WASHINGTON, DC — The Modernizing Access to Our Public Land Act was signed in April 2022 to ensure consistency in geospatial data related to public recreation. The implementation of the act will ensure map data from the specified federal agencies is compatible across the federal recreation landscape. The Forest Service, in collaboration with the other agencies, has been diligently making progress on the requirements presented.

With the number of facilities, miles of trails, miles of road, recreation sites and easements under Forest Service management, the Forest Service leads the way in data collection, management and publication. Part of our response to this effort has been to minimize impact to the field and ensure the significant efforts already being made in geospatial data are incorporated into the MAPLand implementation. We are already doing very well in data collection, digitization, and external publication.  Current data, not yet in MAPLand standards, can be found at the Forest Service Geodata Clearing House.

The primary goals in the MAPLand Act:

1. Jointly develop and adopt interagency geospatial standards by October 2024 for data related to public recreation access.
2. Collect, digitize and publish standardized geospatial data on agency websites by April 2026 for easements and April 2027 for route and area data.
3. Develop a process to allow members of the public to submit questions or comments regarding the data.

We are making excellent progress on developing the standards in item 1. These standards should not affect field data collection and will provide seamless mapping information and access to the public.

The Forest Service is actively working on addressing a backlog of easement cases. We estimate 69,000 total easement cases. Approximately 46,000 have been added to the Land Status Record System and approximately 23,000 are still in the backlog.

The Forest Service manages 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, comprising 193 million acres in 41 states and Puerto Rico. National Forest outdoor recreation offers the widest possible array of opportunities to experience public lands – lands that are home to three million acres of lakes, 400,000 miles of streams, 122 Wild and Scenic Rivers, 163,000 miles of trails, 370,000 miles of roads, and 10,600 developed recreation sites. This improvement will have an outsized impact on the recreating public, and we are excited to be leading the way.

Recreation agencies have recognized a need for a more streamlined experience for the public. The MAPLand Act effort is just one of several interagency efforts, which also includes FICOR, the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation. The MAPLand Act response is a good example of how the FICOR agencies can work together to better serve the public’s recreation needs.

This is an ongoing process and we anticipate being able to share more with you as more is accomplished. If you have specific questions about the implementation of the MAPLand Act, please contact Kelsey David at kelsey.david@usda.gov.