Bipartisan Bill Aims to Address Groundwater Rise Threatening Coastal Communities

A new bipartisan bill, the Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act, has been introduced in the US Congress to help coastal communities prepare for the growing threat of groundwater rise. The bill, co-sponsored by Reps. Kevin Mullin (CA-15) and Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), aims to provide data-driven resources to help protect people, property, and critical infrastructure from the devastating impacts of flooding.

Key Takeaways:

• The Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act would direct the US Geological Survey (USGS) to map and forecast future groundwater rise through 2100, study the impacts to infrastructure such as roads, utilities, and sewers, and assess the risks to public health, including the spread of underground pollutants or contamination of drinking water.
• The bill has been endorsed by several organizations, including the American Planning Association, American Coastal Coalition, Association of State Floodplain Managers, National State Geographic Information Council, Natural Resources Defense Council, OneShoreline, Restore America's Estuaries, San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR), Save the Bay, and Surfrider Foundation.
• Groundwater rise can worsen flooding, damage critical infrastructure, spread toxic chemicals, and harm freshwater supplies, posing a threat to millions of people and trillions of dollars of property.
• The bill is a practical step to help communities get ahead of the problem and address the hidden threat of groundwater rise, which can remain unseen until it's too late.
• Coastal communities are already experiencing the impacts of groundwater rise, with over 5,000 toxic sites at risk of sea level and groundwater rise in the Bay Area alone.

Statistics:

• 5,000: The number of toxic sites at risk of sea level and groundwater rise in the Bay Area.
• Millions: The estimated number of people and trillions of dollars of property at risk from groundwater rise across the United States.
• 2100: The year by which the USGS would map and forecast future groundwater rise under the proposed bill.
• 2025: The year in which Rep. Kevin Mullin held a press conference to announce his bill and hear from stakeholders working to address the hazards associated with groundwater and sea-level rise.

Sources:

• Kevin Mullin, "Reps. Mullin & Garbarino Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Address Threat of Groundwater Rise" (press release, July 29, 2025).
• American Planning Association, endorsement of the Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act.
• American Coastal Coalition, endorsement of the Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act.
• Association of State Floodplain Managers, endorsement of the Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act.
• National State Geographic Information Council, endorsement of the Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act.
• Natural Resources Defense Council, endorsement of the Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act.
• OneShoreline, endorsement of the Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act.
• Restore America's Estuaries, endorsement of the Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act.
• San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR), endorsement of the Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act.
• Save the Bay, endorsement of the Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act.
• Surfrider Foundation, endorsement of the Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act.