S 1029119th CongressIn Committee

Snow Survey Northeast Expansion Act of 2025

Introduced: Mar 13, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

Snow Survey Northeast Expansion Act of 2025 would require the Secretary of Agriculture, through the NRCS Chief, to extend the agency’s snow survey and water supply forecasting program to the Northeastern United States. The bill defines the Northeast to include Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and any other states the Secretary designates. The purpose is to improve snowpack measurements and resulting water-supply forecasts in the region, supporting better planning for water resources, flood management, and drought resilience. The text does not specify funding or a implementation timeline, but it obligates NRCS to expand the program to cover the new geographic area.

Key Points

1Short title: Snow Survey Northeast Expansion Act of 2025.
2Geographic scope: Defines the Northeastern United States as Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and any other states the Secretary designates.
3Expansion mandate: Requires the Secretary of Agriculture (via the NRCS Chief) to expand NRCS’s snow survey and water supply forecasting program to serve the Northeast.
4Secretary’s discretion: Allows the Secretary to determine additional states to include beyond the four named.
5Budget and timeline: The bill does not specify funding, appropriations, or a schedule; implementation would depend on NRCS resources and decisions.

Impact Areas

Primary groups/areas affected:- Water resource managers, utilities, municipalities, and state/local agencies in the Northeast that rely on snowpack and runoff forecasts.- Farmers and agricultural producers who use water supply forecasts for planning.Secondary groups/areas affected:- NRCS and the broader USDA workforce; potential need for additional personnel, funding, and data infrastructure dedicated to the Northeast.- Other federal and state agencies involved in hydrology, climate adaptation, flood forecasting, and water management.Additional impacts:- Improved accuracy and timeliness of snow water equivalent (SWE) and runoff forecasts for Northeast rivers and reservoirs.- Enhanced planning for flood risk management, drought preparedness, and water supply reliability.- Potential changes in funding priorities or budget allocations within NRCS to support expanded coverage.

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