Municipal staff says city has requested expanded USACE authority in 2026 authorization package

Municipal staff told the Assembly committee the city has submitted a request to include expanded operating authority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the next federal authorization package, which staff said will be part of the 2026 Water Resources Development Act authorization process.

Why it matters: expanded Corps authority could open federal resources to support dredging, erosion and other water‑related projects in Anchorage, but staff cautioned members that many Corps partnerships involve federal cost‑shares and additional requirements.

A municipal staff member briefed the committee that, as Congress prepares the next Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) authorization in 2026, the municipality has asked that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) be authorized to operate with expanded roles for Anchorage projects. "The municipality of Anchorage could request the Army Corps of Engineers to be involved in any number of water related projects that could be related to AWU infrastructure," the staff member said, listing erosion, drainage, port work and operations tied to Eklutna hydropower among potential areas of cooperation.

Assembly members asked whether federal involvement could impose programmatic requirements that complicate projects. A member cited Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds as an example of federal funding that carries onerous requirements. Eric Adams, Jacobs' program manager, told the committee cost‑share arrangements are variable: in some Corps projects he described a 90/10 federal/local cost‑share, and he said that when the Corps participates at that level there can be additional requirements and permitting considerations. "Where there is some sort of a cost share, then there are some other strings attached," Adams said.

Staff told the committee the request has been submitted and that they will work with the municipality’s congressional delegation to seek congressional approval of the expanded authority; no formal Assembly action was taken at the meeting.

Next steps: staff said they will return with more detailed briefings, potentially including subject‑matter experts to explain permitting, cost‑share models and other federal requirements, before the committee or assembly commits to specific Corps partnerships.