---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 1015"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "1015"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/1015"
units:
  - "Chapter 18A — Cooperative Watershed Management Program"
---

# §1015. Definitions


In this chapter:

- (1) **Affected stakeholder—** The term “affected stakeholder” means an entity that significantly affects, or is significantly affected by, the quality or quantity of water in a watershed, as determined by the [Secretary](#5).
- (2) **Disadvantaged community—** The term “disadvantaged community” means a community (including a city, town, county, or reasonably isolated and divisible segment of a larger municipality) with an annual median household income that is less than 100 percent of the statewide annual median household income for the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) in which the community is located, according to the most recent decennial census.
- (3) **Grant recipient—** The term “grant recipient” means a [watershed group](#6) that the [Secretary](#5) has selected to receive a grant under [section 1015a(c)(2) of this title](/usc/16/1015a.md?p=c-2).
- (4) **Program—** The term “program” means the Cooperative Watershed Management Program established by the [Secretary](#5) under [section 1015a(a) of this title](/usc/16/1015a.md?p=a).
- (5) **Secretary—** The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior.
- (6) **Watershed group—** The term “watershed group” means a self-sustaining, cooperative watershed-wide group that—
  - (A) is comprised of representatives of the [affected stakeholders](#1) of the relevant watershed;
  - (B) incorporates the perspectives of a diverse array of stakeholders, including, to the maximum extent practicable—
    - (i) representatives of—
      - (I) hydroelectric production;
      - (II) livestock grazing;
      - (III) timber production;
      - (IV) land development;
      - (V) recreation or tourism;
      - (VI) irrigated agricultural production;
      - (VII) the environment;
      - (VIII) potable water purveyors and industrial water users;
      - (IX) private property [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) within the watershed; and
      - (X) [disadvantaged communities](#2);
    - (ii) any Federal agency that has authority with respect to the watershed;
    - (iii) any [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) agency that has authority with respect to the watershed;
    - (iv) any local agency that has authority with respect to the watershed; and
    - (v) any Indian tribe that—
      - (I) owns land within the watershed; or
      - (II) has land in the watershed that is held in [trust](/usc/16/450ss–1.md?p=4);
  - (C) is a grassroots, nonregulatory entity that addresses water availability and quality issues within the relevant watershed;
  - (D) is capable of promoting the sustainable use of the water resources of the relevant watershed and improving the functioning condition of rivers and streams through—
    - (i) water conservation;
    - (ii) improved water quality;
    - (iii) ecological resiliency; and
    - (iv) the reduction of water conflicts; and
  - (E) makes decisions on a consensus basis, as defined in the bylaws of the [watershed group](#6).
- (7) **Watershed management project—** The term “watershed management project” means any [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) (including a demonstration [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4)) that—
  - (A) enhances water conservation, including alternative water uses;
  - (B) improves water quality;
  - (C) improves ecological resiliency of a river or stream, including benefits to fisheries, wildlife, or habitat;
  - (D) reduces the potential for water conflicts; or
  - (E) advances any other goals associated with water quality or quantity that the [Secretary](#5) determines to be appropriate.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–11, title VI, § 6001, Mar. 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 1165; Pub. L. 116–260, div. FF, title XI, § 1107(a), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3243.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2020—Pars. (2) to (6). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1107(a)(1), (2), added par. (2) and redesignated former pars. (2) to (5) as (3) to (6), respectively. Former par. (6) redesignated (7).

Par. (6)(B)(i)(X). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1107(a)(3), added subcl. (X).

Par. (7). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1107(a)(1), redesignated par. (6) as (7).

Par. (7)(C). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1107(a)(4), inserted “, including benefits to fisheries, wildlife, or habitat” after “river or stream”.