Bill > HR187

This bill, known as the Modernizing Access to our Public Waters Act of 2025 (MAPWaters Act), aims to standardize, consolidate, and publish data about public outdoor recreational use of federal waterways. The bill requires five federal agencies (Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Forest Service) to develop interagency standards for geospatial data within 30 months of enactment. Within five years, these agencies must digitize and publicly share online comprehensive geographic information system (GIS) data about federal waterway restrictions, access points, and fishing regulations. This will include detailed information such as seasonal closures, boat launch locations, water depths, specific restrictions on watercraft and fishing activities, and navigation details. The agencies are encouraged to collaborate with state, tribal, and private sector partners and may work with the U.S. Geological Survey to collect and publish the data. They are required to submit annual progress reports to congressional committees from 2025 to 2034. Importantly, the bill explicitly states that it does not modify existing definitions of navigable waters, change agency jurisdictions, or alter current water accessibility for recreational activities.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/187/all-info