A bill to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to provide incentives to landowners to protect and improve streams and riparian habitat.
Summary
Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) establish within the Natural Resources Conservation Service a stream habitat improvement program to provide cost-share payments to landowners for stream habitat improvement projects; and (2) provide a higher payment share to a landowner who carries out a project in partnership with a nonprofit organization.
Gives priority for projects that: (1) remove a small dam or in-stream structure; (2) improve fish passage; (3) protect streamside areas; (4) improve water flow; or (5) improve in-stream flow quality or temperature regimes. Authorizes the Secretary to provide a higher payment share to a landowner who carries out a priority project.