H.R. 1858 updates federal flood and watershed management programs to better protect agricultural lands and communities from flooding. The bill expands the Emergency Watershed Program to allow the Department of Agriculture to undertake enhanced protective measures that go beyond fixing immediate damage, as long as those measures are cost-effective and protect watersheds from repeated flooding. The legislation also requires the Department of Agriculture to complete a comprehensive national study within two years examining flood vulnerabilities on agricultural lands, including crop and livestock losses, mitigation effectiveness, and current federal and state flood data. Additionally, the bill increases federal cost-sharing from 65 percent to 90 percent for rehabilitation projects that repair old structural flood-prevention measures nearing or past their intended lifespan. Overall, the bill affects farmers and agricultural communities by improving flood protection infrastructure and providing better data on flood risks to support future policy decisions.
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