Will Water Resources Development Act of 2020 allow for more local control?

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The House of Representatives is back in session for the New Year and it wasn’t long before lawmakers were considering a piece of federal legislation potentially affecting boaters nationwide. On deck during a recent session of the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment was the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020. WRDA 2020 is a legislative package establishing federal water infrastructure policy. The policy must be renewed every two years; the WRDA was last renewed in 2018 and is up for renewal again this year. The WRDA primarily focuses on commercial elements of harbor/port management but recreational boaters are still affected by the legislation. Dredging and recreational economic activity are two elements of the WRDA renewal. The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), for one, has been urging its members to take a proactive interest in the legislative package. “While WRDA is largely geared towards commercial activity and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) flood control efforts, NMMA is working with key elected officials to include language in the bill that would ensure recreation’s economic impact is considered when determining which projects to prioritize,” NMMA staff said in a released statement. Making recreational activities (boating, fishing, kayaking, etc.) and...