View all text of Subchapter V [§ 2280 - § 2357]
§ 2357. Managed aquifer recharge study and working group
(a) Assessment
(1) In general
(2) Requirements
In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—
(A) assess and identify opportunities to support non-Federal interests, including Tribal communities, in carrying out managed aquifer recharge projects; and
(B) assess preliminarily local hydrogeologic conditions relevant to carrying out managed aquifer recharge projects.
(3) Coordination
(b) Feasibility studies
(1) Authorization
(2) Limitation
(3) Use of information
(4) Cost share
(c) Working group
(1) In general
(2) Composition
In establishing the working group under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that members of the working group have expertise working with—
(A) projects providing water supply storage to meet regional water supply demand, particularly in regions experiencing drought;
(B) the protection of groundwater supply, including promoting infiltration and increased recharge in groundwater basins, and groundwater quality;
(C) aquifer storage, recharge, and recovery wells;
(D) dams that provide recharge enhancement benefits;
(E) groundwater hydrology;
(F) conjunctive use water systems; and
(G) agricultural water resources, including the use of aquifers for irrigation purposes.
(3) Duties
The working group established under this subsection shall—
(A) advise the Secretary regarding the development and execution of the assessment under subsection (a) and any feasibility studies under subsection (b);
(B) assist Corps of Engineers offices at the headquarter, division, and district levels with raising awareness of non-Federal interests of the potential benefits of carrying out managed aquifer recharge projects; and
(C) assist with the development of the report required to be submitted under subsection (d).
(d) Report to Congress
Not later than 2 years after December 23, 2022, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report on managed aquifer recharge that includes—
(1) the results of the assessment conducted under subsection (a) and any feasibility studies carried out under subsection (b), including data collected under such assessment and studies and any recommendations on managed aquifer recharge opportunities for non-Federal interests, States, local governments, and Tribes;
(2) a status update on the implementation of the recommendations included in the report of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Institute for Water Resources entitled “Managed Aquifer Recharge and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Water Security through Resilience”, published in April 2020 (2020–WP–01); and
(3) an evaluation of the benefits of creating a new or modifying an existing planning center of expertise for managed aquifer recharge, and identify potential locations for such a center of expertise, if feasible.
(e) Savings provision
(f) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Managed aquifer recharge
(2) Managed aquifer recharge project
(Pub. L. 117–263, div. H, title LXXXI, § 8108, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3700.)