WASHINGTON, D.C. – A group of U.S. senators has introduced legislation aimed at strengthening watershed and forest management across the country. The Headwaters Protection Act, introduced on September 3, 2025, is sponsored by Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado), and Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico).

The bill would expand two existing U.S. Forest Service programs: the Water Source Protection Program (WSPP) and the Watershed Condition Framework (WCF). Together, these initiatives focus on preventing water pollution at its source, supporting forest health, and improving water reliability for downstream communities.

Under the proposal, the WSPP would see increased funding and broader eligibility for water users, including farmers, ranchers, utilities, Tribes, and local governments. The act also directs the program to prioritize local partnerships and projects that improve drinking water quality, enhance wildfire resilience, and address climate-related impacts.

For the WCF, the bill would create dedicated funding and make technical adjustments to ensure management activities do not lead to long-term watershed degradation.

According to the sponsors, the legislation is intended to provide long-term benefits to rural and urban communities that rely on healthy forests and watersheds for drinking water, agriculture, and environmental resilience.