Federal lawmakers have introduced the bipartisan Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act to reduce regulatory barriers that slow or prevent ecosystem restoration in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-mapped floodplains.
The legislation, from legislators including Representatives Bryan Steil (WI-01), Troy Downing (MT-02), Janelle Bynum (OR-02), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), aims to streamline approvals for low-risk floodplain restoration projects by reducing costly permitting fees, shortening review timelines, and allowing certified engineers to verify that projects will not harm infrastructure. The House bill mirrors legislation already introduced in the Senate (S.1564).
Current FEMA rules—especially the No-Rise Rule—were designed for regulating development, not restoration, and have unintentionally discouraged beneficial ecological work.
Trout Unlimited and other environmental organizations across the country, including the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, American Rivers, and the National Association of Conservation Districts, strongly support the bill, emphasizing that reconnecting rivers with their natural floodplains reduces flood risks, improves water quality, enhances wildlife habitat, and lowers long-term community costs. Wisconsin, with approximately 84,000 miles of rivers and many degraded or disconnected floodplains, stands to gain environmental and public safety benefits from these reforms.
Lawmakers describe the bill as a common-sense reform that removes unnecessary red tape and empowers local communities to advance conservation projects. Both the House and Senate versions are awaiting committee hearings.
“Bureaucratic red tape should not stall common sense conservation projects,” said Steil. “The Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act eases administrative burdens and empowers Wisconsin communities to make our waterways healthier, strengthen our resilience to floods, and enhance ecosystems across the nation. I’m proud to help lead the effort to ensure Wisconsin’s conservation projects are completed on time, strengthening our environment and reducing flood risks in our community.”
TU staff in Wisconsin—from the Driftless and Great Lakes programs, along with counterparts nationwide—have worked collaboratively to support these legislative updates, which will help streamline critical restoration efforts. TU is grateful to the members of Congress who are championing this legislation and urges their colleagues to support and pass the Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act.
TAGS: Wisconsin, Priority Waters, Great Lakes, Driftless Area, Flood Resilience, Restoration