Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development

Section 7001 of WRRDA 2014, as amended, requires that the Secretary of the Army annually submit to the Congress a report that identifies, for potential congressional authorization, completed feasibility reports, proposed feasibility studies submitted by non-Federal interests, proposed modifications to authorized water resources development projects or feasibility studies, and proposed modifications to environmental infrastructure program authorities that meet all the following criteria:

  • Are related to the missions and authorities of the Corps of Engineers (Corps); involve a proposed or existing Corps’ water resources project or effort whose primary purpose is flood and storm damage reduction, commercial navigation, or aquatic ecosystem restoration, municipal or agricultural water supply.  Proposals for recreation or hydropower are eligible for inclusion if undertaken in conjunction with a flood or coastal storm damage reduction, commercial navigation, aquatic ecosystem restoration, or municipal or agricultural water supply project or effort.
  • Require specific congressional authorization.
  • Have not been congressionally authorized.
  • Have not been included in the main table of a previous annual report.
  • If authorized could be carried out by the Corps of Engineers.

The annual Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development is to be based, in part, upon annual requests for proposals for authorization from non-Federal interests.

Section 7001 requires that the Secretary certify that the proposals included in the annual report meet the five criteria established by Congress, listed above. Any proposals that do not meet the criteria will be included in the report’s appendix.  Inclusion in the annual Report to Congress does not provide authorization or appropriation for a study or project.

Preparing and Submitting a Proposal

The proposal period for the 2025 Report to Congress will open by May 1, 2024, for 120 days. All proposals submitted will be considered for inclusion in the 2025 Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development.

All non-federal interests are invited to submit proposals for new Corps water resources development project study authority; modifications to an existing Corps water resources development project study authority; modifications to an existing Corps water resources development project authority; and modifications to an existing Corps environmental infrastructure program authority.  Please submit one form for each study or modification to a study, project, or environmental infrastructure program authority being proposed.  Do not include Confidential Business Information, information whose disclosure is restricted by statute, or any other information that you would not want to appear in the Annual Report to Congress.

The proposal form (fillable PDF) will request the following information:

  1. Contact information for the individual/agency submitting the proposal.
  2. Study project / location; you’ll have the option to upload a map of the study / project area (8.5”x11” PDF).
  3. The name of the non-Federal interest planning to act as the sponsor, or all non-Federal interests in the case of a modification to an environmental infrastructure program authority, including any non-Federal interest that has contributed to or is expected to contribute toward the non-Federal share of the proposed feasibility study or modification.
  4. A letter or statement of support from each associated non-Federal interest. Letters may be addressed generically to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the local Corps District office, or the Assistant Secretary of the Army of Civil Works office.  Please limit your files to a maximum of 30MB (30,000 KB) in size. Files larger than 30 MB will not be considered.
  5. State if this proposal is for a feasibility study, a modification to a USACE water resources development feasibility study authority, a modification to a USACE water resources project authority, or a modification to a USACE environmental infrastructure program authority.
  6. If the proposal is for a modification, the name of the authorized study, project, or environmental infrastructure program must be specified.
  7. If the proposal is for a modification to an environmental infrastructure program authority, a brief description of the assistance provided to date and total Federal cost of assistance provided to date must be provided.
  8. State the specific project purpose(s) of the proposed study or modification and demonstrate the proposal is related to USACE missions and authorities and why additional or new authorization is needed.
  9. Provide an estimate, to the extent practicable, of the total cost, and the Federal and non-Federal share of those costs, of the proposed study and, separately, an estimate of the cost of construction or modification.
  10. Describe, to the extent applicable and practicable, an estimate of the anticipated monetary and non-monetary benefits of the proposal with regard to benefits to the protection of human life and property and improvement to transportation, the national, regional, or local economy, the environment, or the national security interests of the United States.
  11. State whether the proposal is expected to benefit disadvantaged communities, including a description of the disadvantaged community(ies) and the potential benefits which may accrue as a result of the proposal. Army is working to modernize the USACE Civil Works program to incorporate environmental justice considerations into every aspect of the program in an effort to maximize benefits to disadvantaged communities to the furthest extent practicable within agency authorities. The Council for Environmental Quality has developed an economic justice screening tool to help identify disadvantaged communities; it can be found at the following location https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov.
  12. State if the non-Federal interest has the financial ability to provide for the required cost share; reference the Policy for Conducting Civil Works Planning Studies for cost share requirements (ER 1105-2-103).

Although additional proposal documentation may be included with your proposal (up to 20MB total for all email attachments), please be sure to answer each question in the field provided. Responses should not state “refer to uploaded documents” with no other response.

Frequently Asked Questions

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 What do “study authority” and “project authority” mean?

Study authority: Congressional authorization to study a water resources problem, usually with the intent of developing a recommendation for a Congressionally authorized project. Study authorization may be narrow, such as a flood risk management project in a specific watershed, or broad. Most of the Nation already has comprehensive existing study authorization applicable to the primary Corps of Engineers missions (flood and storm damage reduction, commercial navigation, aquatic ecosystem restoration). If you are seeking to study a modification to an authorized Corps project, study authority generally already exists.

Project Authority: Congressional authorization for the federal participation (via the Corps) in the construction of a water resources project. Projects that have been studied, designed, or constructed in partnership with the Corps may need that project authority modified by Congress to meet the needs of the non-Federal interest.

 How can I find out if my proposed study/project already has an authority?

The local Corps District office can help you determine next steps if your proposal idea already has a study authority or does not need a modification to project authorities, and if it therefore does not need to be included in the Report on Future Water Resources Development. To find out which Corps District you are located in and find a phone number for your District office, visit the Corps' Office Locator.

 If multiple parties support our proposal, should each party submit a proposal?

Only one proposal should be submitted. The non-Federal interest organizing the submission can include letters of support from other interested and supporting parties in its proposal.

 Our proposal addresses an important water issue in our region. Will it be included in the Report on Future Water Resources Development?

The first criterion for inclusion in the Report is that the proposal must be related to the missions and authorities of the Corps.  To meet this criterion, the proposal must involve an existing or proposed water resources project or effort whose primary purpose is flood or storm damage reduction, commercial navigation, aquatic ecosystem restoration and/or municipal or agricultural water supply.  Proposals which primarily address issues in the areas of recreation or hydropower do not satisfy this first criterion; however, these other water resources challenges may be included as secondary considerations when combined with the primary Corps missions and authorities.

 How will proposals be evaluated for inclusion in the Report to Congress?

Proposals will be evaluated for completeness and to ensure they meet all five of the criteria set out by Congress in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA) Section 7001, and detailed in the current Federal Register Notice.  Proposals included in the Report to Congress will not be prioritized or ranked.

To be considered, proposals from non-Federal interests must be for new study authorities, modifications to an existing study authority, modifications to an existing project authority, or modifications to an existing environmental infrastructure program authority.  All proposals must be complete to be considered for inclusion. To be considered complete, the proposal must include:

  1. The name of all non-Federal interests planning to act as the sponsor, including any non-Federal interest that has contributed to, or is expected to contribute to, the non-Federal cost share of the proposed feasibility study or project modification.
  2. A letter or statement of support from each associated non-Federal interest.
  3. Clear indication regarding whether the proposal is for a feasibility study (new authority); a modification to an authorized Corps water resources feasibility study (existing study authority); a modification to an authorized Corps water resources development project (existing project authority); or a modification to an authorized Corps environmental infrastructure program authority (existing program authority). If the proposal is for a modification to an existing authority, the authorized water resources development study, project, or environmental infrastructure program authority that is proposed for modification must be specified.
  4. Proposals for modifications to environmental infrastructure program authorities must also include a description of assistance provided to date and the total Federal cost of assistance provided to date.
  5. The specific project purpose(s) of the proposed study or modification.
  6. An estimate, to the extent practicable, of the total cost, and the specific Federal and non-Federal share of those costs, of the proposed study; and separately, an estimate of the cost of construction or modification.
  7. A description, to the extent applicable and practicable, of an estimate of the anticipated monetary and nonmonetary benefits of the proposal with regard to the protection of human life and property, and improvement to transportation, the national, regional, or local economy, the environment, and / or the national security interests of the United States.
  8. A description of local support for the proposal, if it exists.
  9. A statement that the non-Federal interest has the financial ability to provide for the required cost share, reference ER 1105-2-100.

To be included in the main Report to Congress, proposals must meet all five of the criteria established by Congress in WRRDA 2014:

  1. Are related to the missions and authorities of the Corps.  The proposal must involve a proposed or existing Corps water resources project or effort whose primary purpose is flood or storm damage reduction, commercial navigation, aquatic ecosystem restoration, or agricultural or municipal water supply.  Following long-standing Corps practice, related proposals such as for recreation or hydropower, are eligible for inclusion if undertaken in conjunction with such a project or effort.
  2. Require specific congressional authorization, including by an Act of Congress.
  3. Have not already been congressionally authorized.
    1. New feasibility studies proposed by non-Federal interests will be evaluated by the Corps to determine whether or not there is existing study authority.
    2. Proposed modifications to studies or project authority requested by non-Federal interests through Section 7001 of WRRDA 2014 process should indicate the existing authorized water resources development feasibility study or project name.
  4. Have not been included in the main report of any previous Annual Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development. If a proposal was previously included in the Appendix of a previous Annual Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development, the proposal may be re-submitted.
  5. If authorized, the study / project modification could be carried out by the Corps.

Proposed project modifications would need a current decision document providing updated information on the scope of the potential project and demonstrating a clear Federal interest before it could be carried out.

Proposals that do not meet all five criteria, or that are incomplete, will be included in the Appendix.
 

 How will the Secretary decide which water resources development projects seeking authorization to include in the Report to Congress?

Signed Chief’s Reports recommending project authorization will be included in the Annual Report to Congress; no proposal is required.

Authorized water resources projects already have the necessary study authorization to consider modifications to the project.  If you have questions, please contact your local District to discuss the project and what study authorities can be used.

If there is already sufficient study authority for your proposal (e.g., it is an already authorized project or there is an ongoing feasibility study that has passed the Tentatively Selected Milestone meeting), the proposal will be evaluated for inclusion in the Report to Congress as a modification to the project authority or new project authority. Before the project can be implemented by the Corps:  (1) the project must be authorized by Congress in law; (2) the Secretary of the Army needs to transmit to Congress a current decision document with the Administration’s position on the project (this may occur prior to or subsequent to authorization); and (3) funds for project construction need to be specifically appropriated by law.

 We would like to modify an authorized Corps project. Should we propose a project modification or a new study for the modification?

Authorized Corps water resources projects already have the necessary study authorization to consider modifications to the project.  If you have questions, please contact your local District to discuss the project and what study authorities can be used.  If there is already sufficient study authority, the proposal will be evaluated for inclusion in the Report to Congress as a modification to the project authority.  Before the modified project can be implemented by the Corps: (1) the project modification must be authorized by Congress in law; (2) the Secretary of the Army needs to transmit to Congress a current decision document with the Administration’s position on the project (this may occur prior to or subsequent to authorization); and (3) funds for project construction need to be specifically appropriated by law.

 Our agency is a non-Federal sponsor for an ongoing feasibility study (or ongoing General Reevaluation study). Do we need to submit a proposal under this Notice to ensure the study continues?

No.  A proposal is not required to continue an active, ongoing study.

 Our agency is a non-Federal sponsor for an ongoing feasibility study (or ongoing General Reevaluation study) that will need project authorization to proceed to construction. Do we need to submit a proposal under this Notice to ensure the project will be authorized?

The non-Federal sponsor is not required to submit a proposal for project authorization. Studies which are complete and have had a decision document transmitted to Congress, including feasibility studies, General Reevaluation studies, etc., will be included in the main body of the Report on Future Water Resources Development by the Army Corps of Engineers. However, if you wish to submit a proposal, the Corps will evaluate the request as if it were for new construction authorization.  If the proposal meets the criteria, it will be included in the main table of the Annual Report for construction authorization; however, the project will still require an approved decision document (e.g., Chief’s Report) transmitted to Congress by the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) in order to move forward.

 Our agency is a non-Federal sponsor for a project that is nearing its “902 limit.” Do we need to submit a proposal under this Notice to authorize an increase?

A non-Federal sponsor is not required to submit a proposal for project modification under this notice.  Section 902 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 1986 defines the maximum amount that a project may cost. This is often called the 902 limit or Project Cost Cap.  A post authorization change report (PACR) provides the basis for the Administration to seek authorization to increase the 902 limit, and must be completed to support an increase to the 902 limit. Authority to undertake a 902 study is inherent in the project authority – so a non-Federal sponsor does not need to request a change in study or project authority to study the 902 increase.  Completed PACRs will be automatically submitted in the next annual report. However, if you wish to submit a proposal, the Corps will evaluate the request as if it were for modification to an existing project authorization.  If the proposal meets the criteria listed above, it will be included in the main table of the Annual Report for construction authorization; however, the change to the cost limit will still require an approved decision document (e.g., PACR) transmitted to Congress by the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works).

 Our agency would like Congress to deauthorize a study or project. Should we submit a proposal for a modification to the study or project authority?

No.  The Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development is based on proposals for new or modified water resources development projects or studies.  Deauthorization of an existing study or project does not meet the intent of Congress in requesting this Report. Proposals for deauthorizing a study or project, if submitted, will be included in the Appendix.

 Our agency would like Congress to consider legislative changes to Corps policies that would impact a study or project without making direct changes to the authorization. Should we submit a proposal for a modification to study or project authority?

No.  A request for broader legislative changes to Corps policies does not meet the criteria for inclusion in the Report on Future Water Resources Development. Proposals for legislative changes, if submitted, will be included in the Appendix.  An example of a legislative change to Corps policies that does not meet the criteria of the Report would be changing the Federal / non-Federal construction cost share split for an authorized water resources project.

 Our proposal was included in the main Report Table in a previous Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development, but Congress has not taken any action on the proposal. Should we resubmit the proposal this year?

No.  Proposals that were included in the main report table in the Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development should not be resubmitted.  One of the criteria that must be met by proposals is that they have not been included in any previous Report. If you choose to resubmit a proposal that has already been in the main report table, it will be included in the Appendix of the next Report.

 If our proposal is included in the main report table in a Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development, does that mean the study or project is authorized and that the study or project can begin?

No.  The Report on Future Water Resources Development identifies proposals for new study authorizations, new project authorizations, and modifications to existing project or feasibility study authorities that Congress may consider for authorization. Inclusion in the Report does not provide authorization for a study or project, nor does it provide federal funding for that study or project. Once a study or project is authorized, Congress must also fund that study or project through the annual appropriations process before it can begin.  Contact your local Corps District office to find out more about the congressional authorization and appropriations process for projects completed in partnership with the Corps of Engineers.

 Our proposal was included in the Appendix of a previous Report to Congress Future Water Resources Development.  Can we resubmit the proposal this year?

Yes.  When your proposal was included in the Appendix, the reason it was in the Appendix and not the main report table was also listed.  You may contact your local Corps District for clarification.  Please review the criteria for inclusion in the Annual Report to Congress in the current Federal Register Notice for the latest information on submitting a proposal.  Proposals that are complete and meet all five criteria may be included in the Annual Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development.

 Our proposal was included in the Appendix of a previous Report to Congress Future Water Resources Development.  Will you re-evaluate it in the next cycle?

No.  For a proposal to be considered for inclusion in the annual Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development, it must be submitted during the current proposal period, which is announced in an annual Federal Register notice. The proposal period is for 120 days, generally beginning in late April or early May.  You may resubmit a proposal included in any previous Report’s Appendix.

 Our proposal was put in the Appendix because it is “environmental infrastructure.”  What does that mean?

“Environmental infrastructure”  broadly refers to water supply and storage; water treatment and distribution systems; and wastewater treatment systems, including treatment plants. Environmental infrastructure projects are not one of the core mission areas of the Corps (Criterion 1).  In addition, authorization to provide technical assistance does not provide authorization of a water resources development project.  Therefore, a proposal to modify a project that has been supported by the Corps under general environmental infrastructure technical assistance authorities is not a request for new project authorization nor for modification to existing project authorization, and falls outside the scope of this Report.

There are two circumstances in which environmental infrastructure proposals that were previously placed in the appendix may now meet the criteria for inclusion in the main report, due to amendments to Section 7001 in 2016, 2018 and 2020:

  1. Proposed modifications to environmental infrastructure program authorities, and
  2. Proposed modifications to environmental infrastructure projects authorized under Section 219.

The Environmental Infrastructure Program, also known as Section 219 (of WRDA 1992, as amended), authorizes the Corps to assist non-Federal interests in carrying out water-related environmental infrastructure and resource protection and development projects.  Such assistance may be in the form of technical, planning, and/or design assistance for water supply and storage; treatment and distribution systems; and wastewater treatment systems, including treatment plants.  If you have any questions, we encourage you to contact your local Corps District.

For More Information

Annually, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hosts  information sessions on the Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development, discussing the open Federal Register notice that invites non-Federal agencies to submit proposals for projects to be considered for the Report to Congress on Future Water Resources. Proposals can be for feasibility studies, water resources development projects, and programmatic modifications to environmental infrastructure assistance programs that need Congressional authorization. The information sessions also address the criteria that proposals must meet to be included in the Annual Report to Congress.

The deadline for proposal submission to be considered for the 2024 Report was August 28, 2023.

Virtual public information sessions were held on 18 July and 2 August, 2023. Each session was an hour long and provided an overview of the Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development and the proposal process.

A recording and PDF of the 2023 public information session presentation are available for reference.

Questions about the Report or the proposal process can be directed to:  wrrda7001proposal@usace.army.mil