Legislation establishes the legal authorities, policies, and responsibilities that underpin effective and consistent water resources management across the United States. Federal, state, Tribal, and interstate laws provide the framework for planning, protecting, allocating, and restoring water resources while balancing environmental, economic, and public needs.

Information on congressional activity, including current and past bills, committee actions, and the Congressional Record, is publicly available through official federal platforms and related federal programs, databases, and models. These resources support transparency and enable stakeholders to track, analyze, and engage with water-related legislation. In addition, comprehensive legislative libraries maintained by federal agencies, states, Tribal governments, interstate entities, non-governmental organizations, and other water institutions help users locate relevant statutes and guidance. Use keyword search tools to quickly find specific laws or filter results by topic.

Selected Water and Resource-Related Statutes

Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (P.L. 96-487)
Designated approximately 79.54 million acres of public lands in Alaska for conservation and public use, including national parks, wildlife refuges, wild and scenic rivers, wilderness areas, and national forests. The Act established a comprehensive framework for long-term stewardship of these lands and associated water resources.

America COMPETES Act
Strengthens U.S. leadership in science and technology by coordinating federal programs that support STEM education and research. The Act promotes interagency collaboration among science-focused departments and agencies, advancing innovation that informs water science, monitoring, and management.

Antiquities Act (1906)
Protects historic and prehistoric resources on federal lands by prohibiting unauthorized excavation, damage, or removal of cultural objects. The Act supports conservation of landscapes and watersheds with significant cultural and environmental value.

Central Valley Project Improvement Act (1992)
Reoriented operations of California’s Central Valley Project to better protect and restore fish and wildlife habitats while improving water management flexibility. The Act promotes water conservation, voluntary water transfers, and balanced allocation among environmental, agricultural, municipal, industrial, and power needs, with special attention to the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta.

Clean Water Act (1972)
The cornerstone of U.S. water quality regulation, establishing standards for surface waters and regulating pollutant discharges. The Act requires permits for point-source discharges under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and sets enforceable limits to protect aquatic ecosystems and public health.

Coastal Barrier Resources Act (1982)
Reduces federal incentives for development on designated coastal barriers along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. By limiting federal expenditures and financial assistance, the Act conserves natural coastal systems, reduces risk to life and property, and lowers long-term public costs.

Coastal Zone Management Act
Sets a national policy to conserve, protect, and responsibly develop coastal resources. The Act supports state-led coastal management programs that address wetlands, estuaries, beaches, dunes, barrier islands, coral reefs, and coastal habitats, integrating ecological, cultural, and economic considerations.

Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (1974)
Authorizes projects and activities to reduce salinity levels and improve water quality in the Colorado River Basin. The Act also provides for mitigation of impacts to fish and wildlife associated with salinity control efforts.

Coral Reef Conservation Act (2000; amended 2009, 2011)
Supports the protection and restoration of coral reef ecosystems through grants, research, monitoring, education, and pollution reduction. Amendments expanded authority to address damage from vessel impacts, fishing gear, and natural or human-caused disasters.

Endangered Species Act (1973)
Provides a comprehensive framework to conserve threatened and endangered species and the ecosystems upon which they depend. The Act requires the use of the best available science, protects habitats, and prohibits activities that would jeopardize listed species, including many aquatic and riparian organisms.