National Wetlands Inventory

"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency tasked with providing information to the public on the extent and status of the nation’s wetland and deepwater habitats, as well as changes to these habitats over time.

What We Do

Our Services

We produce and distribute maps and other geospatial data on American wetland and deepwater habitats, as well as monitor changes in these habitats through time. This information is available to the public through two primary datasets: the wetlands geospatial dataset and wetlands status and trends reports. These provide complementary information on wetland and deepwater habitat type, location, and trends to support research, land management planning and analyses, policy development, and modeling activities.

Wetlands Mapper

The Wetlands Mapper is the primary public interface to the wetlands geospatial dataset and it delivers easy-to-use, map-like views of the nation’s wetland and deepwater resources. It spatially integrates National Wetland Inventory data with additional natural resource information and political boundaries to produce a robust decision support tool.

Status and Trends

Our Status and Trends reports provide estimates of U.S. wetland extent, type, and change specific to different time periods, ranging from the 1700s to 2009. Produced on a decadal basis, these reports inform policy-makers and the public on the status of the nation's wetlands and potential causes of wetland change..."
Wetlands 

National Wetland Condition Assessment

"Wetlands are a vital component of our nation’s waters, providing a wide array of benefits that contribute to the overall health and integrity of aquatic ecosystems and people’s well-being. Though we are aware of the important benefits wetlands provide, we know very little about their actual ecological health. The National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA) is a statistical survey that begins to address some of the gaps in our understanding of wetland health by providing information on the ecological condition of the nation’s wetlands and stressors most commonly associated with poor condition..."
Wetlands

Federal Wetlands Mapping Standard Approved
"Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today the adoption of a Wetlands Mapping Standard that provides minimum requirements and guidelines for wetlands mapping efforts. The new standard is designed to guide current and future wetlands digital mapping projects and enhance the overall quality and consistency of wetlands data. Quality data on wetlands are considered critical for planning effective conservation strategies to benefit fish and wildlife resources now and in the future..."
View full document Wetlands Mapping Standards

Army Corps and EPA Improve Wetland and Stream Mitigation
"The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today released a new rule to clarify how to provide compensatory mitigation for unavoidable impacts to the nation's wetlands and streams. The rule will enable the agencies to promote greater consistency, predictability and ecological success of mitigation projects under the Clean Water Act."