§8442 Improved recreation visitation data

Summary

Set up one uniform system to report yearly visitor counts for every federal recreation area and, if an Indian Tribe asks, for land held in trust for that Tribe. The system must break visits into consistent activity categories and give an estimated number of visitors for each category at each site. Not later than 1 year after January 4, 2025, and every year after that, the agencies must publish a web report showing annual visitation for each unit and, when possible, showing visits by activity. Within 5 years after January 4, 2025, the agencies must run a Real-Time Data Pilot Program using existing funds. The pilot must share real-time or predictive visitor data for selected sites, for areas inside those sites when practical, and for nearby recreation sites managed by other agencies. The pilot must also promote lesser-known nearby sites through multiple media to help spread visitors. The pilot will include 10 units managed by the Secretary, 5 by the Forest Service, 1 by NOAA, and 1 by the Army Corps of Engineers. Agencies must get local community support before adding a site. They must report to Congress on the pilot and recommendations not later than 6 years after January 4, 2025. Agencies may use existing programs and past data, work with tribes, local governments, tourism groups, tech and data companies, and share information directly or through partners. They may not track a visitor’s movements, read private communications, or collect information from private landowners next to federal sites or from non-Federal land. Definitions (one line each): Federal recreational lands and waters — federal parks, forests, lakes, and similar areas; includes NOAA and Army Corps sites. Secretaries — the federal officials who manage those lands (Interior, Agriculture/Forest Service, Commerce/NOAA, and Army Civil Works).