Acequia Communities Empowered by Qualifying Upgrades for Infrastructure Act

S. 228, the Acequia Communities Empowered by Qualifying Upgrades for Infrastructure Act, would make agricultural producers who depend on acequia systems eligible for federal disaster assistance. Acequias are community-operated water irrigation systems, particularly important in the Southwest. If enacted, farmers relying on these traditional systems could receive assistance through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for losses caused by drought, floods, or other natural disasters.

The bill would also streamline federal land management by eliminating the requirement for special use permits on Department of Agriculture and Department of the Interior lands for acequia presence, use, and routine maintenance or minor improvements. Additionally, the bill would require the USDA to submit a report to Congress on agricultural producers who rely on acequia systems. Currently in committee consideration, the bill has not yet been voted on by the full Senate.