Every Drop Counts Act
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Subcommittee Hearings Held
Official Summary
Every Drop Counts Act This bill expands the Bureau of Reclamation's Small Storage Program, which is a grant program for small surface water or groundwater storage projects in certain western states. First, the bill expands the types of projects that are eligible for grants under the program. Specifically, the bill makes a project eligible for a grant if the project (1) has water storage capacity of recharges no less than 200 acre-feet and no more than 150,000 acre-feet on an average annual basis over the life of the project for storage or use; and (2) increases groundwater aquifer storage, conveys water to or recovers water from groundwater storage, and stabilizes groundwater levels. Next, it extends Reclamation's authority to carry out the grant program for another five years.
GovScope Watchdog™
AI Government Intelligence™The Every Drop Counts Act proposes to expand the Bureau of Reclamation's Small Storage Program, a grant initiative aimed at supporting small surface water or groundwater storage projects in designated western states. The bill broadens eligibility criteria to include projects with water storage capacity between 200 and 150,000 acre-feet annually that contribute to groundwater aquifer storage, water conveyance to or recovery from groundwater, and stabilization of groundwater levels. Additionally, the bill extends the Bureau of Reclamation's authority to administer this grant program for an additional five years.
This bill seeks to enhance and extend a federal grant program supporting small-scale water storage projects to improve groundwater management in western states.
- Expands eligibility for grants to projects with annual water storage capacity between 200 and 150,000 acre-feet.
- Includes projects that increase groundwater storage, convey or recover water from groundwater, and stabilize groundwater levels.
- Extends the Bureau of Reclamation's authority to administer the Small Storage Program for five more years.
['Bureau of Reclamation', 'Water resource managers and project developers in western states', 'Communities and ecosystems relying on groundwater storage and management', 'Agricultural and municipal water users in eligible states']
['Implementation challenges in verifying project eligibility and measuring groundwater impact.', 'Potential administrative costs associated with extending and expanding the grant program.', 'Oversight requirements to ensure effective use of funds and program goals are met.', 'Policy tradeoffs related to prioritizing groundwater projects within limited federal resources.']
The bill is currently in process within the 119th Congress and has undergone subcommittee hearings as of November 19, 2025. It addresses water resource development, a key policy area for western states facing water scarcity and groundwater management challenges. The expansion and extension of an existing federal grant program reflect ongoing legislative efforts to support sustainable water infrastructure.
Hidden impact flags detected: 2
GovScope reviewed 2 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.
['Potential increased investment in groundwater infrastructure could improve regional water security and ecosystem health.', 'Expanded grant eligibility may encourage innovation in water storage and management technologies.', 'Extended program authority may influence long-term planning and budgeting for water resource projects in western states.']
The bill summary provides a clear outline of program expansion and extension but lacks the full bill text, limiting detailed analysis of specific provisions, funding mechanisms, and oversight measures. Monitoring the implementation and administrative oversight of the expanded grant program will be important to ensure effective use of federal funds and achievement of groundwater management goals.
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