---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 8443"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "8443"
heading: "Monitoring for improved recreation decision making"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/8443"
units:
  - "Chapter 103 — Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences"
  - "Subchapter I — Outdoor Recreation and Infrastructure"
  - "Part C — Supporting Gateway Communities and Addressing Park Overcrowding"
---

# §8443. Monitoring for improved recreation decision making

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretaries](/usc/16/8401.md?p=6) shall seek to capture comprehensive recreation use data to better understand and inform decision making by the [Secretaries](/usc/16/8401.md?p=6).
- (b) **Pilot protocols—** Not later than 1 year after January 4, 2025, and after public notice and comment, the [Secretaries](/usc/16/8401.md?p=6) shall establish pilot protocols at not fewer than 10 land management [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) under the jurisdiction of each of the [Secretaries](/usc/16/8401.md?p=6) to model recreation use patterns (including low-use recreation activities and dispersed recreation activities) that may not be effectively measured by existing general and opportunistic survey and monitoring protocols.
- (c) **Secretaries defined—** In this section, the term “[Secretaries](/usc/16/8401.md?p=6)” means—
  - (1) the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7), with respect to lands under the jurisdiction of the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7);
  - (2) the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, with respect to lands under the jurisdiction of the Forest Service;
  - (3) the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) of Commerce, acting through the [Administrator](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=a) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with respect to Federal waters under the jurisdiction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
  - (4) the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) of Army for Civil Works, with respect to lakes and reservoirs under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 118–234, title I, § 133, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2862.)