House Passes Gallagher’s North State Water Priorities
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA) Wednesday, advancing major water infrastructure priorities secured by Congressman James Gallagher (CA-01) for communities across Northern California.
The bipartisan legislation passed 415-9 and includes nearly $160 million for North State water infrastructure, along with provisions to improve water management at Shasta Dam and advance critical flood-control projects across the region.
“Water is the lifeblood of Northern California. It feeds our farms and provides drinking water for our communities,” said Congressman Gallagher. “This bill delivers real investments for the North State and gives our rural communities a stronger voice in how our water is managed. I’m proud we secured these priorities and that the House came together to move them one step closer to becoming law.”
The bill also directs the Army Corps to conduct Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) at Shasta Dam as part of an update to its water control manual. The provision will use improved forecasting to better inform reservoir operations and help prevent excessive water releases from Shasta Lake.
“We have watched too much water get released when we should be finding smarter ways to store and manage it,” Gallagher said. “Using better forecasting at Shasta gives us another tool to make better decisions with the water we have.”
WRDA also advances several local flood-control projects championed by Gallagher. In Chico, the legislation expedites a project at the Five-Mile Basin to address sediment buildup and increase the system’s capacity. It also advances improvements along the Palermo Tributary intended to prevent channel overtopping and reduce flooding around Palermo School and the center of the community.
“Butte County is grateful for what Congressman Gallagher was able to do in streamlining our flood control project,” said Tod Kimmelshue, Chairman of the Butte County Board of Supervisors. “The last few years have shown the impacts that high water can have if the system is not maintained properly.”
The legislation also delivers for smaller rural communities. WRDA includes $1 million to rehabilitate and replace deteriorating sewer infrastructure in Stirling City. In Sutter County, it includes $3.35 million to replace approximately three miles of aging sewer mains in Robbins and advances culvert repair and replacement work in the area.
“Congressman Gallagher is delivering for everyone in the district, especially appreciated in our rural areas,” said Doug Teeter, Butte County Supervisor. “This funding will upgrade a small community sewer system to eliminate the excessive maintenance associated with its outdated piping.”
WRDA also directs the Army Corps to expedite its dam safety review at Black Butte Dam and Reservoir, where flood gate work and other activities have been put on hold pending the Corps’ study. Expediting the review will help allow activity at the lake to resume sooner.
The Water Resources Development Act of 2026 authorizes projects and establishes policy for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Congress has enacted a WRDA every two years since 2014 to advance locally driven water infrastructure projects across the country.
Following passage by the House, Congress will work to reconcile the House legislation with the Senate’s WRDA legislation before a final bill can be sent to the President.
Read more about the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 HERE.
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Rep. James Gallagher | 408 Cannon House Office Building | Washington, DC 20515 US
Congressman James Gallagher proudly represents California's First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.