H.R. 4144: the Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act of 2025, focuses on how rising groundwater levels, influenced by sea level changes, could affect infrastructure and public health in the United States. It involves the following key actions:

Mapping Groundwater Rise

The bill requires the Director of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to create maps that forecast groundwater rise in coastal areas over the coming decades. Specifically, this involves:

• Developing comprehensive maps that show projected groundwater rise until the year 2100.
• Identifying areas that are at high risk of flooding due to this groundwater rise.
• Creating a public website where these maps and other important information can be accessed by community planners and emergency managers.
• Recommending resources needed for more accurate projections of groundwater rise and related events, such as tides and storms.

Conducting Impact Studies

The bill also mandates a two-phase study on the impacts of groundwater rise, to be conducted in collaboration with various federal agencies and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The two phases of the study will include:

• Phase I: Focusing on infrastructure, the study will assess how rising groundwater may affect roads, buildings, utility lines, and other critical structures.
• Phase II: This phase will evaluate the effects on public health, including the risks associated with mobilizing contaminants and threats to drinking water supplies due to saltwater intrusion.

Both studies aim to provide recommendations for actions that could be taken by Congress and the executive branch to address these potential impacts.

Funding Provisions

The bill proposes an appropriation of $5 million for the USGS to carry out the mapping and initial phases of the study for the fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

Definitions

The bill clarifies key terms, such as:

• Director: Refers to the Director of the USGS.
• Groundwater Rise: Describes the upward movement of the shallow water table in coastal areas due to sea level changes.
• National Academies: Indicates the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Overall Context

The bill acknowledges the rising sea levels and the variability of groundwater responses in different areas, emphasizing the need for proper planning and assessment to mitigate risks associated with future groundwater rise.

Relevant Companies

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