43 U.S.C. § 3207 — Multi-benefit projects to improve watershed health

(a) “Eligible applicant” means (1) a State, (2) a Tribal or local government, (3) an organization with power or water-delivery authority, (4) a regional authority, or (5) a nonprofit conservation organization. (b) Within 1 year after November 15, 2021, the Secretary, consulting relevant agency heads, must create a competitive grant program. The Secretary must award grants to eligible applicants to design, carry out, and monitor conservation results of habitat-restoration projects improving watershed health in a river basin adversely affected by a Bureau of Reclamation water project, by achieving one or more of: (1) ecosystem benefits; (2) native-species restoration; (3) protection of fish and wildlife habitat from climate-change effects; (4) invasive-species protection; (5) restoration of parts of the natural ecosystem; (6) improved commercial, recreational, subsistence, or Tribal ceremonial fishing; or (7) improved river recreation. (c) (1) In awarding a grant, the Secretary (A) must prioritize a project achieving more than one listed benefit and (B) may not fund a project whose purpose is meeting existing Federal or State environmental mitigation or compliance duties. (2) A funded project must comply with all applicable Federal and State laws. (d) The Federal share may not exceed (1) 50 percent of project cost, or (2) 75 percent when the project benefits ecological or recreational values and, as the Secretary determines, its nonconsumptive water-conservation or habitat-restoration benefit is at least 75 percent of project cost.