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HR 5770

Water Monitoring and Tracking Essential Resources (WATER) Data Improvement Act

118th Congress Introduced by Juan Ciscomani and 2 co-sponsors

Reauthorizes USGS water data programs through FY2028, expands the FPS network with precipitation sensors, and includes Tribes to strengthen nationwide water monitoring.

Presented to President.
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Bill Summary · HR 5770

Summary — H.R. 5770: Water Monitoring and Tracking Essential Resources (WATER) Data Improvement Act

Purpose

H.R. 5770 reauthorizes and updates key U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) water data programs to ensure continued federal monitoring of surface water and groundwater and to improve the Federal Priority Streamgage (FPS) network and related observing systems through fiscal year (FY) 2028.

Key provisions and statutory changes

  • Amends Section 9507 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 10367).
  • Renames the program from the “national streamflow information program” to the “Federal Priority Streamgage (FPS) Program” throughout the statute.
  • Reauthorizes USGS water data efforts — specifically the FPS Program, the National Groundwater Resources Monitoring Program, and the Next Generation Water Observing System — through FY2028.
  • Updates and modernizes program features:
    • Adds “precipitation” sensors as an authorized sensor type at FPS sites.
    • Adds Tribes explicitly as entities with which USGS may coordinate and partner (inserting “and Tribes”/“Tribal lands”/“Tribe” in relevant provisions).
    • Removes the separate statutory authorization for a brackish groundwater assessment (the assessment was completed in 2017).
  • Adjusts authorization of appropriations for the National Groundwater Resources Monitoring Program from open-ended “such sums as are necessary” to a specific authorization of $4,000,000 per fiscal year for FY2023–FY2028.
  • Updates several statutory dates (e.g., replacing earlier target years such as 2019 and 2023 with 2028 where applicable).

Who is affected / expected impact

  • Federal agencies (USGS lead), State water agencies, Tribes, and local partners that operate and rely on streamgages and groundwater monitoring networks.
  • Water managers, flood- and drought-forecasting centers, interstate/international compact administrators, and the public who use USGS water data.
  • Maintains and supports a nationwide FPS network (USGS reported ~3,640 priority streamgages as of 2021 within a larger USGS streamgaging network of ~11,531 sites) and a National Groundwater Monitoring Network (about 17,665 water-level wells and 4,068 water-quality wells).
  • Improves data availability for planning, resource management, and compliance with compacts, court decrees, and treaties.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Reported favorably by the House Committee on Natural Resources (H. Rept. 118‑566).
  • Floor actions: Passed the House (suspension) and later passed the Senate (unanimous consent).
  • Became law: Public Law No. 118‑174, signed by the President on December 23, 2024.
  • Effective changes extend program authorizations and funding direction through FY2028.

Additional context

  • The bill incorporated edits recommended by USGS (adding Tribes, precipitation sensors, and aligning funding language with existing appropriations).
  • Companion bill: S.4245.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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