16 USC 1011a - Watershed agreements

U.S Code last checked for updates: Feb 21, 2025

§ 1011a.

Watershed agreements

(a)

Watershed restoration and enhancement agreements

(b)

Direct and indirect watershed agreements

The Secretary of Agriculture may enter into a watershed restoration and enhancement agreement—

(1)

directly with a willing private landowner; or

(2)

indirectly through an agreement with a State, local or tribal government or other public entity, educational institution, or private nonprofit organization.

(c)

Terms and conditions

In order for the Secretary to enter into a watershed restoration and enhancement agreement—

(1)

the agreement shall—

(A)

include such terms and conditions mutually agreed to by the Secretary and the landowner, state 1

 So in original. Probably should be capitalized.

or local government, or private or nonprofit entity;

(B)

improve the viability of and otherwise benefit the fish, wildlife, and other resources on national forests lands within the watershed;

(C)

authorize the provision of technical assistance by the Secretary in the planning of management activities that will further the purposes of the agreement;

(D)

provide for the sharing of costs of implementing the agreement among the Federal Government, the landowner(s), and other entities, as mutually agreed on by the affected interests; and

(E)

ensure that any expenditure by the Secretary pursuant to the agreement is determined by the Secretary to be in the public interest; and

(2)

the Secretary may require such other terms and conditions as are necessary to protect the public investment on non-Federal lands, provided such terms and conditions are mutually agreed to by the Secretary and other landowners, State and local governments or both.

(d)

Applicable law

Chapter 63 of title 31 shall not apply to—

(1)

a watershed restoration and enhancement agreement entered into under this section; or

(2)

an agreement entered into under section 565a–1 of this title.

(e)

Reporting requirements

Not later than December 31, 1999, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate, which contains—

(1)

A 2

 So in original. Probably should not be capitalized.

concise description of each project, including the project purpose, location on federal ¹ and non-federal 3

 So in original. Probably should be “non-Federal”.

land, key activities, and all parties to the agreement.

(2)

the funding and/or other contributions provided by each party for each project agreement.

(Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(e) [title III, § 323], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–231, 2681–290; Pub. L. 107–63, title III, § 330, Nov. 5, 2001, 115 Stat. 471; Pub. L. 109–54, title IV, § 434, Aug. 2, 2005, 119 Stat. 557; Pub. L. 111–11, title III, § 3001, Mar. 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 1126.)

cite as: 16 USC 1011a