This data set represents the extent, approximate location and type of wetlands and deepwater habitats in the United States and its Territories. These data delineate the areal extent of wetlands and surface waters as defined by Cowardin et al. (1979), which represents a biological definition of wetlands and deepwater habitats. There is no attempt 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. Some wetland habitats may be under represented or excluded in certain areas because of the limitations of aerial imagery as the primary data source used to detect wetlands. These habitats include seagrasses or submerged aquatic vegetation that are found in the intertidal and subtidal zones of estuaries and near shore coastal waters and also some deepwater reef communities (coral or tuberficid worm reefs). These habitats, because of their depth and water clarity, go undetected by most aerial imagery. By policy, the Service also excludes certain types of "farmed wetlands" as may be defined by the Food Security Act or that do not coincide with the Cowardin et al. definition. Contact the Service's Regional Wetland Coordinator for additional information on what types of farmed wetlands are included on wetland maps. This dataset should be used in conjunction with the Wetlands_Project_Metadata layer, which contains project boundaries, specific wetlands mapping procedures and information on dates, scales and emulsion of imagery used to map the wetlands within specific project boundaries.

Wetlands Wetlands provide a multitude of ecological, economic and social benefits. They provide habitat for fish, wildlife and plants - many of which have a commercial or recreational value - recharge groundwater, reduce flooding, provide clean drinking water, offer food and fiber, and support cultural and recreational activities. Unfortunately, over half of America’s wetlands have been lost since 1780, and wetland losses continue today. This highlights the urgent need for geospatial information on wetland extent, type, and change. The National Wetlands Inventory The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is the principal US Federal agency tasked with providing information to the public on the status and trends of our Nation's wetlands. The US FWS National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) is a publicly available resource that provides detailed information on the abundance, characteristics, and distribution of US wetlands. NWI data are used by natural resource managers, within the US FWS and throughout the Nation, to promote the understanding, conservation and restoration of wetlands. Resources in this dataset:Resource Title: National Wetlands Inventory. File Name: Web Page, url: https://www.fws.gov/program/national-wetlands-inventory

This data set represents the extent, approximate location and type of wetlands and deepwater habitats in the United States and its Trust Territories. These data delineate the areal extent of wetlands and surface waters as defined by Cowardin et al. (1979). Certain wetland habitats may be excluded because of the limitations of aerial imagery as the primary data source used to detect wetlands. These habitats include seagrasses or submerged aquatic vegetation that are found in the intertidal and subtidal zones of estuaries and near shore coastal waters. Some deepwater reef communities (coral or tuberficid worm reefs) have also been excluded from the inventory. These habitats, because of their depth, go undetected by aerial imagery. By policy, the Service also excludes certain types of "farmed wetlands" as may be defined by the Food Security Act or that do not coincide with the Cowardin et al. definition.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is the principal Federal agency that provides information to the public on the extent and status of the Nation's wetlands. The Service's strategic plan for our vast national wetland data holdings is focused on the development, updating, and dissemination of wetlands data and information to Service resource managers and the public.For more information visit: https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/index.htmlView Wetlands Data on the Wetlands Mapper at: https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Mapper.htmlWetlands Web Services are available at: https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Web-Map-Services.htmlWetlands Data available as a KML at: https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Google-Earth.htmlWetlands Data Downloads available at: https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Data-Download.htmlWetland Data Standards available at: https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Data-Standards.html

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is the principal Federal agency that provides information to the public on the extent and status of the Nation’s wetlands. As of May of 2014, the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) wetland geospatial data layer provides on-line map information for all of the conterminous U.S., Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the major Northern Mariana Islands and 40% of Alaska. This was accomplished by working with numerous Federal, State, and Tribal agencies as well as various universities and non-governmental organizations. The NWI Program works with these entities to ensure all data meets the federal wetland mapping standard before it get's added into the national wetlands layer. Active mapping projects once completed and pass all NWI QAQC measures are added to the national data layer, and are posted the Wetlands Mapper.

Download In State Plane Projection Here

The Lake County Wetland Inventory (LCWI) maps natural and artificial wetlands meeting definitions established by the federal agencies who work with the Lake County Geographic Information System staff to periodically review and update it. These agencies include the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

The 1989 federal wetland delineation standards for offsite wetland mapping are used. This data was last published in March of 1993. This update includes changes to the previous version of LCWI including: adjust current wetland boundaries to omit development, including roads; to fine tune boundary placement where that was intended by the original delineation, in some cases, adjust the wetland to photographic features / signature; delete wetlands which the committee decided were mapped in error - for example, trees which were mistaken for wet areas; create polygons for newly delineated artificial wetlands; and newly delineated wetlands or farmed wetlands caused by the continued deterioration of the agricultural drain tile system and increased runoff due to urbanization.

The LCWI is a useful tool for general planning and review purposes, but it does not take the place of an on-site delineation by a certified wetland specialist.

High resolution (1" = 100') orthorectified aerial imagery captured in April 2002 was used as the base for this update. Other data used as reference for this update include: 2004 SOIL SURVEY GEOGRAPHIC (SSURGO) DATABASE FOR LAKE COUNTY, IL - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service; HYDROLOGY2002 - Lake County GIS/Map Division; 2' topography (CONTOURS) - Lake County GIS/Map Division; and various years of historical aerial photography for clarification. By using the more recent higher resolution photography, the resulting updated wetland boundaries are more accurate then the original boundaries published in 1993.

Indiana Wetlands from the USFWS NWI as of October 6, 2022 at https://www.fws.gov/node/264847

In 2016 NYC Parks contracted with the UVM Spatial Analysis Lab to use modern remote sensing and object-based image analysis to create a new wetlands map for New York City. Data inputs include Light Detection and Ranging Data, State and Federal Wetland Inventories, soils, and field data. Because the map was conservative in its wetlands predictions, NYC Parks staff improved the map through a series of desktop and field verification efforts. From June to November 2020, NYC Parks staff field verified the majority of wetlands on NYC Parks' property. The map will be opportunistically updated depending on available field information and delineations. Another dedicated field verification effort has not been planned. As of June 2021, no subsequent updates to the data are scheduled. Original field names were updated to field names that are easier to understand. This dataset was developed to increase awareness regarding the location and extent of wetlands to promote restoration and conservation in New York City. This map does not supersede U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) wetlands maps and has no jurisdictional authority. It should be used alongside NWI and NYSDEC datasets as a resource for identifying likely locations of wetlands in New York City. Mapped features vary in the confidence of their verification status, ranging from "Unverified" (meaning the feature exists in its original remotely mapped form and has not been ground truthed) to "Verified - Wetland Delineation" (meaning the boundaries and type of wetland have been verified during an official wetland delineation). Because of the rapid nature of the protocol and the scale of data collection, this product is not a subsitute for on-site investigations and field delineations. The dataset also includes broad classifications for each wetland type, e.g. estuarine, emergent wetland, forested wetland, shrub/scrub wetland, or water. Cowardin classifcations were not used given rapid verfication methods. The accuracy of the wetlands map has improved over time as a result of the verification process. Fields were added over time as necessitated by the workflow and values were updated with information, either from the field verifications, delineation reports, or desktop analysis. OBJECTID, Shape, Class_Name_Final, Verification_Status, Create_Date, Last_Edited_Date, Verification_Status_Year, SHAPE_Length, SHAPE_Area https://www.nycgovparks.org/greening/natural-resources-group Data Dictionary: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1a45qCho45MV-AuOlGxyaRp0cg3cRFKw4lAYBIaU3zi4/edit#gid=260500519 Map: https://data.cityofnewyork.us/dataset/NYC-Wetlands/7piy-bhr9

This data set is a Status Map that identifies the location of wetland data and no data areas. The wetland data itself represents the extent, approximate location and type of wetlands and deepwater habitats in the United States and its Trust Territories. These data delineate the areal extent of wetlands and surface waters as defined by Cowardin et al. (1979). Certain wetland habitats may be excluded because of the limitations of aerial imagery as the primary data source used to detect wetlands. These habitats include seagrasses or submerged aquatic vegetation that are found in the intertidal and subtidal zones of estuaries and near shore coastal waters. Some deepwater reef communities (coral or tuberficid worm reefs) have also been excluded from the inventory. These habitats, because of their depth, go undetected by aerial imagery. By policy, the Service also excludes certain types of "farmed wetlands" as may be defined by the Food Security Act or that do not coincide with the Cowardin et al. definition.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is the principal Federal agency that provides information to the public on the extent and status of the Nation's wetlands. The Service's strategic plan for our vast national wetland data holdings is focused on the development, updating, and dissemination of wetlands data and information to Service resource managers and the public. The development of the Wetlands Master Geodatabase is in direct response to the need to integrate digital map data with other resource information to produce timely and relevant management and decision support tools.For more information visit: https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/index.htmlView Wetlands Data on the Wetlands Mapper at: https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Mapper.htmlWetlands Web Services are available at: https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Web-Map-Services.htmlWetlands Data available as a KML at: https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Google-Earth.htmlWetlands Data Downloads available at: https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Data-Download.htmlWetland Data Standards available at: https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Data-Standards.html

Please note that, due to the large size, the Informational Freshwater Wetland Mapping layer cannot be download in shapefile format.The Informational Freshwater Wetland Mapping layer is only intended to be used for informational purposes in identifying the general location and extent of freshwater wetland areas of any size throughout the state. Informational Freshwater Wetland Mapping is not regulatory.The Freshwater Wetlands Act changed in 2022 such that wetlands greater than 12.4 acres in size are regulated regardless of their mapping status. In addition to larger wetlands, the Freshwater Wetlands Act regulates smaller wetlands of “unusual importance” if they meet one of eleven criteria described in the law and regulation. While maps contained on the Environmental Resource Mapper provide information on the potential locations of wetlands, the only definitive way to determine if a particular parcel or property contains regulated wetlands outside the Adirondack Park is to request a jurisdictional determination through DEC’s website (https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/wetlands/freshwater-wetlands-program).The Freshwater Wetlands Act regulates most development activities located in the wetland or within a regulated “adjacent area.” This adjacent area is a minimum of 100 feet but may be extended for a limited number of particularly sensitive wetlands. Not all activities in and near wetlands are regulated. There are many exempt activities that landowners may undertake without permits. However, if you are not sure of which activities require permits near New York State regulated wetlands, please contact your regional DEC office.Wetlands are classified from Class I (which provide the most benefits) to Class IV (which provide fewer benefits). The classification is based on the work that wetlands do, such as storing flood water and providing wildlife habitat. The system for classifying wetlands is contained in regulation (6 NYCRR Part 664) and the classification of individual wetlands is determined as part of the jurisdictional determination process.For additional information on NYS Freshwater Wetlands, see DEC"s website (https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/wetlands/freshwater-wetlands-program).For information on wetlands inside the Adirondack Park, please contact the Adirondack Park Agency.For information on wetlands regulated under federal law, please contact the United State Army Corps of Engineers.Contact for this DataDFW, Bureau of Ecosystem Health625 BroadwayAlbany, NY 12233Phone: 518-402-8920fw.ecohealth@dec.ny.gov

These maps, a product provided by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), show the approximate boundaries and classifications of Delaware wetlands as interpreted from leaf-off color infrared aerial photography (1992, 2007, 2017). Statewide wetland maps are used for local and regional site-specific planning and management purposes, and allow for status and trends assessments providing information on the type, amount, location and causes of wetland changes. Wetlands mapping utilizes a standardized wetlands classification scheme which was adapted from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wetlands Inventory (Cowardin, et al. 1979, and 2016 revision for 2017 data). The 1992 data was created by DNREC under contract with Photoscience, Inc. and Environmental Resource, Inc., and in partnership with the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI). The 2007 and 2017 map data was created by DNREC and completed under contract with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and University, Conservation Management Institute, and in coordination with NWI. Methods used meet or exceed NWI procedures and the guidelines of the Federal Geographic Data Committee's Wetland Mapping Standard (document FGDC-STD-015-2009). The 2017 wetlands are identified at a minimum mapping unit of .25 acres with smaller, highly recognizable polygons (e.g., ponds) mapped down to approximately 0.10 acres. Photo interpreters identified the wetland targets at a scale of approximately to 1:10,000 with delineations completed at 1:5,000 and, occasionally, larger as necessary. The 2017 mapping used the NWI 2.0 guidelines which incorporate hydrography spatial data (National Hydrography Dataset – NHD) along with wetlands data.2007 Head of Tide wetlands are those salt and freshwater wetlands that have water influenced by the tides and is derived/extracted from the overall 2007 wetland data. 2017 High Marsh and Low marsh are wetland polygons identified as either High or Low marsh for the purposes of beginning to track these two estuarine wetland types in response to climate change. 2017 High Water Mark is an attempt to depict the high water line along coastal areas.

The Informational Freshwater Wetland Mapping layer is only intended to be used for informational purposes in identifying the general location and extent of freshwater wetland areas of any size throughout the state. Informational Freshwater Wetland Mapping is not regulatory. The Freshwater Wetlands Act changed in 2022 such that wetlands greater than 12.4 acres in size are regulated regardless of their mapping status. In addition to larger wetlands, the Freshwater Wetlands Act regulates smaller wetlands of “unusual importance” if they meet one of eleven criteria described in the law and regulation. While maps contained on the Environmental Resource Mapper provide information on the potential locations of wetlands, the only definitive way to determine if a particular parcel or property contains regulated wetlands outside the Adirondack Park is to request a jurisdictional determination through DEC’s website (https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/wetlands/freshwater-wetlands-program). The Freshwater Wetlands Act regulates most development activities located in the wetland or within a regulated “adjacent area.” This adjacent area is a minimum of 100 feet but may be extended for a limited number of particularly sensitive wetlands. Not all activities in and near wetlands are regulated. There are many exempt activities that landowners may undertake without permits. However, if you are not sure of which activities require permits near New York State regulated wetlands, please contact your regional DEC office.Wetlands are classified from Class I (which provide the most benefits) to Class IV (which provide fewer benefits). The classification is based on the work that wetlands do, such as storing flood water and providing wildlife habitat. The system for classifying wetlands is contained in regulation (6 NYCRR Part 664) and the classification of individual wetlands is determined as part of the jurisdictional determination process.For additional information on NYS Freshwater Wetlands, see DEC's website (https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/wetlands/freshwater-wetlands-program).View Dataset on the GatewayFor information on wetlands inside the Adirondack Park, please contact the Adirondack Park Agency. For information on wetlands regulated under federal law, please contact the United State Army Corps of Engineers.Contact for this Data:DFW, Bureau of Ecosystem Health625 BroadwayAlbany, NY 12233Phone: 518-402-8920fw.ecohealth@dec.ny.gov

These data delineate the areal extent of wetlands and surface waters as defined by Cowardin et al. (1979), which represents a biological definition of wetlands and deepwater habitats. There is no attempt 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. Some wetland habitats may be under represented or excluded in certain areas because of the limitations of aerial imagery as the primary data source used to detect wetlands. These habitats include seagrasses or submerged aquatic vegetation that are found in the intertidal and subtidal zones of estuaries and near shore coastal waters and also some deepwater reef communities (coral or tuberficid worm reefs). These habitats, because of their depth and water clarity, go undetected by most aerial imagery. By policy, the Service also excludes certain types of "farmed wetlands" as may be defined by the Food Security Act or that do not coincide with the Cowardin et al. definition. Contact the Service's Regional Wetland Coordinator for additional information on what types of farmed wetlands are included on wetland maps.This dataset is being used within the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas to support the America the Beautiful initiative in representing natural resources, societal interests, and conservation and restoration efforts. These data have been made publicly available from an authoritative source other than this Atlas and data should be obtained directly from that source for any re-use. See the original metadata from the authoritative source for more information about these data and use limitations. The authoritative source of these data can be found at the following location: Wetland Web Mapping Services | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Indiana Wetlands from the USFWS NWI as of October 6, 2022 at https://www.fws.gov/node/264847

Exact wetland boundaries are perhaps impossible to delineate. The definition of a wetland can change, and is somewhat open to interpretation. This file represents an attempt to map every polygon that could be considered a wetland using the criteria outlined in the 2007 supplement to the 1987 Army Corps Delineation Manual (Environmental Laboratory. (1987). "Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual", Technical Report Y-87-1, US Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station. Vicksburg, MS). To generate the data, stereo paired aerial photos and relatively quick field visits, along with National Wetland Inventory maps and soils data were used. Wetlands that may be non-jurisdictional are also included, such as Depressions, inclusions along rivers and in braided river valleys. Environment

The principal focus of the wetland inventory is to produce wetland maps that are graphic representations of the type, size and location of wetlands in Wisconsin. Currently, there are two different datasets that have been created using different mapping methods and technologies.

The majority of the state was mapped using traditional stereo-pair, black-and-white, infrared photography. Within this context, the objective was to provide reconnaissance level information on the location, type, size of these habitats such that they are accurate at the nominal scale of the 1:20,000 (1 inch = 1667 feet) base map.

LiDAR Technology

LiDAR has advanced the ability to see and map wetland and surface water features.

New wetland mapping is underway in areas across the state at a nominal scale of 1:2000 (1 inch = 166.7 feet). The data are being mapped according to the National Wetland Inventory standards using new methods. Please see the WWI SOP for more information.

See LiDAR based status map for more information.

Data

The download contains both the older, high altitude, stereo-photo based mapping as well as the newer LiDAR based mapping. Any older WWI data within a new project area boundary have been removed.

The DNR recognizes the limitations of using remotely sensed information as the primary data source. They are to be used as a guide for planning purposes.

There is no attempt, in either the design or products of this inventory, to define the limits of jurisdiction of any federal, state, or local government or to establish the geographical scope of the regulatory programs of government agencies. Anyone 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 jurisdictions that may affect such activities. The most accurate method of determining the legal extent of a wetland for federal or state regulations is a field delineation of the wetland boundary by a professional trained in wetland delineation techniques.

See https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wetlands/inventory.html for more information on Wisconsin Wetland Inventory mapping.

Please contact Calvin Lawrence, GIS Specialist in the WDNR Waterway and Wetlands Section, at Calvin.Lawrence@wisconsin.gov.

Wetlands are areas where water is present at or near the surface of the soil during at least part of the year. Wetlands provide habitat for many species of plants and animals that are adapted to living in wet habitats. Wetlands form characteristic soils, absorb pollutants and excess nutrients from aquatic systems, help buffer the effects of high flows, and recharge groundwater. Data on the distribution and type of wetland play an important role in land use planning and several federal and state laws require that wetlands be considered during the planning process.The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) was designed to assist land managers in wetland conservation efforts. The NWI is managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.Dataset SummaryPhenomenon Mapped: WetlandsGeographic Extent: 50 United States plus Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana IslandsProjection: Web Mercator Auxiliary SphereVisible Scale: This layer preforms well between scales of 1:1,000,000 to 1:1,000. An imagery layer created from this dataset is also available which you can also use to quickly draw wetlands at smaller scales.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceUpdate Frequency: AnnualPublication Date: October 26, 2024This layer was created from the October 26, 2024 version of the NWI. The features were converted from multi-part to a single part using the Multipart To Singlepart tool. Features with more than 50,000 vertices were split with the Dice tool. The Repair Geometry tool was run on the features, using the OGC option.The layer is published with a related table that contains text fields created by Esri for use in the layer's pop-up. Fields in the table are:Popup Header - this field contains a text string that is used to create the header in the default pop-up System Text - this field contains a text string that is used to create the system description text in the default pop-upClass Text - this field contains a text string that is used to create the class description text in the default pop-upModifier Text - this field contains a text string that is used to create the modifier description text in the default pop-upSpecies Text - this field contains a text string that is used to create the species description text in the default pop-upCodes, names, and text fields were derived from the publication Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States.What can you do with this layer?Feature layers work throughout the ArcGIS system. Generally your work flow with feature layers will begin in ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Pro. Below are just a few of the things you can do with a feature service in Online and Pro.ArcGIS OnlineAdd this layer to a map in the map viewer. The layer is limited to scales of approximately 1:1,000,000 or larger but an imagery layer created from the same data can be used at smaller scales to produce a webmap that displays across the full scale range. The layer or a map containing it can be used in an application.Change the layer’s transparency and set its visibility rangeOpen the layer’s attribute table and make selections and apply filters. Selections made in the map or table are reflected in the other. Center on selection allows you to zoom to features selected in the map or table and show selected records allows you to view the selected records in the table.Change the layer’s style and filter the data. For example, you could set a filter for System Name = 'Palustrine' to create a map of palustrine wetlands only.Add labels and set their propertiesCustomize the pop-upArcGIS ProAdd this layer to a 2d or 3d mapUse as an input to geoprocessing. For example, copy features allows you to select then export portions of the data to a new feature class. Change the symbology and the attribute field used to symbolize the dataOpen table and make interactive selections with the mapModify the pop-upsApply Definition Queries to create sub-sets of the layerThis layer is part of the Living Atlas of the World that provides an easy way to explore the landscape layers and many other beautiful and authoritative maps on hundreds of topics.Questions?Please leave a comment below if you have a question about this layer, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

The Wetlands mapper is designed to deliver easy-to-use, map like views of America’s Wetland resources. It integrates digital map data along with other resource information to produce current information on the status, extent, characteristics and functions of wetlands, riparian, and deepwater habitats. The Wetland Mapper fulfills the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s strategic plan for the development, revision and dissemination of wetlands data and information to resource managers and the public. This information is intended to promote the understanding and conservation of wetland resources through discovery and education as well as to aid in resource management, research and decision making.The wetlands displayed on the Wetlands Mapper show wetland type and extent using a biological definition of wetlands. There is no attempt 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.For more information visit: https://www.fws.gov/program/national-wetlands-inventoryView Wetlands Data on the Wetlands Mapper at: https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Mapper.htmlWetlands Web Services are available at: https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Web-Map-Services.htmlWetlands Data available as a KML at: https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Google-Earth.htmlWetlands Data Downloads available at: https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Data-Download.htmlWetland Data Standards available at: https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Data-Standards.html

Link to the ScienceBase Item Summary page for the item described by this metadata record. Service Protocol: Link to the ScienceBase Item Summary page for the item described by this metadata record. Application Profile: Web Browser. Link Function: information

In the face of sea level rise and as climate change conditions increase the frequency and intensity of tropical storms along the north-Atlantic Coast, coastal areas will become increasingly vulnerable to storm damage, and the decline of already-threatened species could be exacerbated. Predictions about response of coastal birds to effects of hurricanes will be essential for anticipating and countering environmental impacts. This project will assess coastal bird populations, behavior, and nesting in Hurricane Sandy-impacted North Carolina barrier islands. The project comprises three components: 1) ground-based and airborne lidar analyses to examine site specific selection criteria of coastal birds; 2) NWI classification habitat mapping of DOI lands to examine habitat change associated with Hurricane Sandy, particularly in relation to coastal bird habitat; and 3) a GIS-based synthesis of how patterns of coastal bird distribution and abundance and their habitats have been shaped by storms such as Hurricane Sandy, coastal development, population density, and shoreline management over the past century. We will trace historic changes to shorebird populations and habitats in coastal North Carolina over the past century. Using historic maps and contemporary imagery, the study will quantify changes in shorebird populations and their habitats resulting from periodic storms such as Hurricane Sandy in 2012, to development projects such as the Intracoastal Waterway early in the last century, as well as more recent urban development. We will synthesize existing data on the distribution and abundance of shorebirds in North Carolina and changes in habitats related to storms, coastal development, inlet modifications, and shoreline erosion to give us a better understanding of historic trends for shorebirds and their coastal habitats. Historic data on the distribution and abundance of shorebirds are available from a variety of sources and include bird species identification, _location, activity, habitat, and band data. Habitat maps of federal lands in the study area will be created using National Wetlands Inventory mapping standards to assess storm impacts on available nesting habitat. Ground-based LIDAR and high-accuracy GPS data will be collected to develop methods to estimate shorebird nest elevation and microtopography to make predictions about nest site selection and success. Microtopography information collected from lidar data in the area immediately surrounding nest site locations will be used to analyze site specific nesting habitat selection criteria related to topography, substrate (coarseness of sand or cobble), and vegetation cover. The data will be used in future models to assess storm impacts on nest locations, predict long-term population impacts, and influence landscape-scale habitat management strategies that might lessen future impacts of hurricanes on coastal birds and lead to better restoration alternatives.