The bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the Columbia River Basin Restoration program by changing the year window in Section 123(d)(6) from 2020–2021 to 2026–2030. There are no new authorities beyond extending the window, and funding levels are not specified in the text, so continued activity would depend on annual appropriations.
The measure was introduced by Senator Merkley, with Senators Wyden and Murray, as part of the 119th Congress.
At a Glance
What It Does
The FWPC Act’s Section 123(d)(6) is amended to strike “2020 and 2021” and insert “2026 through 2030,” thereby extending the period during which Columbia River Basin restoration activities can be funded and implemented.
Who It Affects
Federal agencies administering the Columbia River Basin Restoration program, state environmental agencies in the basin, and organizations that implement restoration projects.
Why It Matters
Provides a longer planning and execution horizon for restoration work, helping to reduce disruption from short-term funding gaps and enabling multi-year projects.
More articles like this one.
A weekly email with all the latest developments on this topic.
What This Bill Actually Does
The Columbia River Clean-Up Act of 2025 makes a precise but meaningful change to national environmental law. It revises the Federal Water Pollution Control Act by updating the time frame associated with the Columbia River Basin Restoration program.
Specifically, Section 123(d)(6) will no longer reference the 2020–2021 window; instead, the approved window runs from 2026 through 2030. The change is straightforward: it does not expand the program’s authority beyond extending the horizon, and it does not specify new funding amounts or sources.
The text of the bill does not alter other programmatic elements, nor does it introduce additional requirements for states or local entities.
Because the bill does not appropriate funds, the actual budgetary impact remains a function of annual appropriations approved by Congress. In practical terms, the longer horizon can facilitate longer-term planning for restoration projects, grant cycles, and interagency coordination within the Columbia River Basin, potentially improving project sequencing and contractor engagement.
The bill’s sponsors—Senator Merkley, joined by Senator Wyden and Senator Murray—frame the change as a reauthorization or continuation of ongoing restoration efforts rather than a new program. For compliance and policy teams, the key takeaway is that the statutory window for restoration activity is extended, pending funding decisions in the regular appropriations process.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill modifies Section 123(d)(6) of the FWPC Act to replace the years 2020 and 2021 with 2026 through 2030.
It reauthorizes the Columbia River Basin Restoration program by extending its authorized horizon.
No funding amounts or new financing mechanisms are specified in the text.
The measure is titled the Columbia River Clean-Up Act of 2025 and is sponsored in the Senate by Jeff Merkley with Ron Wyden and Maria Cantwell listed as sponsors in the text.
The amendment affects only the restoration window and does not introduce additional authorities beyond extending the timeframe.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
Every bill we cover gets an analysis of its key sections.
Columbia River Basin Restoration window extended
Section 2 amends Section 123(d)(6) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act by striking the old window of 2020–2021 and inserting 2026–2030. This change extends the period during which restoration activities related to the Columbia River Basin Restoration program can be funded and carried out. The provision preserves the program’s existing authority while shifting its planning and implementation horizon forward, aligning it with longer-range restoration planning timelines.
This bill is one of many.
Codify tracks hundreds of bills on Environment across all five countries.
Explore Environment in Codify Search →Who Benefits and Who Bears the Cost
Every bill creates winners and losers. Here's who stands to gain and who bears the cost.
Who Benefits
- Federal agencies administering the Columbia River Basin Restoration program (e.g., EPA regional offices) gain a longer horizon for planning and grant management, potentially reducing abrupt funding interruptions.
- State environmental agencies in the Columbia River Basin states benefit from a more predictable multi-year planning window for restoration projects.
- Local watershed groups and non-profit restoration partners enjoy greater continuity in project pipelines and grant cycles.
- Tribal environmental programs participating in basin restoration can plan multi-year initiatives with reduced risk of horizon gaps.
- Grant recipients and project implementers can align staffing and milestones with a longer horizon.
Who Bears the Cost
- Costs are not specified in the text; any funding burden falls to annual appropriations and thus to Congress, federal agencies, and participating states based on annual budgeting.
- State environmental agencies may bear administrative costs for planning, reporting, and grant administration within the extended horizon.
- Local project implementers and NGOs may incur ongoing staffing and compliance costs aligned with multi-year grant cycles.
- Private contractors and vendors supplying restoration services could be affected by multi-year grant opportunities, with potential shifts in procurement planning.
- Ultimately, the bill provides no new funding authorization, so costs will depend on future appropriations and program uptake.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
Extending the horizon supports longer planning and more consistent project pipelines, but without dedicated funding, there is a risk that the extension enables planning without ensuring execution.
The bill’s central policy choice is to extend the restoration horizon without committing new funding or altering program scope. This creates a tension between the desire for longer-term planning and the reality of annual appropriations, which will determine whether the extended window translates into actual, funded projects.
Implementation will rely on the continued administration of the Columbia River Basin Restoration program under the FWPC Act and on congressional budget decisions for future years.
Try it yourself.
Ask a question in plain English, or pick a topic below. Results in seconds.