This week, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02)’s Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA 2026) passed out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee by a unanimous vote of 66-0. The bipartisan, biennial bill protects Northwest Washington’s environment, supports Columbia River Treaty negotiations and authorizes critical investments in Northwest Washington ports, inland waterways, flood management systems and other water resources infrastructure.
“You cannot have a big league economy with little league infrastructure. In the Pacific Northwest and across the country, investments in ports, harbors and inland waterways support good-paying jobs and are key to long-term economic growth,” said Rep. Larsen, who is the top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “The Water Resources Development Act of 2026 continues bipartisan efforts to improve water resources infrastructure in Northwest Washington and across the country. I look forward to bringing this bill to the House floor for a vote later this year.”
Since 2014, Congress has enacted a WRDA every two years to help improve the nation’s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation system, flood and storm risk management, environment and other aspects of water resources infrastructure. WRDA 2024 passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and included many of Larsen’s local priorities, including funding environmental infrastructure assistance to Western Washington communities and expanding the Tribal Partnership Program (TPP) to make it easier for the Corps to partner with Northwest Tribes on projects.
Washington State Wins in WRDA 2026
The 2026 WRDA invests in Washington state transportation and infrastructure priorities, including restoring the Puget Sound, addressing Nooksack River flooding and ensuring that critical Corps projects across the state can continue. Wins for Washington in WRDA 2026 include:
- Nooksack River Flooding: Authorizes a new feasibility study for flood risk reduction in the Nooksack River, which Whatcom County can use for long-term planning to address flooding concerns. Rep. Larsen has been working with local leaders to develop a plan to address Nooksack River flooding. Earlier this year, he advocated for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster relief funds to help communities recover from December 2025’s devastating floods and has championed FEMA flood mitigation grant funding so that local communities can prepare for future floods.
- Puget Sound and Adjacent Waters (PSAW): Increases the per project funding cap to $20 million, ensuring projects like Spencer Island restoration in Snohomish County continue to move forward. In 2018, Rep. Larsen successfully included an amendment in WRDA 2018 to increase the per project cap for PSAW to $10 million.
- Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP): Allows the Corps to cost-share the relocation of related infrastructure for PNSERP projects at Lilliwaup Estuary, Tahuya Estuary, Snow Creek and Salmon Creek and Nooksack Estuary. Rep. Larsen previously worked to authorize $451 million for PSNERP in WRDA 2016. The Puget Sound is the largest estuary by water volume in the United States, and Rep. Larsen's bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the National Estuary Program through 2031 to protect the Puget Sound and other estuaries around the country passed the House last December.
- Columbia River Treaty: Extends temporary authority for the United States to pay for pre-planned storage of water in Canada while United States and Canada continue to negotiate a new Columbia River Treaty. The United States’ current authority expires in 2027. The hydropower that the Columbia River Treaty provides benefits towns and cities across Northwest Washington, and Rep. Larsen has advocated for the Columbia River Treaty’s renewal for over a decade. Larsen supports efforts to negotiate a modern Columbia River treaty that manages flood risks and ensures a reliable clean energy supply, and is working with local stakeholders to gather input ahead of negotiations.
- Preventing Invasive Aquatic Species: Clarifies that indirect costs incurred by non-federal partners remain eligible for credit or reimbursement under the Corps’ Watercraft Inspection authority, which funds state efforts to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species. Invasive golden, quagga and zebra mussels continue to expand their footprint in the Pacific Northwest. Early detection monitoring, watercraft inspection and decontamination and eradication efforts are critical to preventing further spread.
- Lower Columbia River Channel Maintenance: Clarifies that the cost of constructing a dredged material disposal facility for operation and maintenance of the Lower Willamette and Lower Columbia River is a federal responsibility that can be drawn from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF). These facilities are necessary for dredging operations to maintain the Columbia River waterway, which moves over $31 billion in cargo annually and supports 40,000 local jobs.
- Lower Columbia River Turning Basin: Authorizes the Chief’s Report for Lower Columbia Turning Basin improvements. Traffic has continued to grow in the Lower Columbia River, with an increase in larger vessels that need room to safely turn and park. These improvements will allow for the better positioning of vessels, increase opportunities to use nearby tug service and improve efficient movement of vessels transporting goods.
- HMTF Allocations for Donor and Energy Transfer Ports: Removes discretion for administration to utilize a provision in WRDA 2020 requiring funding from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. The Ports of Seattle and Tacoma are donor ports.
- Office of Community Outreach and Affordability: Creates an Office of Community Outreach and Affordability within the Corps to help communities that may have difficulty navigating the Corps’ planning and construction processes.
- Corps Study Process: Requires the Corps and the non-federal sponsor to establish an agreed-to timeframe (with milestones) for studies and allow the non-federal sponsor to request time extensions based on project complexity and sponsor’s goals.
For the legislative text of WRDA 2026, click here.
For a summary of WRDA 2026, click here.
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