The U.S. Senate passed a bill just before Christmas that, while intended for the duck hunting community, could have a positive impact on anglers across the country, as well. The Modernizing Access to Our Public Waters Act, or MAPWaters Act, will require federal agencies to digitize and publish water and fishing access points, along with recreational use information, for every waterbody that’s either managed outright, or partially managed, by federal agencies, according to Split Reed.
In theory, this should add clarity to access points and recreational regulations for areas that don’t have that information already clearly spelled out. In some cases, access sites via federally managed land connect to angling and conservation easements managed by state agencies, and that information isn’t always easily available. Digitizing that information and publishing it online should, in theory, make it crystal-clear where anglers are allowed to fish and access different bodies of water.
The bill was sponsored by John Barrasso of Wyoming, and Angus King of Maine, in the Senate. It found bipartisan support in the House, and President Donald Trump is expected to quickly sign it into law, per Split Reed.
“For hunters, anglers, and paddlers, knowing where to legally and responsibly access our waterways is essential,” said Laura Orvidas, onX CEO. “By digitizing complex water access information, this legislation provides the outdoor community with the critical data they need to access, explore, and protect our public waters. We’re proud to support this effort to make water access more transparent and available—both now and for future generations.”