• How can I view wetland maps? How do I find available wetland digital map data?
• Can I download the wetlands data?
• The Wetlands Mapper is slow at times, is there something I'm doing wrong?
• Can I download larger areas of wetland data? How large an area of wetlands data can I download from the Wetlands Mapper?
• How far do I have to zoom in to be able to see the wetlands polygons on the Wetlands Mapper?
• How can I find out what a wetland map code means?
• What do the four categories under Wetlands Data Availability mean?
• Where can I find metadata for wetland digital data? Where are the metadata for the data sets displayed on the Wetlands Mapper?
• What is the intended use of the Wetlands Mapper?
• How can I purchase paper maps and wetland data in other formats?
• Is the Wetlands Mapper the only place I can view U.S. Fish and Wildlife wetland data?
• Can the Wetlands Mapper be used for legal or regulatory purposes regarding wetland location or identification?
• How do I cite wetland digital data or hard-copy maps in publications?
• When were wetlands in my area mapped?
• How recent are the maps?
• When will the maps be updated?
• Where can I find the National List of Vascular Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands?
• Whom do I contact when I have a question?

Visit our wetlands mapper. The mapper hosts the most current digital data and metadata available.

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Can I download the wetlands data?

Three layers are available for downloading; Wetland polygons, Wetlands Metadata, and Historic Wetlands Map Info. Only the data displayed on your screen will be downloaded to an ESRI Shapefile format. To download data open the red tool box (Advanced tools). Then select the Extract tool and follow the instructions.

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The Wetlands Mapper is slow at times, is there something I'm doing wrong?

The wetlands data set is a very complex seamless data set containing over 14 million polygons. The seamless data set, meaning wetland polygons are not broken by political boundaries, allows for more accurate wetland count and area calculations. Use the Locate by quad, zip code, or coordinate options rather than the zoom tool for faster viewing of wetlands data.

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Can I download larger areas of wetland data? How large an area of wetlands data can I download from the Wetlands Mapper?

Currently the only way to obtain the wetlands data set is through the download function of the Wetlands Mapper describe above, or by using the Wetlands Data download web page which can be found on our home page http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/data/DataDownload.html. Both methods limit you to a 1:24K USGS quad footprint or 1:100K USGS quad footprint. What do I do if I want data for a larger area? You can download data from the Mapper for an area once the wetland polygons are visible. For data for larger areas, please contact the Regional Wetlands Coordinator for your area. Please follow this link for more information on Custom Wetland Data Extractions.

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How far do I have to zoom in to be able to see the wetlands polygons?

Wetlands display at a scale of 1:100,000 for the lower 48 states.

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How can I find out what an wetland map code means?

Visit the Wetland Map Codes Query Form and type in the case-sensitive code. For example, if you're wondering what a PUBHh is, just type it into the Wetland Map Codes Query Form, it will give you an explanation. (It's a Palustrine, Unconsolidated Bottom, Permanently Flooded, Diked/Impounded wetland.) You can also determine the codes by using the Map Code Legend diagram that lays out the classification system by system, subsystem, class, subclass, plus modifiers (2 pages in PDF format). The wetland codes, as modified, are based on the National Wetlands Classification Standards from Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F. Golet, and E. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Cowardin).

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What do the four categories under Wetlands Data Availability mean?

Digital: Wetlands data are available and currently being displayed on the Wetlands Mapper.
Scan: Wetlands data are available and currently being displayed on the Wetlands Mapper as raster images created from scans of the hard copy maps.
Non-Digital: Wetlands data exist for the area but are currently not available on the Wetlands Mapper.
No Data: FWS has not mapped wetlands in these areas.

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Where can I find metadata for wetland digital data? Where are the metadata for the data sets displayed on the Wetlands Mapper?

Metadata files for all the layers displayed on the Wetlands mapper can be found at http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/data/metadata.html You can also visit our wetlands mapper. The mapper hosts the most current digital data and metadata available.

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What is the intended use of the Wetlands Mapper?

The principal focus was to produce topical wetland maps that are graphic representations of the type, size and location of all surface waters in the United States (wetlands and deepwater habitats). Within this context, the objective of mapping wetlands and deepwater habitats remains to produce reconnaissance level information on the location, type, size of these habitats such that they are accurate at the nominal scale of the 1:24,000 base map. The Service recognized the limitations of using remotely sensed information as the primary data source, and additionally, by policy, excluded some wetland types from its inventory.

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How can I purchase paper maps?

Our paper maps can be purchased through a Cooperator-Run Distribution Center in most States. Each Center establishes its own pricing structure and ordering procedures. The Distribution Centers offer paper composites (wetland polygons on USGS topographic base) of the wetland maps.

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Is the Wetlands Mapper the only place I can view U.S. Fish and Wildlife wetland data?

No, this data set is also available on the National Map viewer http://nationalmap.gov/index.html. The wetlands data is located with the Hydrography layers.

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Can the Wetlands Mapper be used for legal or regulatory purposes regarding wetland location or identification?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) neither designed nor intended the National Wetlands Inventory program to produce legal or regulatory products. Unintended use of the information or products is discouraged. Federal, State, and local regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over wetlands may define and describe wetlands in a different manner than that used in this inventory. There is no attempt, in either the design or products of this inventory, to define the limits of proprietary jurisdiction of any Federal, State, or local government or to establish the geographical scope of the regulatory programs of government agencies. Persons intending to engage in activities involving modifications within or adjacent to wetland areas should seek the advice of appropriate Federal, State, or local agencies concerning specified agency regulatory programs and proprietary jurisdictions that may affect such activities.

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How do I cite wetland digital data or hard-copy maps in publications?

For wetland digital data downloaded from our website: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. publication date. National Wetlands Inventory website. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C. http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/. For wetland hard-copy maps: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. publication date. National Wetlands Inventory map: Map name, State (scale 1:XX,XXX). U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C.

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When were wetlands in my area mapped?

There is a new layer on the Wetlands Mapper called Wetlands Project Area Metadata. Unlike the metadata files which describe the entire wetlands data set, the Wetlands Project Area Metadata layer contains information such as image date and scale, data source and more. The Wetlands Project Area Metadata layer is composed of geographic footprints, typically 1:24k USGS quadrangles, which store wetlands metadata for the area covered by the selected footprint. The Wetlands Metadata layer is located just under the Wetland Polygon layer on the Wetlands Mapper.

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How recent are the maps?

Most wetland maps were produced using photography from the 1980's. Maps for less than 5% of the nation were made using 1990's or more recent photography. View the metadata to see the year of the photography for specific map, areas or quads.

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When will the maps be updated?

We are currently updating about 1% of the maps of the U.S. on average each year, with the highest priority areas being updated. Agencies and organizations interested in becoming partners should contact the appropriate Regional Wetlands Coordinator.

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Where can I find the National List of Vascular Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands?

The responsibility to maintain and update the Plant List was transferred to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Memorandum of Agreement) (December, 2006).

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• For general questions about wetland maps and the Wetlands Mapper: Wetlands_Team@fws.gov
• For watershed or state-level data contact the Regional Wetlands Coordinator
• For information about partnering/cooperating with the Service to develop or update wetland maps contact the Regional Wetlands Coordinator for your area
  
• For wetland GIS support: Wetlands_Team@fws.gov
  
• For national wetlands status and trends: Tom_Dahl@fws.gov
  
• For comments about the website: Wetlands_Team@fws.gov
  
• For regional mapping issues or information: Regional Wetlands Coordinator
  
• About mailing addresses and phone numbers, consult office directory
  
• About other Service wetlands programs: http://www.fws.gov/duspit/contactus.htm
  
• About general wetlands information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/
  
• About wetland regulations that may affect wetlands on your property or other wetlands that may be developed, contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office nearest you: http://www.usace.army.mil/about/Pages/Locations.aspx
• Fish and Wildlife Service Frequently Asked Questions
  

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