Each leader must put water rules on maps online. They have five years. The maps cover closed spots, boat limits, ramps, depth and fishing. This part also sets how often the maps get new data. It leaves two things out.
The document says “shall”Who acts: the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the InteriorHow: statuteSec. 4 in the PDF
What the document says
“Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, each of the Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable, shall digitize and make publicly available online, as applicable, geographic information system data that includes, with respect to Federal waterway restrictions--”
Within 5 years of enactment, each Secretary must, to the maximum extent practicable, digitize and publish online geographic information system data on Federal waterway restrictions. The subsection lists six kinds: the conditions under which waterways are open or closed to entry or watercraft, including inspection and decontamination requirements, low-elevation aircraft and diving; seasonal closure dates; areas with limits on motorized propulsion, horsepower or fuel type; areas with anchoring restrictions, no wake zones, exclusion zones, danger areas or vessel speed limits; restrictions on direction of travel; and which uses are restricted on each area, from paddlecraft and rafts to airboats, hovercraft, oceangoing ships and swimming.
What the document actually says
“Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, each of the Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable, shall digitize and make publicly available online, as applicable, geographic information system data that includes, with respect to Federal waterway restrictions--”
That sentence, in plain words
Each leader must put this map data online. It must be up within five years. They must do as much as they can.
What this is about
The data shows when waters are open or shut. It shows limits on motors and speed. It shows which craft may be used. It shows no wake zones and closed spots.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the InteriorHow: statuteSec. 4 in the PDF
What the document says
“shall digitize and make publicly available online, as applicable, geographic information system data that includes, with respect to Federal waterway access and navigation information-- (1)(A) the location of boat ramps, portages, and fishing access sites under the authority of the Federal land or water management agency;”
Within 5 years of enactment, each Secretary must, to the maximum extent practicable, digitize and publish online geographic information system data on access and navigation: the location of boat ramps, portages and fishing access sites under the authority of the Federal land or water management agency, the dates those facilities and sites are open or closed, and bathymetric information and depth charts, as feasible.
What the document actually says
“shall digitize and make publicly available online, as applicable, geographic information system data that includes, with respect to Federal waterway access and navigation information-- (1)(A) the location of boat ramps, portages, and fishing access sites under the authority of the Federal land or water management agency;”
That sentence, in plain words
The map data must show where boats can be put in. It must show carry paths and fishing spots. These must be run by one of the five agencies.
What this is about
The maps must give the dates each spot is open or shut. They must show water depth where that can be done. The same five year date applies.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the InteriorHow: statuteSec. 4 in the PDF
What the document says
“Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, each of the Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable, shall digitize and make publicly available online geographic information system data that describes, with respect to Federal fishing restrictions--”
Within 5 years of enactment, each Secretary must, to the maximum extent practicable, digitize and publish online geographic information system data describing Federal fishing restrictions: the location and geographic boundaries of restrictions on recreational and commercial fishing, including full or partial closures, no-take zones and restrictions within or surrounding marine protected areas; restrictions on the use of specific types of equipment or bait; and Federal requirements with respect to catch and release.
What the document actually says
“Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, each of the Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable, shall digitize and make publicly available online geographic information system data that describes, with respect to Federal fishing restrictions--”
That sentence, in plain words
Each leader must put fishing limits on maps online. They have five years. They must do as much as they can.
What this is about
The maps show where fishing is shut down. Some spots let no one take fish. The maps show limits on gear and bait. They show where a fish must go back in the water.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the InteriorHow: statuteSec. 4 in the PDF
What the document says
“The Secretaries shall develop a process to allow members of the public to submit questions or comments regarding the information described in subsections (a) and (b).”
The Secretaries must develop a process by which members of the public can submit questions or comments about the information described in subsections (a) and (b), the waterway restriction data and the access and navigation data. The subsection sets no deadline and names no subsection beyond those two.
What the document actually says
“The Secretaries shall develop a process to allow members of the public to submit questions or comments regarding the information described in subsections (a) and (b).”
That sentence, in plain words
The leaders must set up a way for people to ask questions. People can send comments too. This covers the first two sets of data.
What this is about
The first set is about limits on water use. The second is about ramps and depth. The law does not say when this must be ready.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the InteriorHow: statuteSec. 4 in the PDF
What the document says
“The Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable, shall update-- (1) the data described in subsections (a) and (b) not less frequently than 2 times per year; and (2) the data described in subsection (c) in real time as changes go into effect.”
The Secretaries must update the waterway restriction data and the access and navigation data at least twice a year, and must update the fishing restriction data in real time as changes take effect. Both duties are qualified by the words to the maximum extent practicable.
What the document actually says
“The Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable, shall update-- (1) the data described in subsections (a) and (b) not less frequently than 2 times per year; and (2) the data described in subsection (c) in real time as changes go into effect.”
That sentence, in plain words
The leaders must keep the data fresh. Two of the sets get new data twice a year or more. The fishing data must change as soon as a rule does.
What this is about
Fishing rules can change fast. That is the set that must keep up in real time. The words as much as they can apply here too.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall not”Who acts: CongressHow: statuteSec. 4 in the PDF
What the document says
“This section shall not apply to irrigation canals and flowage easements.”
Section 4 does not reach irrigation canals or flowage easements. Neither term is defined in section 2.
What the document actually says
“This section shall not apply to irrigation canals and flowage easements.”
That sentence, in plain words
This part does not cover farm water channels. It does not cover flowage easements.
What this is about
A canal that carries farm water is left out. So is a flowage easement. The law does not say what either term means. The rest of the section still holds.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall not”Who acts: the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the InteriorHow: statuteSec. 4 in the PDF
What the document says
“Any geographic information system data made publicly available under this section shall not disclose information regarding the nature, location, character, or ownership of historic, paleontological, or archaeological resources, consistent with applicable law.”
Data published under section 4 must not disclose information about the nature, location, character or ownership of historic, paleontological or archaeological resources, consistent with applicable law.
What the document actually says
“Any geographic information system data made publicly available under this section shall not disclose information regarding the nature, location, character, or ownership of historic, paleontological, or archaeological resources, consistent with applicable law.”
That sentence, in plain words
The maps must not show old sites. They must not say what a site is. They must not say who owns it.
What this is about
Some sites hold old bones. Some hold things made long ago. Some are places of history. Those must be left off the maps.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
Modernizing Access to our Public Waters Act of 2025, Public Law 119-62, sec. 4, 139 Stat. 1980 (2025). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-119publ62/html/PLAW-119publ62.htm
This page
“Data Consolidation and Publication,” Modernizing Access to our Public Waters Act of 2025, section 4. Read the Mandate, https://readthemandate.org/modernizing-access-our-public-waters-act-2025/section-4/ (retrieved August 26, 2026).
Cite the document when the claim is about what the document says. Cite this page when the indexing, the wording or the record of what has happened is what is being relied on.
What This Page Covers, and What It Leaves Out
Each of the section's seven subsections: the three publication duties in subsections (a), (b) and (c), the public comment process in subsection (d), the update frequencies in subsection (e), the exclusion in subsection (f), and the disclosure bar in subsection (g).
The full enumerated lists under subsections (a) and (c) are summarized rather than quoted item by item, because a quotation is capped at 90 words. The section's own text is linked and can be read in full.
All three publication duties are qualified by the words to the maximum extent practicable, and the section does not say who judges what is practicable. The public comment process in subsection (d) carries no deadline, and its text reaches the data in subsections (a) and (b) without naming subsection (c).
