Watershed Results Act
Summary
The Watershed Results Act would authorize the Department of the Interior to establish between two and five watershed pilot programs in certain western states. These programs would use a results-focused approach called pay-for-performance contracts, where the government pays for successfully implemented environmental outcomes rather than just funding projects upfront.
Each pilot program would be led by a management team that develops a five-year implementation plan. Before funding is provided, the department and management team must conduct technical analysis to identify measurable goals such as improved water quality, increased water supply, enhanced fish and wildlife habitat, or other quantifiable environmental benefits. The government would then pay for achieving these specific outcomes at negotiated prices.
The bill would provide $15 million annually for these pilot programs and requires the Interior Department to submit annual reports to Congress on progress. If a pilot program proves successful, it could potentially become a permanent program with modified funding levels. This approach aims to make watershed restoration more efficient by tying federal funding directly to measurable environmental results rather than traditional project-based funding methods.