1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act of 2024 . 2. Emergency forest watershed program (a) Funding and administration Section 404(b) of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 2204(b) ) is amended by inserting to carry out section 401 after for a fiscal year . (b) Emergency forest watershed program Title IV of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 2201 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 408. Emergency forest watershed program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Emergency watershed protection measures The term emergency watershed protection measures means measures that— (A) are necessary to address runoff retardation, soil-erosion prevention, and flood mitigation caused by a natural disaster or any other natural occurrence that has caused a sudden impairment to natural resources on National Forest System land, and the damage, if not treated— (i) would significantly impair or endanger the natural resources on the National Forest System land; and (ii) would pose an immediate risk to water resources or loss of life or property downstream of the National Forest System land; and (B) would maintain or restore forest health and forest-related resources on the National Forest System land. (2) Natural disaster The term natural disaster has the meaning given the term in section 407(a). (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service. (4) Sponsor The term sponsor means— (A) a State or local government; (B) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5304 )); and (C) a water district, water conservation district, water utility, or special district. (b) Authorization The Secretary, acting through a sponsor, is authorized to undertake emergency watershed protection measures on National Forest System land. (c) Agreements