MAPWaters Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator John Barrasso
Introduced
Summary
Standardizing and publishing GIS data on Federal waterways to make access, restrictions, and navigation information clear for boaters, anglers, and outdoor visitors. The bill would require five Federal land and water agencies to adopt shared geospatial standards, digitize rules and access points, and put that data online.
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- Families and recreational visitors would get public maps of open or closed waterway areas, boat ramps, fishing access sites, and facility status. Waterway restriction data must be updated at least twice per year and fishing restrictions must update in real time.
- Boaters and anglers would see clearer rules and navigation info. Published data would include seasonal closures, limits on motorized propulsion, anchoring and speed restrictions, direction-of-travel rules, and where paddlecraft or motorboats are permitted. Bathymetry and depth charts must be published where feasible.
- Federal agencies, States, Tribes, and third parties would adopt interagency standards within 30 months and digitize and publish GIS data within 5 years. The bill allows coordination with State and Tribal agencies, technology firms, and the U.S. Geological Survey, and excludes irrigation canals, flowage easements, and sensitive archaeological details from publication.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Federal partnerships for map data
If enacted, the Secretaries could partner with States, Tribes, tech companies, nonprofits, and the USGS to collect and share waterway map data. They could enter agreements with third parties and use existing maps when practicable. This would help improve the quality and availability of map data for recreational and commercial users.
Public waterway maps and rules
If enacted, each Secretary would have to digitize and post GIS maps of Federal fishing rules, waterway access points, and waterway restrictions within 5 years. Interagency data standards must be adopted within 30 months. Agencies must update access and restriction data at least twice a year and update fishing restrictions in real time as rules change.
Public reporting and comment process
If enacted, the Secretaries would send an initial progress report within 1 year and then annual reports through March 30, 2034, to five named congressional committees. They would set up a public comment process for the published map data. Agencies must also include notices that the geospatial data are subject to Federal, State, and Tribal laws.
Sensitive site protection and canal exclusion
If enacted, public map data could not show details about archaeological, historic, or fossil sites, consistent with law. The bill would also exclude irrigation canals and flowage easements from the Act's public map requirements. That means some sensitive sites get protection while some canal features would not be published.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
John Barrasso
WY • R
Cosponsors
Angus King
ME • I
Sponsored 7/31/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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