Kelly-Shaped Bill to Secure Arizona’s Water Future Clears Committee

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously advanced the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA) , legislation shaped by Arizona Senator Mark Kelly that strengthens Arizona’s water infrastructure, accelerates long-delayed projects, and supports rural and tribal communities across the state. As a senior member of the committee, Kelly secured provisions to help Arizona communities build water infrastructure projects more quickly, invest in drinking water and wastewater systems, expand water infrastructure for rural and tribal communities, improve wildfire and flood resilience, and authorize new investments in water infrastructure projects. Authorized every two years, WRDA directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works Program, which supports flood control, ecosystem restoration, navigation, and water infrastructure projects nationwide. This year’s legislation also reauthorizes the Environmental Protection Agency’s Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure programs, ensuring continued federal investment in communities working to modernize aging water systems and improve access to clean, reliable water. “Arizona knows better than most that water isn’t something we can take for granted. As drought continues to strain the Colorado River and our communities keep growing, we have to make smart investments now to secure our water future,” said Kelly . “This bipartisan bill helps communities modernize aging water systems, build new infrastructure, protect families from floods and wildfires, and move long-delayed projects forward. These are practical solutions that will help Arizona become more resilient.” Through Kelly’s leadership, WRDA 2026 includes major investments to modernize drinking water and wastewater infrastructure across Arizona while authorizing new projects that will strengthen water reliability, conserve scarce resources, and support growing communities. City of Kingman Water Service Line Improvements : Authorizes $10 million to replace aging water service lines, strengthening the city’s water distribution system, conserving water resources, and supporting future growth. City of Page Wastewater Treatment Facility: Increases the project’s authorization by $10 million, bringing the total authorization to $20 million to complete critical wastewater infrastructure improvements. City of Tucson Southlands Recycled Water Loop : Increases authorization by $5 million, bringing the total authorization to $35 million to expand Tucson’s reclaimed water system, reducing reliance on groundwater and Colorado River water. Santa Cruz County Water and Wastewater Infrastructure: Authorizes $10 million to reconstruct aging water infrastructure and improve long-term system reliability. City of Buckeye Central Reclaimed Water Line: Increases authorization by $8 million, bringing the total authorization to $20 million to construct a reclaimed water line that will conserve an estimated 2.5 million gallons of groundwater each day. Additionally, the following pieces of legislation sponsored or co-led by Senator Kelly are included in the bill: the Community Water Project Acceleration Act , the Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems Act , the Advancing Water Research and Collaboration Act , the FIRE SMART Act , the Western Water Infrastructure Fairness Act , and the Wildfire Prevention and Recovery Act . See below for a breakdown of key Arizona priorities Kelly secured in WRDA 2026 : ACCELERATING COMPLETION OF CRITICAL WATER PROJECTS Kelly secured provisions directing the Army Corps of Engineers to accelerate or continue work on critical flood control, ecosystem restoration, and water infrastructure projects throughout Arizona. Rio de Flag Flood Control Project (Flagstaff): Reauthorizes the project at its updated cost, allowing construction to move forward on the decades-long effort to protect Flagstaff from catastrophic flooding. Rio Salado Oeste (Phoenix): Allows the Army Corps to complete the project’s feasibility study without delay, advancing restoration of nearly eight miles of the Salt River corridor. Winslow Levee Project (Winslow): Accelerates completion of flood protection improvements to remove the City of Winslow and surrounding communities from a flood plain. Cave Buttes Dam (Scottsdale): Advances repairs to the Cave Buttes Dam, which protects protecting more than one million downstream residents and billions of dollars in property in Scottsdale and the East Valley. McMicken Dam (Surprise) : Expedites rehabilitation of the McMicken Dam flood control infrastructure protecting Luke Air Force Base and surrounding West Valley communities. Additional Arizona projects supported in the WRDA 2026 bill include the Globe McCormick Wash Flood Control Project, Lower Santa Cruz River Flood Control Project, El Corazon Recreation and Ecosystem Restoration Project, Gila River Indian Community Renewable Energy Pilot Project, Navajo Nation Bird Springs Watershed Management Plan, and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community habitat restoration project. STRENGTHENING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS Kelly secured provisions to expand federal support for drinking water, wastewater, and rural water infrastructure programs on which communities across Arizona rely. Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds : Reauthorizes the nation’s largest drinking water and wastewater infrastructure programs through 2030 while increasing authorized funding levels. Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program: Reauthorizes $75 million annually for tribal drinking water infrastructure projects, including dedicated support for tribes throughout the Lower Colorado River Basin. Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants: Reauthorizes a critical grant program that helps communities upgrade aging sewer systems and improve stormwater management. PFAS Point-of-Use Filtration Pilot Program : Establishes a new competitive grant program to help communities reduce PFAS contamination in drinking water. See below for a summary of Kelly-led bills included in the final WRDA package: Kelly’s Community Water Project Acceleration Act Allows locally-led water infrastructure projects receiving limited Army Corps funding to move into construction more quickly by streamlining federal review requirements. In Arizona, many projects funded through the Corps’ Western Rural Water Program will be able to begin construction faster. Kelly’s Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems (FLOWS) Act Creates a new grant program to help small and rural water utilities deploy smart technologies. Supports investments in leak detection, pressure management, water quality monitoring, and other modern water system technologies that improve reliability and reduce water loss. Kelly’s Advancing Water Research and Collaboration (AWRC) Act Reauthorizes the U.S. Geological Survey’s Water Resources Research Institutes. Supports research partnerships, including at the University of Arizona, to develop innovative solutions to western water challenges. Kelly’s FIRE SMART Act Expands eligibility for federal water infrastructure assistance to include projects that improve fire suppression capabilities in high-risk rural communities. Helps communities replace aging water infrastructure that supports wildfire response. Western Water Infrastructure Fairness Act: Allows eligible rural and economically disadvantaged Arizona communities to receive up to a 90 percent federal cost share for Army Corps water infrastructure projects funded through the Western Rural Water Program. Wildfire Prevention and Recovery Act: Requires the Army Corps to conduct wildfire risk assessments on lands it manages, beginning with a pilot program in Arizona. Will reduce wildfire risk near Army Corps facilities in Arizona, including Alamo Lake, Whitlow Ranch Dam, and Painted Rock Dam. See what Arizona leaders are saying about the provisions Kelly secured for the state: “I want to thank Senator Mark Kelly and Senator Ruben Gallego for their leadership in advancing the expansion of Tucson’s Southlands Recycled Water Loop in the Senate’s Water Resources Development Act. In Tucson, every drop of water counts. This investment advances Tucson’s One Water vision by expanding the use of reclaimed water, protecting precious groundwater, and our Colorado River allocation. Investments like these are critical in supporting new jobs, housing, and economic opportunity that makes sense for Tucson,” said Mayor Regina Romero, City of Tucson . “I appreciate the Senate Committee’s inclusion of new authorities to help communities address PFAS in drinking water. Arizona’s Senators have been strong partners in protecting Tucson’s water resources and strengthening the infrastructure that keeps our community healthy, resilient, and prepared for the future. I look forward to continuing to work with Senator Kelly, Senator Gallego, Representative Adelita Grijalva and Representative Juan Ciscomani as Congress advances a final WRDA bill.” “Addressing McCormick Wash is critical to protecting residents, businesses, public infrastructure, and emergency access in the City of Globe from flooding while supporting the long-term safety and economic vitality of our community.  Senator Kelly understands the importance of investing in resilient infrastructure, and his continued advocacy for the city is making a real difference. We appreciate his partnership and look forward to working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move this project forward as quickly as possible,” said Globe Mayor Al Gameros. “Senator Kelly has been a tireless advocate for the Town of Superior and has fought to ensure federal programs help address the unique challenges we face.  Thanks to his leadership, the FIRE SMART Act will allow us to access additional federal resources to fortify and protect our Town from catastrophic wildfire,” said Superior Mayor Mila Besich. “The City of Flagstaff extends its sincere gratitude to Senator Kelly for his leadership in securing key provisions within the Water Resources Development Act of 2026. By directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to adjust the cost framework for the Rio de Flag project, this legislation marks a major step forward for this long-awaited initiative. This provision underscores the vital need to safeguard our residents, local businesses, and essential infrastructure from future flood risks. We thank Senator Kelly for his steadfast commitment to Flagstaff and look forward to partnering with the Army Corps to deliver this critical community investment,” said Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett. “Senator Kelly knows that in Kingman, the need for reliable and clean water supply is a must.  We thank him for all his hard work in including us in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) reauthorization bill,” said Kingman City Manager Tim Walsh. “Thank you to both Senators Kelly and Gallego for their support of critical water infrastructure needs here in Santa Cruz County.  With their support, these resources will bring much needed storm water and sewer protection to the community,” said Santa Cruz County Chair John Fanning. “Pima County deeply appreciates Senator Kelly’s tireless work to advance the El Corazon aquatic restoration project. This project represents a significant investment in Southern Arizona’s future by restoring critical aquatic habitat, improving watershed resilience, enhancing outdoor recreation, and supporting the long-term health of our environment and communities. Senator Kelly has been a strong advocate for Arizona’s water resources and infrastructure needs, and we appreciate his commitment to this important project. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deliver the benefits of this project to Pima County residents for generations to come,” said Pima County Chair Jennifer Allen. “We are grateful to Senator Kelly for his leadership in securing language in the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite the Winslow Levee Project. This provision recognizes the importance of protecting our residents, businesses, and critical infrastructure from future flooding while helping move this long-awaited project forward. On behalf of the City of Winslow, I thank Senator Kelly for his continued commitment to our community and look forward to working with the Corps to deliver this critical investment,” said Winslow Mayor Roberta “Birdie” Cano. “We are grateful to Senator Kelly for his leadership in securing passage of the Water Resources Development Act and for his continued advocacy on behalf of the City of Buckeye.” Said Mayor Orsborn. “The $20 million authorization for the City represents an important opportunity to support critical water and wastewater infrastructure projects as our community continues to grow,” said Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn. “Senator Kelly understands the importance and urgency for securing Page’s water supply, and we thank him for his leadership in directing additional federal resources to support this critical project for the city and surrounding area,” said Bryan Hill, General Manager of Page Utility Enterprises. Click here to read bill text.