Download Seamless Wetlands Data

By using the new Wetlands Data Extraction Tool you can download current seamless wetlands data as viewed on the Wetlands Mapper.

Before you begin

The Wetlands Data Extraction Tool uses the USGS topographic quadrangle names for area selection and extraction. If you are unfamiliar with the name of the quadrangle you wish to download you can use the Wetlands Mapper to zoom to your area of interest and view the quadrangle names.

Not all of the United States or U.S. territories have been digitally mapped by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Please use the Wetlands Mapper and the Wetlands Data Availability layer to verify that the area you are selecting has digital data available.

How large of an area can I download?

Depending on the region you are extracting data from (lower 48 states, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the USVI, Pacific Trust Territories) different features are used for data extraction. Below is a list of available areas for selection.

  • Lower 48 states — USGS 1:24,000 or 1:100,000 topographic quadrangle
  • Alaska — USGS 1:63,000 topographic quadrangle
  • Hawaii — County and USGS topographic quadrangle
  • Puerto Rico and USVI — County and USGS topographic quadrangle
  • Pacific Trust Territories — County/Island

Coordinate System

All data downloaded using the Wetlands Data Extraction Tool will be in the Geographic Coordinate System (GCS) with a North American Datum (NAD) of 1983.

What will I Get?

With each download you will receive a .zip file that contains one or all of the following Shapefiles:

  • Wetland_Polygons — NWI wetland polygon data.
  • Metadata — NWI project metadata including image dates used for delineation.
  • Historic_Map_Info — NWI historic map report information.

Note: Acreage information for wetland polygons along the edge of the download area will be incorrect for the polygon, but correct for the wetland. Acreage was calculated on the raw data, in an Albers Equal Area Projection, before the data was clipped. If accurate acreage within the area of interest in needed, we recommend reprojecting the data into an equal area projection and recalculating the acreage field.

Extraction time

Due to the amount of data being requested (especially when using a 1:100,000 quad for data selection), the resulting processing time to prepare the download file may take up to 13 minutes. Please be patient while our server works to prepare your file. In the event the server cannot process your file, you should receive a message in your browser window indicating the server was unable to fulfill your request at this time.

Custom Wetland Data Extractions

Last updated: April 22, 2009