Headwaters Protection Act of 2025

Sponsored byRep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]CA· Introduced 22 January 2025

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Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.

28 February 2025·1 year ago

Summary

Introduced in House · Updated 15 April 2026

Headwaters Protection Act of 2025

This bill reauthorizes through FY2033 and expands the Water Source Protection Program (WSPP) under which the Forest Service carries out watershed protection and restoration projects on federal land. It also requires the Forest Service's Watershed Condition Framework for National Forest System land to ensure certain activities and authorizations do not result in long-term degradation of the health of a watershed.

The bill authorizes the WSPP to support projects on state, local, or private land that is adjacent to projects on National Forest System land, so long as (1) the adjacent land is within the same watershed as the project on federal land, and (2) the owner of the adjacent land supports the project.

Further, the bill expands the types of end water users that may participate in the program to include (1) an acequia association (an organization that manages traditional irrigation systems found in the Southwest); (2) a public entity that manages water infrastructure, such as stormwater or wastewater resources; (3) certain land grant entities in New Mexico called land-grant mercedes; and (4) a local, regional, or other private entity that has water delivery authority.

The bill requires projects under the program to (1) protect and restore watershed health, water supply and quality, a municipal or agricultural water supply system, and water-related infrastructure; (2) protect and restore forest health from insect infestation and disease or wildfire; or (3) advance any combination of those purposes.

Additionally, the bill reduces the cost share for nonfederal WSPP participants.

Timeline

5 actions

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
28 February 2025 · Committee
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
22 January 2025 · IntroReferral
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
22 January 2025 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
22 January 2025 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
22 January 2025 · IntroReferral

Sponsorship

9 cosponsors

Sponsor

Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]CA

Cosponsors

Democrat778%
Republican222%

Democrat:Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]CA
Democrat:Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]CO
Democrat:Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]CA
Republican:Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]PA
Democrat:Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8]WA
Democrat:Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]CO
Republican:Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]CA
Democrat:Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]WA
Democrat:Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]NM

Classification

Policy area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Legislative subjects

Emergency planning and evacuationFiresForests, forestry, treesLand use and conservationPublic-private cooperationWater qualityWater use and supplyWatershedsWildlife conservation and habitat protection

Cosponsor momentum

Cumulative over time

Track Headwaters Protection Act of 2025 as it moves through Congress