Water Resources Act Reforms Corps Projects

On June 10, 2014, the president signed into law the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA; P.L. 113-121). The law authorizes $17 billion for 34 new Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) projects in 18 states and eight modifications to current projects in seven states. It offsets this cost by deauthorizing $18 billion for inactive projects authorized before 2007. Under P.L. 113-121, “nonfederal interests,” such as state and local governments, will have more authority to influence Corps projects. The law also makes changes to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) program administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Finally, it authorizes funding for a new pilot project for the construction of water infrastructure projects. This Issue Brief provides a summary of the provisions of importance to states included in the law.