Every day across the United States, thousands of stakeholders from industry, government, non-profits, as well as private landowners use NWI data to better understand, protect and promote America’s national interests. Wetlands geospatial data provides a powerful resource used to enhance and streamline decision-making in various fields including, land, watershed and wildlife management, emergency response, energy and infrastructure development, and to support community recreation like hunting, fishing and birdwatching.
Examining how often and where NWI data is used provides insights into how these data support decisions-makers across the nation.
NWI Mapper and Web Services
NWI data is provided to the public through two resources, the Wetlands Mapper and Web Map Services.
The Wetlands Mapper provides easy-to-use, map like views of the Nation's wetland and deepwater resources. Its interactive environment allows users to view, query, download and print wetlands data along with other resource information.
In 2024 the Wetlands Mapper had:
More than 306,000 users
Nearly 550,000 Mapper views
Over 5 million requests for information
More than 286,000 datasets and documents downloaded
Over 290,000 maps printed
NWI's web map services allow GIS users to display and query data in mapping software without the overhead of data management. Additionally, web developers can incorporate these services into their own mapping applications. Reliance on NWI web map services can be seen in the high volume of data requests.
In 2024, NWI web map services received nearly 45 million requests for information.
Data requests include any interaction with our service layers to retrieve NWI feature geometry or attribute information. Examples of web applications that utilize NWI data include, federal, state and Tribal agencies, energy and infrastructure development industries, as well as outdoor and recreational organizations.
NWI Mapper Prints
The Wetlands Mapper allows users to print maps for your area of interest and is one of the Mappers most highly utilized functions. By examining where users are printing maps, we can infer where and how the data is being used. This information helps the NWI Program prioritize user needs and implement strategies to improve user engagement.
Since 2015, over 2.3 million maps have been printed from the Wetlands Mapper.
Patterns Of Use
When examining the locations of NWI map prints, patterns begin to emerge. These patterns reflect the use by both governmental and private sector organizations to inform and streamline infrastructure planning, permitting, and mitigation projects.
Below are examples of where we see trends in our data prints that reflect NWI's various uses.
Energy Development:
Transportation:
Urban Planning:
To explore more NWI use examples, please visit our StoryMap
When maps are printed also reflect their use.
The majority of NWI maps are printed during the workweek, indicating these data support decision-making across the American workforce.
NWI Data Status
NWI works with governmental and non-governmental partners to map wetlands for the benefit of the American people. Mapping updates depend on funding resources as well as local, state and regional priorities. NWI is currently working with partners to map updates for over 90 projects across the U.S. spanning over 384 million acres.
NWI's Projects Status Mapper provides and interactive environment where users can see where data has been recently updated, as well as the location of projects in the process of being updated. Additionally, users can see the status of data in their area of interest. NWI data is comprised of a patchwork of mapping projects spanning multiple decades.
