Public Lands Victory!

 

link to that MAPLand Act blog from TRCP

New easement data now available to the public and digital mapping companies

In a major win for public access, federal land management agencies have completed a key first step in implementing the 2022 Modernizing Access to our Public Land Act by publishing 30,000 records of easements and reservations that secure public rights-of-way across private land. The newly available data has been released through the MAPLand ARC GIS Hub, making it easier for hunters, anglers, outdoor recreationists, land managers, and mapping companies to identify and use legal access routes to enjoy and effectively manage public lands.

“One of the first of my bills to be enacted into law was the MAPLand Act,” said Representative Blake Moore of Utah. “Utah is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in our country, but more often than not, there are no digitized maps of the public lands that hunters, fishers, and hikers use every day. I’m thrilled that this law is now being implemented across the country and for the impact that it will have on recreators everywhere. With more accurate and accessible information, Americans will have a greater ability to spend time outdoors on federal lands.”

“Forest Service manages over 193 million acres of public lands offering some of the most accessible gateways to the outdoors, meeting a wide range of public needs and interests,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “Nearly 200 million Americans hike, hunt, fish and recreate outdoors, much of the time on federal lands. With consistent geospatial data covering all federal lands, recreationists now have the tools they need to make informed decisions about public access easements to reach their favorite outdoor destinations responsibly and safely.”

This milestone represents a step toward fulfilling Executive Order 14313, which established the Make America Beautiful Again Commission and includes direction for agencies to expand access to public lands and waters for recreation, hunting, and fishing.

“TRCP is grateful for the work of the federal land management agencies in digitizing and publishing information about the location of public access easements, which advances the priorities of the MABA Commission,” said Joel Webster, chief conservation officer for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “This is an important first milestone in implementing the MAPLand Act. TRCP looks forward to working with the agencies to ensure the remaining access records and the additional recreation information required under this law are digitized and made publicly available.”

The MAPLand Act is designed to enhance access to existing public lands by requiring federal land management agencies to digitize paper maps and records. At the four-year implementation mark, agencies were required to make access easements and reservations that secure public rights-of-way across private land digitally available. While that work is not complete, the release of 30,000 records represents meaningful progress.

The U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and National Park Service all contributed to this new set of digitized access easements and reservations. Other MAPLand requirements—including year-round or seasonal road and trail closures, vehicle-specific road restrictions, and boundaries of areas where special hunting and shooting rules apply—have an additional year before they will be published.

“At onX, we believe that access to data and access to land go hand in hand,” said Laura Orvidas, CEO for onX. “The remarkable effort that went into digitizing and publishing these 30,000 easement records reflects real expertise and dedication from the land management agencies, and we’re deeply grateful for it. Whether you’re a hunter, angler, hiker, horseback rider, or simply someone who cherishes time outdoors, easements provide the connective tissue between you and the public lands you have a right to explore.”

“Hunters value access because access creates opportunity—to hunt, connect with the land, and carry forward our outdoor traditions,” said Greg Sheehan, CEO for the Mule Deer Foundation. “MAPLand’s work to improve public access information is an important step in helping sportsmen and women enjoy the public lands they own. The Mule Deer Foundation appreciates this progress and the commitment to keeping public lands accessible.”

“This is a meaningful step toward unlocking more opportunities for Americans to get outside,” said Whitney Potter Schwartz, senior vice president for the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. “By digitizing and publishing these easements, federal agencies are not only expanding access to public lands and waters, but also empowering innovation through modern mapping tools and technology that help people confidently and responsibly explore the outdoors. Increased access fuels participation, supports local communities, and strengthens the $1.3 trillion outdoor recreation economy. We look forward to continued progress, including implementing the EXPLORE Act, to ensure that more Americans can experience the benefits of the outdoors while driving economic growth nationwide.”

“The Wild Sheep Foundation thanks the administration for its commitment to MAPLand,” said Gray N. Thornton, President and CEO for the Wild Sheep Foundation. “This way of knowing what treasures of nature are available to all Americans is part of what makes America great!”

Explore the newly digitized access easements and rights-of-way to federal public lands HERE.

Learn more about TRCP’s work to modernize access to public lands and waters HERE.