Northwest landowners could seek bird habitat grants if Congress provides funding

The Interior Secretary would offer competitive grants and technical help for projects that improve habitat for birds that depend on wetlands. Eligible applicants include landowners, public agencies, Tribal groups, nonprofits, and conservation and irrigation districts. Projects would serve Oregon and Washington's coastal waters and nearby land, including Puget Sound, or the Columbia River Basin, including its tributaries and their watersheds. Participation would be voluntary. Congress would still need to provide funding.

Recipients could use grants for project planning, permits, installation, replacement, and limited monitoring. These spending rules would apply to recipients of pilot program grants. No more than 10% of a grant could pay for monitoring. Grants could not fund projects whose purpose is to meet existing environmental repair or compliance duties under federal or state law. Projects would need to follow applicable federal and state law. Recipients would have to spend grants within four years of receiving them and return any unspent money.

The bill would authorize Congress to provide $10 million a year for the program and require reports from the Interior Secretary. The funding authorization would cover fiscal years 2026 through 2030. Reports would describe how the program is running and each funded habitat project. The authorization would allow Congress to provide money; it would not itself provide that money. No more than 3% of each year's program funds could pay for administration. Program money would add to funding for the Secretary's other activities in project areas, rather than replace it. The first report would be due within 180 days after enactment, with reports each year afterward.