---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 1003a"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "1003a"
heading: "Cost share assistance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/1003a"
units:
  - "Chapter 18 — Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention"
---

# §1003a. Cost share assistance

- (a) **Easements—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may provide cost share assistance to [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) sponsors to enable such sponsors to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) perpetual wetland or floodplain conservation easements to perpetuate, restore and enhance the natural capability of wetlands and floodplains to retain excessive floodwaters, improve water quality and quantity, and provide habitat for [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17).
- (b) **Amount—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall require that [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) sponsors of watershed [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) provide up to 50 percent of the cost of acquiring easements under [subsection (a)](#a).

## Source credit

(Aug. 4, 1954, ch. 656, § 3A, as added Pub. L. 101–624, title XIV, § 1462, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3615.)