The Ecological Restoration Project Permitting Act of 2026 streamlines federal permitting for projects that restore degraded habitats and increase ecosystem functions like water quality and wildlife productivity. The bill directs the Secretary of the Army to create a general permit within one year that authorizes ecological restoration activities including habitat improvements, invasive species management, and engineered structures such as dikes and levees, while excluding permanent recreational infrastructure and projects using persistent chemicals. The permit, valid for ten years with renewal options, establishes faster approval timelines—with a 30-day process for federal projects and a 45-day process for non-federal sponsors—and creates a low-risk category for projects unlikely to harm threatened species or historic sites. Importantly, the bill preserves all existing environmental protections under the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and other wildlife and historic preservation laws, ensuring that streamlined permitting does not weaken current safeguards. This legislation applies to both federally funded and non-federal ecological restoration projects seeking to convert degraded areas into functioning habitats.