The Watershed Results Act directs the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Reclamation, to launch up to five pilot watershed outcomes projects in Reclamation States, which include most western states plus Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. The Secretary would select partner organizations, such as states, tribes, irrigation districts, or nongovernmental groups, to design and implement strategies that pay for measurable water and habitat improvements, like increased water supply or better aquatic habitat, through performance-based contracts rather than traditional grants. These partners would receive federal funding, capped at 75 percent of project costs, to develop analytics identifying the most cost-effective conservation activities and to make payments once results are verified. The bill authorizes $17 million annually from fiscal years 2025 through 2030 to carry out the program, and requires the Secretary to report annually to Congress on project progress and submit a comprehensive five-year evaluation recommending whether to continue, end, or make the pilots permanent. Overall, the legislation aims to test a more results-driven, flexible funding approach to water conservation and habitat restoration in western watersheds.
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