Northwest Wetlands Voluntary Incentives Program Act

The Northwest Wetlands Voluntary Incentives Program Act establishes the Pacific Northwest Migratory Bird Conservation pilot program, authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to provide competitive grants and technical assistance. This program aims to enhance, maintain, and restore habitats for shorebirds, waterfowl, and other wetlands-dependent birds in the Oregon and Washington Coastal Zone and the Columbia River Basin. Eligible projects include water infrastructure and vegetative habitat management to maximize resources for migratory birds, including those important for migrating, staging, and wintering populations. Grants are available to various eligible entities , such as Federal and State agencies, Tribal governments, nonprofits, conservation districts, and private landowners, for projects on public, private, Tribal, or agricultural lands. Priority may be given to projects in areas experiencing rapid habitat loss or human population growth, those with long-term operation and maintenance plans, and those providing a non-Federal share of at least 25 percent. Funds can be used for planning, permitting, installing, or replacing restoration components, but not for regular operation and maintenance, and must be spent within four years. The bill authorizes $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the pilot program, with up to 3 percent allocated for administrative costs. Importantly, these funds are intended to supplement existing conservation efforts and cannot be used for projects fulfilling existing environmental mitigation or compliance obligations. The Secretary is required to submit annual reports to Congress detailing the program's implementation and funded projects, while ensuring the program does not preempt State water law or interfere with private property rights.