The Water Resources Development Acts and other "WRDAs" (including 2014s Water Resources Reform and Development Act, WRRDA) are omnibus water bills which provide congressional authorization for Corps of Engineers projects across the nation. The first WRDA was passed in 1974. Prior to 1974, Congress authorized the Corps' flood damage reduction and navigation enhancement projects in the same bill but under different titles including "River and Harbor Acts" and "Flood Control Acts."

Water Resource Development Acts Implementation Guidance Implementation Guidance provides specific guidance to the field on the implementation of key provisions of law.

Water Resource Development Acts

River and Harbor Acts, and Flood Control Acts

Water Resources Planning Act of 1965

Water Resources Planning Act of 1965

Laws of the United States Relating to the Improvement of Rivers and Harbors In response to WRDA 2007, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has prepared a set of products to update the "Compilation of Laws" of the United States relating to the improvement of rivers and harbors and other water resources development purposes as specified in the Act. Several volumes cover water resources development laws passed from 1790 through 2010.

Executive Orders and Federal Policies

Presidential Executive Orders The President of the United States manages the operations of the Executive branch of Government through Executive orders. After the President signs an Executive order, the White House sends it to the Office of the Federal Register (OFR). The OFR numbers each order consecutively and publishes it in the daily Federal Register, and this website, shortly after receipt. Presidential Executive Orders, Historic The National Archives maintains Executive Orders beginning with those signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, arranged according to Presidential administration and year of signature. Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management The Executive Order, signed by President Carter, outlines procedures to be followed for multiple aspects of floodplain management. Executive Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands This Executive Order, signed by Jimmy Carter, outlines procedures to be followed for the protection of wetlands. Executive Order 12322, Water Resources Projects This Executive Order, signed by President Reagan, directs efficient and coordinated planning and review of water resources programs and projects by ensuring that any reports, proposals or plans relating to a Federal or Federally assisted water and related land resources project or program is submitted to the Office of Management and Budget before being submitted to Congress. Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations This Executive Order, signed by President Clinton, requires federal agencies to make achieving environmental justice part of their mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations. Executive Order 13112, Invasive Species This executive order, signed by President Clinton, requires federal agencies including USACE to meet the National Invasive Species Management Plan goals and established the National Invasive Species Council to oversee implementation of the order, encourage proactive planning and action, develop recommendations for international cooperation, and take other steps to improve the Federal response to invasive species. Executive Order 13690, Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard The Executive Order, signed by President Obama, updates EO 11988 and establishes a federal flood risk management standard. Executive Order 13751, Safeguarding the Nation from the Impacts of Invasive Species This executive order, signed by President Obama, amends Executive Order 13112 and directs actions to continue coordinated Federal prevention and control efforts related to invasive species. Executive Order 13927, Accelerating the Nation's Economic Recovery From the COVID-19 Emergency by Expediting Infrastructure Investments and Other Activities This Executive Order, signed by President Trump, was issued pursuant to the National Emergencies Act and directs federal agencies to use existing authorities to speed up environmental review processes to alleviate the economic emergency caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency. This E.O. was revoked by E.O. 13990. Executive Order 13990, Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science To Tackle the Climate Crisis This Executive Order, signed by President Biden, directs all executive departments and agencies to review and, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, take action to address the promulgation of Federal regulations and other actions that conflict with these the national objectives laid out in the Order, and to immediately commence work to confront the climate crisis. This Executive Order also revokes Executive Order 13807 and Executive Order 13927. Executive Order 13992, Revocation of Certain Executive Orders Concerning Federal Regulation This Executive Order, signed by President Biden, revokes several previous Executive Orders, including Executive Orders 13771 (Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs), 13777 (Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda), 13875 (Evaluating and Improving the Utility of Federal Advisory Committees), 13891 (Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents), 13892 (Promoting the Rule of Law Through Transparency and Fairness in Civil Administrative Enforcement and Adjudication), and 13893 (Increasing Government Accountability for Administrative Actions by Reinvigorating Administrative PAYGO). Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad This Executive Order, signed by President Biden, outlines steps to be taken to address climate change and build resilience both at home and abroad. Executive Order 14058, Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery To Rebuild Trust in Government This Executive Order, signed by President Biden, tasks agencies to work with Congress, the private sector, nonprofit organizations, all levels of government, and other partners to design experiences with the Federal Government that effectively reduce administrative burdens, simplify public-facing and internal processes to improve efficiency, and empower the Federal workforce. Executive Order 14091, Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government This Executive Order builds upon previous equity-related Executive Orders by extending and strengthening equity-advancing requirements for agencies, including establishing equity-focused leadership teams across all federal agencies and directing increased engagement with underserved communities to enable delivery of equitable outcomes in partnership with underserved communities. Executive Order 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All This Executive Order builds on and supplements the foundational efforts of Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, as well as earlier Executive Orders signed by President Biden. The Executive Order directs federal agencies to consider measures to address and prevent disproportionate and adverse environmental and health impacts on communities, including the cumulative impacts of pollution and other burdens like climate change. It directs agencies to actively facilitate meaningful public participation and just treatment of all people in agency decision-making. The Executive Order also underscores the vital importance of Tribal consultation and coordination, including to strengthen nation-to-nation relationships on issues involving environmental justice. Executive Order 14112, Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations To Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination This Executive Order, signed by President Biden, underscores the Administration's commitment to advancing Tribal sovereignty, in keeping with our trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations. The Executive Order establishes the policy of the United States to design and administer Federal funding and support programs for Tribal Nations, consistent with applicable law and to the extent practicable, in a manner that better recognizes and supports Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Federal Register The Federal Register (the daily newspaper of the Federal government) is a legal newspaper published every business day by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The Federal Register contains: Federal Agency Regulations; Proposed Rules and Public Notices; Executive Orders; Proclamations; and Other Presidential Documents.

Other Key Laws

Civil Works Environmental Desk Reference A desk-top reference on environmental statutes and environmental executive policy for Corps of Engineers Civil Works personnel. Digest of Federal Resource Laws, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The Digest of Federal Resource Laws of Interest to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides a comprehensive list and description of all federal laws under which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service functions; including Administrative Laws, Treaties, Executive Orders, Interstate Compacts and Memoranda of Agreement. Engineer Pamphlet 1165-2-01: Digest of Water Resources Policies and Authorities A summary of Corps administrative and legislative water resources policies and authorities. National Environmental Policy Act The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to integrate environmental values into their decision making processes by considering the environmental impacts of their proposed actions and reasonable alternatives to those actions. From Scoping to documenting the consideration of environmental impacts and decision-making process in an Environmental Impact Statement or Environmental Assessment, the NEPA process goes hand-in-hand with the Corps project planning and development processes. Public Law 100-241, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Amendments of 1987 This Public Law amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to provide Alaska Natives with certain options for the continued ownership of lands and corporate shares received pursuant to the Act, and for other purposes. Public Law 103-454, Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 This Public Law formally establishes that Indian tribes may be recognized in three ways: by an Act of Congress; by the administrative procedures outlined in 25 C.F.R. Part 83 ("Procedures for Establishing that an American Indian Group Exists as an Indian Tribe"); or by a decision of a United States court.