The Water Project Navigators Act establishes a federal grant program to help communities develop and implement water projects that address multiple goals, including improving water supply resilience, managing drought and flooding, protecting ecosystems, and increasing access to clean drinking water. The program will fund "navigator" positions—specialized staff who provide technical assistance such as grant writing, project management, and engineering support to eligible applicants, which include states, Indian tribes, water districts, local governments, and conservation organizations in western states, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. The bill prioritizes funding for Indian tribes, disadvantaged communities, and rural areas with limited resources, and allows the Interior Secretary to reduce or waive the typical 25 percent local cost-share requirement for these disadvantaged applicants. The program will launch within 180 days of enactment and awards grants for up to 3 years with possible 2-year extensions, with continuous funding opportunities available. Congress authorizes $15 million annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to support the program, and the Secretary must report to Congress after 5 years on the program's effectiveness in reducing water supply imbalances and building community capacity.
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