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Planning Guidance: Watershed Studies
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Guidance This memorandum directs project teams to execute feasibility and watershed cost share agreements for all FY24 new start studies and studies funded in prior appropriations for which agreements have not yet been signed by 30 September 2024. The memo also provides guidance on agreement execution, funding for agreement execution, considerations regarding the formulation of additional alternatives (per Sections 8106(a) and 8106(b) of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022); and the potential for initiating Federal Interest Determination efforts per Section 8156 of WRDA 2022. Section 8114 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022 further amends Section 1156 of WRDA 1986, as amended (33 U.S.C. 2310), to direct the Secretary of the Army to apply the cost sharing waiver amount established under Section 1156 to an organization that is: 1) composed primarily of people who are recognized and defined under Federal law as indigenous people of the United States, 2) and from a specific community, and 3) that assists in the social, cultural, and educational development of such people in that community. The Implementation Guidance provides that the Secretary will apply the waiver amount to the non-Federal interest share of costs for studies and construction where applicable. Additionally, the waiver will apply to watershed assessments, whereas before it had only been applicable to feasibility studies and water resources development project construction. This guidance supersedes the implementation guidance for Section 1119 of WRDA 2016, dated May 11, 2017. Engineer Regulations (ERs) This Regulation establishes an accountable strategy for conducting watershed studies with USACE participation and includes both policy and process guidance. The Regulation supersedes and replaces Engineer Circular (EC) 1105-2-411: Watershed Plans and replaces Planning Bulletin (PB) 2019-01: Watershed Studies. Guidance The purpose of this memorandum is to clarify policy and procedures associated with the completion or termination of a USACE study, including providing direction and processes for when a study is complete or a determination has been made that there is no Federal interest or the non-federal sponsor has requested to stop the study. This guidance applies to all feasibility studies, including studies to reformulate an already authorized project, such as a General Reevaluation, and to watershed plans and comprehensive studies. Studies under the Continuing Authorities Program will follow the processes outlined in Engineering Pamphlet 1105-2-58 Continuing Authorities Program. This memo is accompanied by the 26 July 2019 document, Actions After Notice of Termination: General Guidance for Project Close-out Standard Operating Procedures. Section 1159 of WRDA 2018 amends Section 22(a) of WRDA 1974 (42 U.S.C. 1962d-16(a)), to authorize regional coalitions of governmental entities to participate in the preparation of comprehensive plans for the development, utilization, and conservation of the water and related resources of drainage basins, watersheds, or ecosystems located within the boundaries of such State, interest, or entity. Additionally, Section 1159 amends Section 22(a) to authorize the Secretary to work with an institution of higher education in the preparation of comprehensive plans and in the provision of technical assistance. These Section 22 efforts are also known as the Planning Assistants to States (PAS) program. Institute for Water Resources This research was undertaken in an effort to develop a theoretical framework of an empirically feasible procedure for assessing the broad economic, social, political and environmental impact of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Multiple Purpose Project. The report presents a methodology for projecting the efficient location of water-related industry via regional linear programming.
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