February 12, 2025
Mr. Mast introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To amend title 54, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to make financial assistance to States under the Land and Water Conservation Fund available for water quality projects, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Land and Water Conservation Fund Water Amendments Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Financial assistance to States for water quality projects
Section 200305 of title 54, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a), in the second sentence, by inserting and water quality improvement
after outdoor recreation
;
(2)
in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following:
(5) Water quality
A comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plan shall identify—
(A)
any body of water within the boundaries of the State for which a State water quality control plan has been developed pursuant to section 303(d) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1313(d)); and
(B)
any proposed water quality project (as defined in subsection (e)(4)(A)) to be conducted with respect to a body of water that is identified under subparagraph (A).; and
(3)
in subsection (e)—
(A)
in the heading, by striking and Development of Basic Outdoor Recreation Facilities
and inserting , Development of Basic Outdoor Recreation Facilities, and Conduct of Water Quality Projects
;
(B)
in paragraph (1), by striking and (3)
and inserting , (3), and (4)
; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(4) Water quality projects
(A) Definition of water quality project
In this paragraph, the term
water quality projectmeans any project identified in a State water quality control plan developed for the purpose of restoring any body of water that is identified by the State under section 303(d) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1313(d)) as being impaired.(B) Financial assistance
Under paragraph (1), the Secretary may provide financial assistance for the conduct of water quality projects.
(C) Non-federal share credit
The Secretary may credit toward the non-Federal share required under subsection (c) funds allocated by a State for the conduct of a water quality project.
(D) Consultation
The Secretary shall consult with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in carrying out this paragraph.
(E) Limitations
(i) In general
In providing financial assistance to water quality projects under this paragraph, the Secretary shall only provide financial assistance to water quality projects that seek to improve water quality by improving, restoring, remediating, or developing natural hydrological systems, such as—
(I)
wetlands;
(II)
marshes;
(III)
living shorelines;
(IV)
near-shore estuarine waters; or
(V)
any other naturally occurring hydrological features the Secretary determines to be necessary for the purpose of reducing nutrient loads.
(ii) No reimbursement
Funds made available for a water quality project under this paragraph may not be used to reimburse the cost of any water quality project that has already been completed or is otherwise fully funded.
(iii) Effect
Nothing in this paragraph—
(I)
expands the authority of the Federal Government over nonnavigable waters; or
(II)
authorizes the Secretary to regulate the conduct of water quality projects.