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This bill would make it easier for the public to find clear, up-to-date information about access to federal waterways for boating, fishing, and other outdoor recreation. It directs federal land and water agencies to work together to use the same data standards, combine information from different sources, and post maps and other location data online. The goal is to show where waterways are open or closed, where there are fishing limits, and where people can launch boats, fish, or navigate safely. It also sets rules for how often the information must be updated and makes sure the bill does not change who controls the waters or how fishing and boating are regulated.
- Within 30 months, the Interior and Agriculture departments must create shared standards so federal databases work together better and geospatial data is compatible across agencies.
- Within 5 years, agencies must publish online maps and data on waterway restrictions, access points, navigation details, and fishing limits, including closures, no-wake zones, motor limits, and catch-and-release rules.
- The bill requires updates to waterway access and restriction data at least twice a year, while fishing restriction data must be updated in real time when changes take effect.
- Agencies may work with states, tribes, universities, private companies, nonprofit groups, and the U.S. Geological Survey, and they must report progress to Congress each year through 2034.
Official Summaries
Modernizing Access to our Public Waters Act or the MAPWaters Act of 2025 or the MAPWaters Act of 2025
This bill directs the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to standardize and publish data relating to the public's access to federal waterways for recreational use.
Specifically, the Forest Service and Interior must jointly develop and adopt interagency standards for data collection and dissemination of geospatial data relating to public outdoor recreational access of federal waterways and federal fishing restrictions. The standards must ensure compatibility and interoperability among applicable federal databases with respect to collection and dissemination of such data.
Within five years, the Forest Service and Interior must also digitize and make publicly available online certain geographic information system data about (1) federal waterway restrictions, (2) federal waterway access and navigation information, and (3) federal fishing restrictions. They must also update the data about waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation information at least twice per year. Data about fishing restrictions must be updated in real time as changes go into effect.
Finally, the Forest Service and Interior must develop a process to allow members of the public to submit questions or comments regarding the data regarding waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation information.
Modernizing Access to our Public Waters Act or the MAPWaters Act of 2025 or the MAPWaters Act of 2025
This act directs the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to standardize and publish data relating to the public's access to federal waterways for recreational use.
(Sec. 3) The Forest Service and Interior must jointly develop and adopt interagency standards for data collection and dissemination of geospatial data relating to public outdoor recreational access of federal waterways and federal fishing restrictions. The standards must ensure compatibility and interoperability among applicable federal databases with respect to collection and dissemination of such data.
(Sec. 4) Within five years, the Forest Service and Interior must also digitize and make publicly available online certain geographic information system data about (1) federal waterway restrictions, (2) federal waterway access and navigation information, and (3) federal fishing restrictions. They must also update the data about waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation information at least twice per year. Data about fishing restrictions must be updated in real time as changes go into effect.
The Forest Service and Interior must also develop a process to allow members of the public to submit questions or comments regarding the data regarding waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation information.
The requirements under this section do not apply to irrigation canals and flowage easements.
(Sec. 5) To carry out the act, the Forest Service and Interior may (1) coordinate and partner with nonfederal agencies, private entities, and nonprofit partners; and (2) enter into agreements with third parties.
The Forest Service and Interior may work with the U.S. Geological Survey to collect, aggregate, digitize, standardize, and publish data on their behalf.
(Sec. 6) The Forest Service and Interior must annually report to specified congressional committees on their progress in meeting the requirements of this act.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 187 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
H.R.187
One Hundred Nineteenth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday,
the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-five
An Act
To provide for the standardization, consolidation, and publication of
data relating to public outdoor recreational use of Federal waterways
among Federal land and water management agencies, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Modernizing Access to our Public
Waters Act of 2025'' or the ``MAPWaters Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Federal fishing restriction.--The term ``Federal fishing
restriction'' means a defined area in which all or certain fishing
activities are temporarily or permanently prohibited or restricted
by a Federal land or water management agency.
(2) Federal land or water management agency.--The term
``Federal land or water management agency'' means--
(A) the Bureau of Reclamation;
(B) the National Park Service;
(C) the Bureau of Land Management;
(D) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and
(E) the Forest Service.
(3) Federal waterway.--The term ``Federal waterway'' means
waters managed by 1 or more of the relevant Secretaries.
(4) Federal waterway restriction.--The term ``Federal waterway
restriction'' means a restriction on the access or use of a Federal
waterway applied under applicable law by 1 or more of the
Secretaries.
(5) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means--
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief
of the Forest Service; and
(B) the Secretary of the Interior.
(6) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
States, the District of Columbia, and each territory of the United
States.
SEC. 3. INTERAGENCY DATA STANDARDIZATION.
Not later than 30 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretaries, in coordination with the Federal Geographic Data
Committee established by section 753(a) of the FAA Reauthorization Act
of 2018 (43 U.S.C. 2802(a)), shall jointly develop and adopt
interagency standards to ensure compatibility and interoperability
among applicable Federal databases with respect to the collection and
dissemination of geospatial data relating to public outdoor
recreational access of Federal waterways and Federal fishing
restrictions.
SEC. 4. DATA CONSOLIDATION AND PUBLICATION.
(a) Federal Waterway Restrictions.--Not later than 5 years after
the date of enactment of this Act, each of the Secretaries, to the
maximum extent practicable, shall digitize and make publicly available
online, as applicable, geographic information system data that
includes, with respect to Federal waterway restrictions--
(1) status information with respect to the conditions under
which Federal waterways are open or closed to entry or watercraft,
including watercraft inspection, decontamination requirements, low-
elevation aircraft, or diving;
(2) the dates on which Federal waterways are seasonally closed
to entry or watercraft;
(3) the areas of Federal waterways with restrictions on
motorized propulsion, horsepower, or fuel type;
(4) the areas of Federal waterways with anchoring restrictions,
no wake zones, exclusion zones, danger areas, or vessel speed
restrictions;
(5) Federal waterway restrictions on the direction of travel,
including upstream or downstream travel; and
(6) the uses, including by watercraft, that are restricted on
each area of a Federal waterway, including the permissibility of--
(A) canoes and other paddlecraft;
(B) rafts and driftboats;
(C) motorboats;
(D) personal watercraft;
(E) airboats;
(F) amphibious aircraft;
(G) hovercraft;
(H) oversnow vehicles and other motorized vehicles on
frozen bodies of water;
(I) oceangoing ships;
(J) swimming; and
(K) other applicable recreational activities, as determined
to be appropriate by the Secretaries.
(b) Federal Waterway Access and Navigation Information.--Not later
than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, each of the
Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable, shall digitize and make
publicly available online, as applicable, geographic information system
data that includes, with respect to Federal waterway access and
navigation information--
(1)(A) the location of boat ramps, portages, and fishing access
sites under the authority of the Federal land or water management
agency; and
(B) the identification of the dates on which the facilities
and sites identified under subparagraph (A) are open or closed,
as applicable; and
(2) bathymetric information and depth charts, as feasible.
(c) Federal Fishing Restrictions.--Not later than 5 years after the
date of enactment of this Act, each of the Secretaries, to the maximum
extent practicable, shall digitize and make publicly available online
geographic information system data that describes, with respect to
Federal fishing restrictions--
(1) the location and geographic boundaries of Federal fishing
restrictions on recreational and commercial fishing, including--
(A) full or partial closures;
(B) no-take zones; and
(C) Federal fishing restrictions within or surrounding
marine protected areas;
(2) Federal fishing restrictions on the use of specific types
of equipment or bait; and
(3) Federal requirements with respect to catch and release.
(d) Public Comment.--The Secretaries shall develop a process to
allow members of the public to submit questions or comments regarding
the information described in subsections (a) and (b).
(e) Updates.--The Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable,
shall update--
(1) the data described in subsections (a) and (b) not less
frequently than 2 times per year; and
(2) the data described in subsection (c) in real time as
changes go into effect.
(f) Exclusion.--This section shall not apply to irrigation canals
and flowage easements.
(g) Disclosure.--Any geographic information system data made
publicly available under this section shall not disclose information
regarding the nature, location, character, or ownership of historic,
paleontological, or archaeological resources, consistent with
applicable law.
SEC. 5. COOPERATION AND COORDINATION.
(a) Community Partners and Third-party Providers.--For purposes of
carrying out this Act, the Secretaries may--
(1) coordinate and partner with non-Federal agencies and
private sector and nonprofit partners, including--
(A) State natural resource agencies;
(B) Tribal natural resource agencies;
(C) technology companies;
(D) geospatial data companies; and
(E) experts in data science, analytics, and operations
research; and
(2) enter into an agreement with a third party to carry out any
provision of this Act.
(b) United States Geological Survey.--The Secretaries may work with
the Director of the United States Geological Survey to collect,
aggregate, digitize, standardize, and publish data on behalf of the
Secretaries to meet the requirements of this Act.
(c) Requirement.--With respect to data developed and distributed
under this Act, the Secretaries shall--
(1) develop the data in accordance with applicable Federal,
State, and Tribal laws (including regulations); and
(2) include a notice that any geospatial data are subject to
applicable Federal, State, and Tribal laws (including regulations).
(d) Existing Efforts.--To the extent practicable, the Secretary
concerned shall use or incorporate existing applicable data, maps, and
resources in carrying out this Act, including data, maps, and resources
developed and published under--
(1) the Modernizing Access to Our Public Land Act (16 U.S.C.
6851 et seq.);
(2) section 103 of division DD of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2023 (43 U.S.C. 776); or
(3) other applicable law.
SEC. 6. REPORTS.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and
annually thereafter through March 30, 2034, the Secretaries shall
submit a report that describes the progress made by the Secretaries
with respect to meeting the requirements of this Act to--
(1) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives;
(2) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives;
(3) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives;
(4) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate; and
(5) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of
the Senate.
SEC. 7. EFFECT.
Nothing in this Act--
(1) modifies or alters the definition of the term ``navigable
waters'' under Federal law;
(2) affects the jurisdiction or authority of State or Federal
agencies to regulate navigable waters;
(3) modifies or alters the authority or jurisdiction of Federal
or State agencies to manage fisheries; or
(4) authorizes or is intended to result in a change in the
accessibility of waters open to hunting, fishing, or other forms of
outdoor recreation as of the date of the enactment of this Act.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.