H.R. 187 · Signed into law · Public Lands and Natural Resources

MAPWaters Act of 2025

What it does

Direct the Forest Service and Department of the Interior to jointly develop and adopt interagency standards for collecting and sharing geospatial data on public access to federal waterways and fishing restrictions.
Require the agencies to digitize and publish online geographic information system data on federal waterway restrictions, waterway access and navigation information, and fishing restrictions within five years.
Mandate updates to waterway restriction and navigation data at least twice per year, and real-time updates to fishing restriction data.
Establish a public process allowing citizens to submit questions and comments about waterway restrictions, access, and navigation information.

Official summary

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…

Latest action

Dec 26, 2025: Became Public Law No: 119-62.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources