MAPWaters Act would standardize, consolidate, and publish data about public outdoor recreation on federal waterways, including fishing restrictions. It requires interagency agreement on data standards and the digitization of key datasets, with public online access within a defined timeline.
The bill also creates processes for public comment and ongoing updates to ensure data remains current for planners, researchers, and the public. The goal is to reduce data fragmentation across agencies and to support safer, more informed recreational use of federal waterways.
At a Glance
What It Does
Not later than 30 months after enactment, federal agencies must develop and adopt interagency geospatial data standards to ensure compatible datasets on public waterway access and fishing restrictions. Within 5 years, agencies must digitize and publish online GIS data describing restrictions, access sites, and related uses.
Who It Affects
Federal land and water management agencies (NPS, BLM, USFS, FWS, BOR) and the public who rely on navigational and access data, plus private sector geospatial firms that build or host data portals.
Why It Matters
Establishing interoperable data standards and public access improves planning, safety, and compliance for recreation, conservation, and resource management across the federal portfolio.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The MAPWaters Act directs federal agencies to work together to create common data standards for geospatial information about public recreation on federally managed waterways. The core idea is to merge disparate datasets so that everyone—from agency staff to boaters and outfitters—uses the same, up-to-date information.
The act defines the agencies involved and the types of data to be standardized, including where waterways are open or closed, seasonal closures, and restrictions on propulsion, anchoring, speed, or uses. It also covers access and navigation data like boat ramps, fishing access sites, and bathymetric charts.
A key mechanism is the Interagency Data Standardization obligation, requiring the FGDC-backed standards within 30 months. The Data Consolidation and Publication provisions then require digitization and online publication within 5 years, with data updated at least twice per year and real-time updates for fishing restrictions where possible.
The bill tasks agencies to accept public comments on the datasets and to coordinate with the US Geological Survey to leverage existing data infrastructures. It also includes exclusions (irrigation canals and flowage easements) and preserves existing authority over navigable waters, fishing regulation, and access decisions.
The result should be a transparent, centralized data layer that supports planning, enforcement, and outdoor recreation decisions by a range of stakeholders.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill sets a 30-month deadline to develop interagency geospatial data standards coordinated with the FGDC.
Within 5 years, agencies must digitize and publicly publish GIS data on restrictions, statuses, and uses for federal waterways.
Datasets must cover open/closed statuses, seasonal closures, propulsion restrictions, anchoring zones, travel directions, and uses.
Public comment on the published data is required, and updates must occur at least twice per year (with real-time updates for fishing restrictions).
Irrigation canals and flowage easements are excluded from the data publication requirements.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Interagency data standardization
This section requires the Secretaries, working with the Federal Geographic Data Committee, to develop and adopt interagency geospatial data standards within 30 months. The goal is to ensure compatibility and interoperability among federal databases that track public waterway access and fishing restrictions. This standardization is the backbone for reliable cross-agency data sharing and public dissemination.
Federal waterway restrictions—publication of statuses and rules
Not later than 5 years after enactment, the Secretaries must digitize and publish online GIS data showing when waterways are open or closed, and the conditions attached to access (e.g., watercraft inspections, decontamination, low-elevation aircraft, or diving requirements). It also covers restrictions on propulsion, horsepower, fuel types, and related usage limits that govern entry into specific areas.
Waterway access and navigation information
This subsection obligates publication of access infrastructure data, including boat ramps, portages, and fishing access sites, plus the dates they are open or closed. It also asks for bathymetric information and depth charts where feasible to aid navigation and planning.
Federal fishing restrictions data
Agencies must publish the locations and boundaries of fishing restrictions—such as closures, no-take zones, and areas within or around marine protected areas—and any gear or catch-related restrictions. The published data should also reflect catch-and-release requirements where applicable.
Public comment mechanism
The Act creates a process for the public to submit questions or comments about the information described in subsections (a) and (b). This mechanism is meant to improve data quality, transparency, and trust in the published datasets.
Data updates
Data must be updated not less frequently than twice per year, with fishing-restriction data updated in real time as changes take effect. This cadence is designed to keep the public and managers aligned with current conditions and regulations.
Cooperation and coordination
The Secretaries may partner with state and tribal natural resource agencies, private sector tech firms, geospatial data companies, and data science experts to carry out the Act. They may also contract third parties to implement provisions, and they may work with the USGS to collect, aggregate, and publish data on behalf of the Secretaries.
Reports
The Secretaries must submit progress reports to relevant congressional committees not later than one year after enactment and annually thereafter through 2034, detailing how they are meeting the Act’s requirements and advancing interagency data standardization and publication.
Effect
This section clarifies that nothing in the Act changes navigable-water definitions, agency authority to regulate waters, fisheries jurisdiction, or hunting and fishing accessibility as of enactment. It preserves existing legal authorities and does not mandate broader access than current law.
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Who Benefits
- Public waterway users (boaters, anglers, paddlers) gain clearer, centralized access information and safer planning tools.
- Federal land and water management agencies gain a unified data framework, reducing siloed data and enabling consistent decision-making.
- State and Tribal natural resource agencies can align with federal standards, improving coordination and data sharing across jurisdictions.
- Geospatial data and mapping firms can participate through data services and platforms, supporting the public data ecosystem.
Who Bears the Cost
- Federal agencies bear the upfront and ongoing costs of digitization, standardization, hosting, and updating large geospatial datasets.
- Private sector contractors and third-party data providers may incur costs to build, maintain, and operate the data portals and services.
- State and Tribal agencies may incur costs to align their systems and processes with federal standards and to integrate datasets with existing workflows.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
Balancing comprehensive, interoperable public data with the real-world constraints of agency IT systems, funding, and data stewardship—implementing broad, centralized datasets while preserving agency autonomy and data sensitivity.
The act creates a substantial data infrastructure project across multiple agencies. The benefits—transparency, interoperability, and better planning—must be weighed against the cost of digitizing, maintaining, and updating complex datasets across agencies with varying IT capabilities and budgets.
The public data must be accessible while avoiding disclosure of sensitive information about archaeological or paleontological resources, and the act preserves existing authority over navigable waters, fisheries, and outdoor-recreation access. Implementation will require careful governance to avoid creating bottlenecks or delays in data publication and to ensure that tribal and state data rights are respected within the standardized framework.
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