MAPWaters Act of 2025
3/6/2025, 9:06 AMSummary of Bill HR 187
Bill 119 HR 187, also known as the "Outdoor Recreation Data Sharing and Standardization Act," aims to improve the management of public outdoor recreational use of Federal waterways by standardizing, consolidating, and publishing data among various Federal land and water management agencies. The bill seeks to enhance coordination and communication between these agencies to ensure that accurate and up-to-date information is readily available to the public.Specifically, the bill requires Federal land and water management agencies to collect and share data on public outdoor recreational use of Federal waterways, including information on visitor numbers, activities, and economic impact. This data will be standardized and consolidated into a centralized database, making it easier for agencies to track trends, identify areas of high use, and make informed decisions regarding resource allocation and management.
In addition to data sharing and standardization, the bill also includes provisions for the development of a national strategy for outdoor recreation data collection and reporting. This strategy will outline best practices for data collection, analysis, and dissemination, ensuring that agencies are using consistent methods and metrics to measure recreational use across Federal waterways. Overall, Bill 119 HR 187 aims to improve the management of public outdoor recreational use of Federal waterways by promoting collaboration and transparency among Federal land and water management agencies. By standardizing data collection and sharing practices, the bill seeks to enhance the overall quality of information available to the public and support more effective decision-making in the management of Federal waterways for recreational use.
Congressional Summary of HR 187
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 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.
