Saving Rural Reservoirs Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19]
- Committees
- Agriculture Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Sep 28, 2026
Bottom line
The bill broadens federal support for dam rehabilitation, focusing on high-risk dams and specific rural earthen dams to improve safety and infrastructure resilience.
What it actually does
This bill expands the categories of dams eligible for federal rehabilitation assistance under the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. Specifically, it includes "eligible high hazard potential dams" and certain "rural earthen dams" (those in towns under 5,000 people with over 50% compacted earth embankments) for federal funding to repair and upgrade aging infrastructure. The aim is to enhance public safety and ensure the longevity of critical water management structures.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue this bill is crucial for public safety and rural infrastructure, preventing catastrophic dam failures by providing much-needed federal assistance for aging and at-risk dams. They contend that many dams, especially older earthen structures in rural areas, are nearing or past their design life and require significant investment to avoid potential disasters, protecting lives, property, and agricultural lands downstream.
Opponents contend
Critics might argue that expanding eligibility without a clear funding mechanism could strain federal resources or divert funds from other critical infrastructure projects. They might also raise concerns about the potential for moral hazard, where local entities might delay maintenance in anticipation of federal aid, or question the criteria for "rural earthen dams" as potentially too broad or too narrow.
The bill is very short and easy to read, allowing ample time for a thorough evaluation of its implications.
Section 2, amending Section 14(a) of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1012(a))
Expansion of Eligibility for Dam Rehabilitation Assistance
This section modifies existing law to allow two new types of dams to qualify for federal rehabilitation funding. First, it includes "eligible high hazard potential dams," which are structures whose failure could cause significant loss of life or property. Second, it adds "rural earthen dams," specifically those in towns under 5,000 people where over half of the dam's embankment is made of compacted earth. This expansion aims to address safety concerns and maintenance needs for a broader range of aging dam infrastructure.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that expanding eligibility ensures critical infrastructure is maintained, preventing costly and dangerous failures. They highlight that many high hazard dams pose immediate risks, and rural earthen dams often lack local funding for necessary repairs, making federal intervention essential for public safety and economic stability in affected communities.
Critics contend
Opponents might contend that this expansion could create an unfunded mandate or place undue burden on federal taxpayers without sufficient local cost-sharing. They may also argue that the definition of "rural earthen dam" could be too broad, potentially including dams that are not truly high-priority or that local governments should be primarily responsible for their maintenance.
Tradeoffs
The bill balances the need for enhanced public safety and infrastructure resilience against potential increases in federal spending and the allocation of resources. It also navigates the tension between federal responsibility for critical infrastructure and local autonomy/responsibility for maintenance.
Defines "covered dam" to include "an eligible high hazard potential dam (as such term is defined in section 2 of the National Dam Safety Program Act (33 U.S.C. 467))."
Section 2(4)(A)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice to avoid redundancy and maintain consistency with existing definitions in federal law. It is not intended to be evasive.
Case for: Referencing existing definitions streamlines legislation and ensures consistency across federal programs related to dam safety, avoiding the creation of conflicting or redundant definitions.
Case against: A reader unfamiliar with the National Dam Safety Program Act would need to perform additional research to fully understand the scope of this eligibility criterion, potentially obscuring the full impact without external context.
Estimated impact: The impact is that a specific, federally defined category of high-risk dams becomes eligible for rehabilitation assistance. The exact number of dams is not stated but is determined by the external definition.