S. 2701 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Sep 3, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExpands watershed protection programs on forests
The bill reauthorizes and expands the Water Source Protection Program, which helps the Forest Service restore and protect watersheds and forests on federal land. It now allows projects to extend to adjacent state, local, or private land within the same watershed if the landowner agrees. The bill also brings in new participants, like irrigation organizations in the Southwest and local water authorities, and reduces the cost share required from nonfederal participants.
How it affects you
If you rely on water from forested watersheds, this could mean more projects to protect your water supply and quality. Local water utilities and agricultural communities, especially acequia associations in the Southwest, would have more opportunities to partner with the Forest Service on these projects. The reduced cost share means these groups would pay less of their own money to participate in watershed protection work.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Sep 3, 2025)
Headwaters Protection Act of 2025
This bill reauthorizes through FY2034 and expands the Water Source Protection Program (WSPP) under which the Forest Service carries out watershed protection and restoration projects on federal land. It also requires the Forest Service's Watershed Condition Framework for National Forest System land to ensure certain activities and authorizations do not result in long-term degradation of the health of a watershed.
The bill authorizes the WSPP to support projects on state, local, or private land that is adjacent to projects on National Forest System land, so long as (1) the adjacent land is within the same watershed as the project on federal land, and (2) the owner of the adjacent land supports the project.
Further, the bill expands the types of end water users that may participate in the program to include (1) an acequia association (an organization that manages traditional irrigation systems found in the Southwest); (2) a public entity that manages water infrastructure, such as stormwater or wastewater resources; (3) certain land grant entities in New Mexico called land-grant mercedes; and (4) a local, regional, or other private entity that has water delivery authority.
The bill requires projects under the program to (1) protect and restore watershed health, water supply and quality, a municipal or agricultural water supply system, and water-related infrastructure; (2) protect and restore forest health from insect infestation and disease or wildfire; or (3) advance any combination of those purposes.
Additionally, the bill reduces the cost share for nonfederal WSPP participants.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 2701
A BILL
Headwaters Protection Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Michael F. Bennet (D-CO) · Introduced Sep 3, 2025 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Sep 3, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.”