United StatesBill would reauthorize snow water supply forecasting at $3 million a year and update its technology focus
If it becomes law, this bill would authorize $3 million a year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for the snow water supply forecasting program, and would update the technology and goals it covers.
What it does
The program's spending authorization would be $3 million for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. Money would still need separate approval.
The program would emphasize snow monitoring and forecasting tools that combine measurement and modeling, including machine learning, and would name USDA and NOAA among its federal partners.
A report requirement would be deleted, along with wording that made later program work follow that report.
The program would focus on forecasts that help water managers across basins and States, and its report would compare new forecasts with USDA and NOAA benchmarks.
Argument forFunding and tools that combine snowpack measurements with models could give water managers more accurate forecasts when they plan reservoir use.
Argument againstDropping the earlier report requirement could remove a checkpoint on whether the program's technologies work before more work goes forward.
More detail
Congress would replace $15,000,000 in total for fiscal years 2022 through 2026 with $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 in subsection (g) of the Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program Authorization Act. This is a limit on spending that may be approved for the program. These amounts are authorizations. Money would still need to be approved in a separate spending law. The new amounts cover fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
The program would continue developing snow monitoring and water supply forecasting technology. It would put weight on more accurate, timely, and cost-effective tools that combine snowpack measuring and modeling. The list of technologies would add imaging spectroscopy, machine learning, snowpack and hydrologic modeling, and other tools the Secretary finds likely to improve forecasts. The Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration would be named among the agencies involved.
Congress would delete the report requirement in subsection (d)(3) and remove wording in subsections (c) and (e) that tied later program work to submitting that report. This affects subsections (c), (d), and (e) of the program law.
The program would focus on better snow and water supply forecasting, on river basins where the data can inform decisions across many water users or States, and on building partners' capacity. A required report would list the basins using the technologies and compare new forecasts against USDA and NOAA benchmarks. This replaces the focus paragraph in subsection (e)(2) and the contents list in subsection (f).
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 17Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.Latest
- Sep 17Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 661.
- Jun 10Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- Mar 17Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held.
- 2025
- Dec 11Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Dec 10Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5136)
- Dec 10Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.Passed House
- Dec 10Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Dec 9Mr. Hurd (CO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Dec 9Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5077-5078; text: CR H5078)
- Dec 9DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3857.
- Dec 9At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Hurd (CO) objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
- Sep 15Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-293.
- Sep 15Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 249.
- Jul 23Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
- Jul 23Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Jul 23Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
- Jun 24Subcommittee Hearings Held
- Jun 23Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
- Jun 10Introduced in House
- Jun 10Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.Introduced
Environment & EnergyTechnology