HR7264-119

What This Bill Does

The Restoring America's Floodplains Act amends the Emergency Watershed Protection floodplain easement authority. It authorizes the Agriculture Secretary to restore vegetative cover, hydrological functions, and other floodplain values on acquired easement lands; monitor and maintain those restoration measures; contract with landowners; and enter agreements with States, nongovernmental organizations, and Indian Tribes. It also lets the Secretary approve compatible uses needed for restoration or compatible economic uses such as hunting, fishing, managed timber harvest, water management, periodic haying, and grazing if they remain consistent with long-term protection. The bill separately allows restoration measures that exceed immediate impairment repair when that higher level of protection benefits long-term watershed health and reduces repetitive damage.

Who Benefits and How

Floodplain landowners benefit because USDA can contract with them and can allow compatible economic uses on easement land instead of treating easements as entirely inactive. Downstream communities benefit when floodplain easements are restored and maintained to improve hydrology, reduce repetitive watershed damage, and preserve flood storage functions. States, conservation nonprofits, and Indian Tribes benefit from explicit agreement authority to help restore and manage easement lands. Hunters, anglers, timber managers, haying operators, and grazing operators benefit where USDA approves compatible uses.

Who Bears the Burden and How

USDA and NRCS must evaluate, restore, monitor, maintain, and enhance easement lands and decide when higher-than-minimum restoration is justified for long-term watershed protection. Landowners who contract with USDA must follow compatible-use limits tied to floodplain protection. State agencies, NGOs, and Tribes that enter agreements must carry out restoration or management work consistent with federal easement purposes. Economic users must operate within restrictions designed to protect vegetative cover, hydrological function, and long-term floodplain values.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes USDA to restore vegetative cover, hydrological functions, and other values on emergency watershed floodplain easements.
• Allows USDA to monitor, maintain, and enhance restoration measures on acquired easement lands.
• Permits contracts with landowners and agreements with States, nongovernmental organizations, and Indian Tribes.
• Allows compatible restoration and economic uses, including hunting, fishing, managed timber harvest, water management, periodic haying, and grazing.