The Wisconsin Wetland Inventory (WWI) regulatory maps show graphic representations of the type, size and location of wetlands in Wisconsin. These maps have been prepared from the analysis of high altitude imagery in conjunction with soil surveys, topographic maps, previous wetland inventories and field work. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages the WWI.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) began producing non-regulatory, polygonal, geospatial wetland maps for the United States via their National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) in the mid-1970s. While DNR does provide WWI data to USFWS, there can be a significant lag before those updates appear in the NWI.

STATEWIDE: Digital wetlands data are available from the Wisconsin DNR for the state. Alternatively, wetlands are available for free viewing as a layer in the DNR Surface Water Data Viewer.

Wisconsin Wetland Inventory Geodatabase – free download
App: Wisconsin DNR Surface Water Data Viewer

NATIONAL: The NWI is slightly more detailed than WWI since NWI also maps deep water systems including lakes, streams and rivers. The Wisconsin DNR provides their WWI data to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service for integration into the NWI, but users should be cautioned that Wisconsin updates to NWI can reportedly take months, and in some cases years. Users requiring Wisconsin wetlands data are strongly encouraged to start with the Wisconsin Wetland Inventory.

National Wetlands Inventory Data