Headwaters Protection Act of 2023: Legislation Introduced in United States Senate Expanding Two United States Forest Service Programs

Several United States Senators introduced legislation titled:

Headwaters Protection Act of 2023 (“Act”)

The legislation was introduced by:

• Senator Michael Bennet
• Senator Mike Crapo
• Senator Dianne Feinstein
• Senator James Risch
• Senator Ben Ray Luján
• Senator Mark Kelly
• Senator John Hickenlooper
• Senator Martin Heinrich

The legislation would expand support for two United States Forest Service (“Service”) programs that had been created by the 2018 Farm Bill.

The programs addressed include:

• Water Source Protection Program
• Watershed Condition Framework

The objectives of the two Service programs are stated to:

• Prevent water pollution at the source
• Improve the health of watersheds
• Ensure investments benefit downstream communities

The Act would:

• Increase funding
• Expand access to funding
• Direct the programs to prioritize local, collaborative partnerships to protect forests and wetlands
• Create dedicated funding for the Watershed Condition Framework
• Make a technical change to the Watershed Condition Framework to ensure management activities in the National Forest do not lead to long-term degradation of the watersheds

The Act is stated to:

• Reauthorize the Water Source Protection Program and increase the authorization of appropriations for the program from $10 million per year to $30 million per year
• Broaden the range of water users to include historically disadvantaged communities who can participate and benefit
• Reduce financial barriers for water users to participate in the Water Source Protection Program
• Prioritize Water Source Protection Program projects that benefit drinking water quality and improve resilience to wildfire and climate change
• Make a technical change to the Watershed Condition Framework to ensure healthy watersheds do not become degraded
• Authorize $30 million in new appropriations per year for the Watershed Condition Framework

A copy of the Act can be downloaded here.