WASHINGTON, D.C. (WVDN) – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led the EPW Committee in unanimously passing the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026. The WRDA 2026 bill includes wins for all fifty states, including significant benefits for West Virginia’s water infrastructure.
The Water Resources Development Act is biennial legislation that authorizes flood risk management, navigation, and ecosystem restoration projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). WRDA 2026 also reauthorizes the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) drinking water and wastewater infrastructure programs, including the State Revolving Funds (SRFs). The bill supports locally driven projects that also deliver regional and national benefits, including strengthening our nation’s global competitiveness and supply chain, helping communities manage flood risk, and more.
“This bipartisan legislation will have an incredible impact on West Virginia and our state’s water resources infrastructure. The Army Corps’ critical work is essential to managing flood risk and improving drinking and wastewater facilities across West Virginia. The EPA’s water infrastructure programs also help improve access to clean and safe drinking water in communities statewide. I am very pleased to share these wins that WRDA 2026 will deliver for our state, and I look forward to seeing the outcomes of this legislation in action,” said Chairman Capito.
WEST VIRGINIA WINS SECURED BY CAPITO:
Supporting Flood Control and Prevention Efforts, Ecosystem Restoration:
- Adjusts the cost-share for any future projects in West Virginia that are identified by the feasibility study for flood risk management in the Upper Guyandotte River Basin reducing financial burden for vulnerable communities.
- Authorizes new feasibility studies to address flood risk for communities in West Virginia.
- Establishes a new program for the Corps to assist with small projects for debris removal within streams in West Virginia.
- Reaffirms how the Corps should carry out the Section 202 program, preserving Congress’s original intent to provide comprehensive flood risk reduction for eligible southern West Virginia communities.
- Reforms the Continuing Authorities Programs (CAP) to expedite the delivery of small projects for flood risk management, emergency streambank protection, and aquatic ecosystem restoration.
- Urges the Corps to expedite completion of studies/projects in:
- Kanawha River Basin: feasibility study for flood risk management
- Upper Guyandotte River Basin: feasibility study for flood risk management
- Milton, WV: project for flood risk management
- Hinton, WV – Bluestone Dam: project for dam safety modifications
Enhancing Assistance for Environmental Infrastructure Projects:
- Increases the authorized funding level for the Corps’ Section 340 and Section 571 environmental infrastructure programs, which support drinking water and wastewater projects across West Virginia.
- Expedites the environmental review process for projects funded under these programs.
Strengthening the Corps’ Authorities to Address Water Resource Infrastructure Needs:
- Improves efficiency of reviews under the Corps’ 408 program and directs the Corps to regularly brief Congress on the status of the rulemaking for that program.
- Provides direction to the Corps to improve the cost estimates for and design of projects and establishes a preconstruction planning, engineering, and design account for the Corps.
- Improves authorities for non-federal interests to receive credit and reimbursement or contribute funds for projects to increase transparency and accelerate project delivery.
- Enhances the Corps’ outreach and education authority by including real estate and leasing authorities of the Corps.
- Directs the Secretary to ensure that Corps’ databases on recreational sites are consistent and compatible with similar databases from other federal agencies.
Increasing Authorized Funding for West Virginia’s State Revolving Fund (SRF) Programs:
- Increases the clean water and drinking water SRF authorizations, which will increase the Federal water infrastructure investment in West Virginia.
- Allows West Virginia to prioritize how to spend Federal SRF dollars to maintain and build essential infrastructure to provide critical water and sanitation services, while expanding permissible SRF uses to address PFAS contamination or for lead service line removal projects.
Supporting Efforts to Improve West Virginia’s Water Systems’ Resilience to Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities:
- Makes small water systems, like those found in West Virginia, eligible to receive grant money to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
- Encourages the EPA to partner with university programs with established water cybersecurity programs, like Marshall’s Institute for Cybersecurity, which will enable the program to further assist small water systems in WV and across the country
Expanding Investment in Workforce Development:
- Triples the authorized funding levels for the EPA’s Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program.
- Water and wastewater systems – including those in West Virginia – are facing significant workforce challenges. This program will work to ensure that West Virginia and the nation have enough skilled system operators trained to face today’s challenges and serve a role that is incredibly important to American’s health and daily lives.
The bill text is available here.
A section-by-section overview of the bill is available here.
An overview of West Virginia wins is available here.
An overview of national WRDA wins is available here.
