1. (a) In general There is hereby authorized a comprehensive program to provide for control and progressive eradication of noxious aquatic plant growths from the navigable waters, tributary streams, connecting channels, and other allied waters of the United States, in the combined interest of navigation, flood control, drainage, agriculture, fish and wildlife conservation, public health, and related purposes, including continued research for development of the most effective and economic control measures, to be administered by the Chief of Engineers, under the direction of the Secretary of the Army, in cooperation with other Federal and State agencies. Local interests shall agree to hold and save the United States free from claims that may occur from control operations and to participate to the extent of 30 per centum of the cost of such operations. Costs for research and planning undertaken pursuant to the authorities of this section shall be borne fully by the Federal Government.
2. (b) Appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such amounts, not in excess of $15,000,000 annually, as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. Any such funds employed for control operations shall be allocated by the Chief of Engineers on a priority basis, based upon the urgency and need of each area, and the availability of local funds.
3. (c) Support In carrying out the program under this section, the Secretary is encouraged to use contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants with colleges and universities and other non-Federal entities.

(Pub. L. 85–500, title I, § 104, July 3, 1958, 72 Stat. 300; Pub. L. 89–298, title III, § 302, Oct. 27, 1965, 79 Stat. 1092; Pub. L. 98–63, title I, § 101, July 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 313; Pub. L. 99–662, title IX, § 941, Nov. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 4199; Pub. L. 104–303, title II, § 225, Oct. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 3697; Pub. L. 106–53, title II, § 205, Aug. 17, 1999, 113 Stat. 285.)

Amendments 1999—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–53, § 205(1), substituted “noxious aquatic plant growths from” for “water-hyacinth, alligatorweed, Eurasian water milfoil, melaleuca, and other obnoxious aquatic plant growths, from” in first sentence.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–53, § 205(2), substituted “$15,000,000” for “$12,000,000” in first sentence.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106–53, § 205(3), added subsec. (c).

1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–303 inserted “melaleuca,” after “milfoil,”.

1986—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–662 substituted “$12,000,000” for “$10,000,000”.

1983—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–63 substituted “$10,000,000” for “$5,000,000”.

1965—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 89–298 designated part of existing provisions as subsec. (a), substituting “comprehensive program” and “other allied waters of the United States” for “comprehensive project” and “other allied waters in the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas”, respectively, providing for control and eradication of Eurasian water milfoil, and striking out “in accordance with the report of the Chief of Engineers, published as House Document Numbered 37, Eighty-fifth Congress” after “Federal and State agencies”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 89–298 designated part of existing provisions as subsec. (b), substituting the appropriations authorization of $5,000,000 annually as first sentence for former provisions which authorized “an estimated additional cost for the expanded program over that now underway of $1,350,000 annually for five years, of which 70 per centum, presently estimated at $945,000, shall be borne by the United States and 30 per centum, presently estimated at $405,000, by local interests” and incorporating former second proviso in second sentence.