S. 4041 — Cooperative Watershed Management Program Reauthorization Act of 2026

This section expands the Cooperative Watershed Management Program by adding a definition of Indian tribe matching the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. It broadens watershed group membership to include tribes with ancestral lands in the watershed and allows tribes to qualify as stakeholders for grant eligibility. It raises first-phase grants to $150,000 per year (from $100,000) for at least three years, permits up to two years of continuation funding at the same level, and adds eligibility for areas affected by drought, wildfire, or other natural disasters. It requires the Secretary to offer continuous enrollment with multiple application cycles per year, expands technical assistance to include grant writing and project management, makes program reports public, and authorizes $40 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.