H.R. 187 · 119th Congress · House

MAPWaters Act of 2025

Signed into LawEnvironment

Introduced 2025-01-03 · Sponsored by Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1] (R-UT) · Last updated 2026-03-31

Last action (2025-12-26): Became Public Law No: 119-62.

Summary

If you've ever tried to figure out where you can legally fish or kayak on federal waterways, you know the information is all over the place. This bill requires the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to standardize and publish data on public access points to federal waterways for recreation. The agencies have to develop shared standards for geospatial data so the information is consistent, compatible, and actually useful to people planning outdoor trips.

Congress.gov — H.R. 187

The Good

Makes public waterway access information freely available

Directs the Forest Service and Interior Department to standardize and publish data on public access points to federal waterways for recreation. Currently this information is scattered across agencies and inconsistent in format.

Congress.gov — H.R. 187

The Bad

Increased access information could lead to overuse of sensitive areas

Making access points easily discoverable could increase recreational pressure on waterways that are currently lightly used because they are hard to find. Some conservation groups worry about impacts to riparian habitats and fisheries.

Congress.gov — H.R. 187