Modernizing Access to our Public Waters Act of 2025; MAPWaters Act of 2025
Summary
The Modernizing Access to our Public Waters Act of 2025, also known as the MAPWaters Act of 2025, aims to standardize, consolidate, and publish data related to public outdoor recreational use of Federal waterways. This involves collaboration among Federal land and water management agencies to improve data compatibility and accessibility. The Act focuses on digitizing and making available online geographic information system (GIS) data regarding waterway restrictions, access points, and fishing regulations.
Expected Effects
The Act will lead to increased transparency and ease of access to information regarding the use of federal waterways for recreational purposes. This will likely result in better-informed decisions by the public regarding their use of these resources. It also mandates interagency cooperation and data standardization, which could improve efficiency and reduce redundancies.
Potential Benefits
- Improved public access to information regarding waterway restrictions and access points.
- Standardization of data across different federal agencies, making it easier to use.
- Potential for better-informed recreational activities and improved safety.
- Enhanced collaboration between federal and non-federal entities.
- Increased transparency in the management of federal waterways.
Potential Disadvantages
- The Act relies on the Secretaries to implement the digitization and publication of data, which may be subject to delays or inconsistencies.
- The exclusion of irrigation canals and flowage easements may limit the scope of the Act's impact.
- The Act does not address the underlying issues that lead to waterway restrictions, such as pollution or overuse.
- There may be costs associated with digitizing and maintaining the data, which could strain agency budgets.
- The Act's effectiveness depends on the public's ability to access and utilize the online data.
Constitutional Alignment
The MAPWaters Act aligns with the Constitution by promoting the general welfare through improved access to and management of public resources. While the Constitution does not explicitly address recreational waterway management, the Act falls under the implied powers necessary to execute the enumerated powers related to federal lands and interstate commerce. The Act does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).