shall develop criteria for the grant program to ensure that 
activities funded under the grant program— 
(1) accomplish 1 or more of the purposes iden-
tified in section 3(b)(2); and 
(2) advance the implementation of priority ac-
tions or needs identified in the Watershed-wide 
strategy adopted under section 3(c)(3). 
(c) CAPACITY BUILDING.—In carrying out the grant 
program, the Secretary shall seek to increase the effective-
ness of organizations that carry out restoration and pro-
tection activities described in section 3(b)(2) within the 
Watershed by addressing organizational capacity needs. 
(d) COST-SHARE.— 
(1) FEDERAL SHARE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the Federal share of the 
total cost of a restoration and protection activ-
ity carried out under the grant program shall 
be not more than 50 percent, as determined by 
the Secretary. 
(B) SMALL, RURAL, AND DISADVANTAGED 
COMMUNITIES.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to clause 
(ii) the Federal share of the total cost of 
a restoration and protection activity car-
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ried out under the grant program that 
serves a small, rural, or disadvantaged 
community shall be 90 percent, as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
(ii) WAIVER.—The Secretary may in-
crease the Federal share under clause (i) 
to 100 percent of the total cost of the res-
toration and protection activity if the Sec-
retary determines that the grant recipient 
is unable to pay, or would experience sig-
nificant financial hardship if required to 
pay, the non-Federal share. 
(2) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The non-Federal share 
of the total cost of a restoration and protection 
activity carried out under the grant program 
shall be not more than 50 percent, as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
(B) FORM
OF
PAYMENT.—The non-Fed-
eral share described in subparagraph (A) may 
be provided— 
(i) in cash; or 
(ii) in the form of an in-kind contribu-
tion of services or materials. 
(e) ADMINISTRATION.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may enter 
into an agreement to manage the grant program 
with— 
(A) the Foundation; or 
(B) a similar organization that offers 
grant management services. 
(2) FUNDING.—If the Secretary enters into an 
agreement under paragraph (1), the Foundation or 
similar organization selected, as applicable, shall— 
(A) receive the amounts made available to 
carry out the grant program under section 7 for 
each applicable fiscal year in an advance pay-
ment of the entire amount on October 1 of that 
fiscal year, or as soon as practicable thereafter; 
(B) invest and reinvest those amounts for 
the benefit of the grant program; and 
(C) administer the grant program to sup-
port partnerships between the public and pri-
vate sectors in accordance with this Act. 
(3) REQUIREMENTS.—If the Secretary enters 
into an agreement with the Foundation under para-
graph (1), any amounts received by the Foundation 
under this section shall be subject to the National 
Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 
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U.S.C. 3701 et seq.), excluding section 10(a) of that 
Act (16 U.S.C. 3709(a)). 
SEC. 5. ANNUAL REPORT. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment 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 activity that 
has received funding under this Act in the preceding fiscal 
year. 
SEC. 6. PROHIBITION ON FEDERAL LAND HOLDINGS. 
The Federal Government may not maintain owner-
ship of any land acquired under this Act except for the 
purpose of promptly transferring ownership to an entity 
described in section 4(a). 
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary to carry out this Act $20,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2029, of which not 
more than 5 percent shall be used for administrative costs 
of carrying out this Act. 
(b) GRANT PROGRAM.—Of the amounts made avail-
able to carry out this Act for each fiscal year, the Sec-
retary shall use not less than 75 percent to carry out the 
grant program, including for technical assistance relating 
to the grant program. 
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(c) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.—Amounts made 
available to carry out this Act for each fiscal year shall 
supplement, and not supplant, funding for other activities 
conducted by the Secretary in the Watershed. 
SEC. 8. SUNSET. 
This Act shall cease to have force or effect on October 
1, 2030. 
Æ 
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