AMWA joined other drinking water, wastewater and stormwater utility organizations on May 10 in calling on Congress to ensure the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers coordinates with affected local communities when developing water management plans. Language reflecting this priority was subsequently included in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) legislation approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on May 25.
The water sector’s letter suggested the addition of a new section to the WRDA legislation that would require additional coordination between the Corps and local communities, with the goal of minimizing chances the Corps would make water management decisions that conflict with local water management plans. Specifically, the proposed language would require the Corps, when carrying out a water resources development feasibility study, to coordinate with local governments that have a water management plan to attempt to ensure “mutually beneficial management of water resources.”
According to the letter, the language would “encourage local and federal officials to manage water as one resource with multiple purposes.”
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee staff were receptive to the proposal, and similar integrated planning language was added to the WRDA bill as part of a manager’s amendment adopted by the committee. AMWA will continue to work with other water sector groups in support of the proposal as the WRDA legislation moves to the House floor.