consult, as appropriate, with— (1) the heads of Federal agencies, including— (A) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; (B) the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; (C) the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service; (D) the Chief of Engineers of the Corps of Engineers; and (E) the head of any other applicable agency; (2) the Governors of the Basin States; (3) other public agencies and organizations with authority for the planning and implementation of conservation strategies in the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin; (4) institutions of higher education and nongovernmental organizations; and (5) other parties as determined by the Secretary. (d) Purposes The purposes of the restoration program include— (1) addressing the management, development, conservation, and use of water resources throughout the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin; (2) coordinating restoration and protection activities among Federal, State, local, and regional entities and conservation partners throughout the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin; (3) carrying out coordinated restoration and protection activities and providing for technical assistance throughout the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin and Basin States— (A) to sustain and enhance fish and wildlife habitat restoration and protection activities; (B) to improve and maintain water quality to support fish and wildlife, as well as the habitats of fish and wildlife, and drinking water; (C) to sustain and enhance water management for volume and flood damage mitigation improvements to benefit fish and wildlife habitat; (D) to improve opportunities for public access and recreation in the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin consistent with the ecological needs of fish and wildlife habitat; (E) to facilitate strategic planning to maximize the resilience of natural systems and habitats under changing watershed conditions; (F) to engage the public through outreach, education, and citizen involvement; and (G) to increase scientific capacity to support the planning, monitoring, and research activities necessary to carry out coordinated restoration and protection activities; (4) maintaining an inventory of historic and cultural resources of the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin and identifying projects to provide for cultural enrichment, preservation of cultural resources, public education about local heritage and historical significance of properties, canals, and historic sites within the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin; and (5) providing a mechanism to promote communication and coordination among the organizations engaged in water resource management activities to promote collaborative working relationships among all entities working in the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin. 5. Grants and assistance (a) Hudson-Mohawk river basin grant program To the extent that funds are available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall establish a voluntary grant program to be known as the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin Grant Program (1) competitive matching grants of varying amounts to State and local governments, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and other eligible entities to carry out activities described in section 4(d); and (2) technical assistance to grant recipients. (b) Criteria The Secretary, in consultation with the organizations described in section 4(c), shall develop criteria for the grant program to help ensure that activities funded under this section accomplish one or more of the purposes identified in section 4(d) and advance the implementation of priority actions or needs identified in the Basin-wide strategy adopted under section 4(b)(2). (c) Cost sharing (1) Federal share The Federal share of the cost of a project funded under the grant program shall be determined by the Secretary and shall not exceed 80 percent of the total cost of the activity. (2) Non-federal share The non-Federal share of the cost of a project funded under the grant program may be provided in cash or in the form of an in-kind contribution of services or materials. 6. Annual reports Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation of this Act, including a description of each project that has received funding under this Act. 7. Authorization of appropriations (a) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this Act $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2023. (b) Use Of any amount made available under this section for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall use at least 75 percent to carry out the grant program and to provide, or provide for, technical assistance under such program.

Summary: Hudson-Mohawk River Basin Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior to establish a nonregulatory Hudson-Mohawk River Basin Restoration Program, under which it shall: draw on management plans for the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin and work with applicable management entities, including the federal government, state and local governments, and regional and nonprofit organizations, to identify, prioritize, and implement water resources activities within the basin; adopt a basin-wide strategy that coordinates activities being undertaken by the basin states (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont), advisory committees, local governments, institutions of higher education, and nongovernmental organizations to address environmental, economic, and cultural issues associated with the management and use of water resources in the basin and that supports implementation of science-based restoration and protection activities; and establish the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin grant program to provide competitive matching grants and technical assistance to state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and other eligible entities to carry out specified restoration and protection activities. Program purposes are listed, including: addressing the management, development, conservation, and use of water resources throughout the basin; coordinating restoration and protection activities; carrying out coordinated restoration and protection activities and providing technical assistance throughout the basin states; maintaining an inventory of historic and cultural resources of the basin and identifying projects to provide for cultural enrichment, preservation of cultural resources, public education about local heritage and historical significance of properties, canals, and historic sites within the basin; and providing a mechanism to promote communication, coordination, and collaborative working relationships among entities working in the basin. Interior shall develop criteria to ensure that activities funded through the grant program accomplish identified purposes and advance the implementation of priority actions or needs identified in the basin-wide strategy.