Rep. Kiley Secures Key Projects in Water Resources Development Act


Last week, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee unanimously passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026. This bipartisan legislation, which Rep. Kiley strongly supported, addresses important water resource needs in communities across the country, including in California. Through WRDA, Congress authorizes projects and provides the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) with Congressional direction in how it considers, builds, and maintains this critical infrastructure.

Rep. Kiley is happy to report that he was able to secure significant wins in the bill that impact California’s Third Congressional District. These include:

- Sacramento River Basin - A $155 million authorization allowing the Army Corps of Engineers to provide design and construction assistance to non-Federal interests for environmental restoration, stormwater management, and surface water protection projects in counties within the Sacramento River Basin. These include Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sacramento, Shasta, Sutter, Tehama, Yolo and Yuba counties. These projects are critical for enhancing water supply reliability, reducing flood risks, and protecting ecosystems in a region prone to drought and flooding.


- Preventing Invasive Species In Tahoe – A authorization for the Army Corps of Engineers to provide technical assistance to local, state, federal, and non-profit partners to identify, control, mitigate and eradicate aquatic invasive species in Lake Tahoe.

"The Sacramento River Basin is the sources for nearly 75 percent of California’s water, which makes investments in the Sacramento River Basin an investment in California water’s water supplies. We are grateful for Representative Kiley’s leadership championing these provisions in the Water Resources Development Act of 2026. The new Environmental Infrastructure authority gives the Army Corps of Engineers the direction and the resources to be a genuine partner in water supply reliability, salmon recovery, and floodplain reactivation across the Sacramento River Basin, advancing the shared goals of the landmark Floodplain Forward: Federal-State partnership. Paired with the Section 219 reimbursement authority, which lets local sponsors deliver projects faster and at lower cost, these provisions will turn federal investment into real, on-the-ground results for communities, fish, and farms that benefit the region and all of California,” said David Guy, President, Northern California Water Association.

“Protecting Lake Tahoe’s environment and famed water clarity is critical to ensuring visitors and residents can safely access this crown jewel of the Sierra and support our local economy. Thanks to Congressman Kevin Kiley’s leadership on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 includes provisions he championed that will equip Lake Tahoe with more tools to partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on lake-saving projects through the Environmental Improvement Program. This partnership will support the prevention and control of aquatic invasive species and technical assistance to help improve public safety facilities and piers on the Lake so we can continue protecting this extraordinary natural resource for future generations, said Julie Regan, Executive Director of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

"The Sacramento River Settlement Contractors have long worked to balance water supply reliability with salmon recovery and habitat restoration, and these two provisions give us the tools to do that work more effectively. We thank Representative Kiley for his leadership in securing a dedicated Environmental Infrastructure authority for the Sacramento River Basin and the Section 219 reimbursement fix in the Water Resources Development Act of 2026. Reimbursement authority is a common-sense reform that empowers local sponsors, who already own and operate this infrastructure, to move shovel-ready projects forward without unnecessary delay or added cost. Together, these authorities position the Army Corps of Engineers to be an effective partner in the coordinated, basin-scale effort now underway, delivering benefits for water supply, ecosystems, and flood risk management without increasing flood risk” said Roger Cornwell, President, Sacramento River Settlement Contractors.

 

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