[119th Congress Public Law 62]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 139 STAT. 1979]]
Public Law 119-62
119th Congress
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. <<NOTE: Dec. 26, 2025 - [H.R. 187]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Modernizing
Access to our Public Waters Act of 2025.>>
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 16 USC 6871 note.>> 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. <<NOTE: 16 USC 6871.>> 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. <<NOTE: Deadline. 16 USC 6872.>> 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
[[Page 139 STAT. 1980]]
collection and dissemination of geospatial data relating to public
outdoor recreational access of Federal waterways and Federal fishing
restrictions.
SEC. 4. <<NOTE: 16 USC 6873.>> DATA CONSOLIDATION AND PUBLICATION.
(a) <<NOTE: Deadline. Public information. Web posting.>> 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 <<NOTE: Deadline. Public information. Web posting.>> 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) <<NOTE: Deadline. Public information. Web posting.>> 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--
[[Page 139 STAT. 1981]]
(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) <<NOTE: Time period.>> 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. <<NOTE: 16 USC 6874.>> 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) <<NOTE: Notice.>> 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.);
[[Page 139 STAT. 1982]]
(2) section 103 of division DD of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2023 (43 U.S.C. 776); or
(3) other applicable law.
SEC. 6. <<NOTE: 16 USC 6875.>> 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. <<NOTE: 16 USC 6876.>> 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.
Approved December 26, 2025.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 187:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 171 (2025):
Jan. 21, considered and passed House.
Dec. 16, considered and passed Senate.
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