Every Drop Counts Act

Bill: 119-hr-338
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]
Introduced: 2025-01-13
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Water resources funding

Water storage
Latest action: action_date: 2025-01-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-01-13
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Every Drop Counts Act</strong></p><p>This bill expands the Bureau of Reclamation's Small Storage Program, which is a grant program for small surface water or groundwater storage projects in certain western states.</p><p>First, the bill expands the types of projects that are eligible for grants under the program. Specifically, the bill makes a project eligible for a grant if the project (1) has water storage capacity of recharges no less than 200 acre-feet and no more than 150,000 acre-feet on an average annual basis over the life of the project for storage or use; and (2) increases groundwater aquifer storage, conveys water to or recovers water from groundwater storage, and stabilizes groundwater levels.</p><p>Next, it extends Reclamation's authority to carry out the grant program for another five years.</p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 338 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 13, 2025 Mr. Costa (for himself, Mr. Fulcher , and Mr. Valadao ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to increase surface water and groundwater storage, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Every Drop Counts Act . 2. Eligible water storage projects (a) In general Subparagraph (B) of section 40903(b)(1) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 43 U.S.C. 3203(b)(1)(B) ) is amended to read as follows: (B) Eligible projects The following projects shall be eligible for consideration for a grant under this section: (i) General acre-feet capacity A project that— (I) has water storage capacity of not less than 200 acre-feet and not more than 30,000 acre-feet; and (II) (aa) increases surface water or groundwater storage; or (bb) conveys water, directly or indirectly, to or from surface water or groundwater storage. (ii) Average annual project life acre-feet capacity A project that— (I) has water storage capacity of recharges not less than 200 acre-feet and not more than 150,000 acre-feet on an average annual basis over the life of the project for storage or use; and (II) (aa) increases groundwater aquifer storage; (bb) conveys water, directly or indirectly, to or recovers water from groundwater storage; (cc) both increases groundwater aquifer storage and conveys water, directly or indirectly, to or recovers water from groundwater storage; and (dd) stabilizes groundwater levels. . (b) Authority Section 40903(e) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 43 U.S.C. 3203(e) ) is amended by striking 5 and inserting 10 . 3. Statutory construction Nothing in the amendment made by section 2 shall be construed— (1) to supersede or in any manner affect or conflict with State water law, Federal water law, interstate compacts, or treaty obligations; (2) to authorize any acquisition of water by the Federal Government; or (3) to supersede or infringe on any water rights.