The bill mandates that within 31 months of its enactment, the Secretary must create these data standards, and further requires that by four years post-enactment, related geographic information system data is accessible through a public website. This initiative is expected to facilitate better public knowledge about fishing regulations and access, thereby enhancing recreational use of waterways and promoting responsible fishing within federal jurisdictions. It aims to empower users with up-to-date information regarding access, boating restrictions, and restrictions related to fishing activities.
Summary
SB3889, officially titled the Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act, aims to enhance the management of federal waterways by establishing a framework for the standardization, publication, and accessibility of data related to public outdoor recreational use. This bill outlines the responsibilities of the Secretary of Commerce in developing data standards for collecting and disseminating geospatial information related to federal waterways and fishing restriction areas. The captured data is intended to be made available online for public access, contributing to improved transparency for activities on federal waterways.
Contention
While the bill appears beneficial for recreational users, it also carries implications for existing regulations governing federal waterways. By emphasizing data standardization and accessibility, critics have raised concerns regarding how this might alter existing regulations or jurisdictional authority of state agencies. The language of the bill includes stipulations that maintain current regulations and clarify that it should not modify the jurisdiction of federal or state agencies over navigable waters, potentially addressing concerns about local autonomy in regulating water usage and fishing activities.
Modernizing Access to our Public Waters Act or the MAPWaters Act of 2025 or the MAPWaters Act of 2025This bill directs the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to standardize and publish data relating to 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. Finally, the Forest Service and Interior must develop a process to allow members of the public to submit questions or comments regarding the data regarding waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation information.
Modernizing Access to our Public Waters Act or the MAPWaters Act of 2025 or the MAPWaters Act of 2025This bill directs the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to standardize and publish data relating to 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. Finally, the Forest Service and Interior must develop a process to allow members of the public to submit questions or comments regarding the data regarding waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation information.