Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act of 2025

The bill directs the Director of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to establish a national program for forecasting groundwater rise within 18 months of enactment. This program will develop maps for all continental U.S. coastal areas, providing decadal projections through 2100 for groundwater rise, associated changes in flooding risk, and saltwater intrusion. The USGS will also identify priority risk areas and establish a public website to display these maps and critical information for community planners and emergency managers, with $5,000,000 authorized for appropriations for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. Additionally, the legislation mandates a two-phase study, to be conducted by the National Academies in consultation with federal agencies, on the potential impacts of groundwater rise. Phase I will focus on the exposure of infrastructure, such as roads, buildings, and utility lines, and the costs involved, including changes in soil liquefaction risk. Phase II will examine public health impacts, specifically the mobilization of below-ground contamination and threats to drinking water supplies and agricultural areas, with a final report summarizing findings submitted to Congress within three years of study initiation.