Link to DNR's interactive maps by topic. You can use these maps to perform a number of tasks such as zooming in and out, adding GIS data, printing/exporting maps, turning features on and off, etc.*to visit this web page from the DNR Open Data Portal, click the Open button on the right side of the WI DNR Interactive Mapping Applications item page.

Web map displaying WI DNR's Wisconsin Leaf-Off Digital Orthophotography imagery layer along with an index layer. This map can be used to identify the year and resolution of each county's imagery in this image service, or as a starting point to create a new map. To open the web map from DNR's GIS Open Data Portal, click the View Metadata: link to the right of the description, then click Open in Map Viewer.*Note that this web map only contains DOPs that Wisconsin DNR has permission to display on a web map. Some counties may have newer DOPs.

Web map displaying Wisconsin DNR-produced Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and Hillshade image services, along with their index layer, in formats that are clickable and can be symbolized and filtered. This map can also be used as a starting point to create a new map. To open the web map from DNR's GIS Open Data Portal, click the View Metadata: link to the right of the description, then click Open in Map Viewer.

This feature layer contains Wisconsin hydro flowlines, area hydrography features and culvert lines created and developed by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources DNR IT GIS Section as part of a pilot project to remap rivers, lakes and streams in Wisconsin coastal counties and HUC 8 watersheds at a scale of 1:5,000 (also referred to as 5k Hydro). WDNR staff used the most current Lidar DEM for each county as the input to the ACPF toolbox to create accumulation derived flowpaths. Waterbody area features and culverts were developed using Lidar breaklines, existing 24k GIS features, and digitization from multi-year aerial photography. Collection protocols followed USGS NHD digital elevation hydrography creation guidelines.Data DictionaryThis pilot project was funded by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office for Coastal Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act, Grant # NA21NOS4190086Dataset last Updated 4/22/2025.

Wisconsin's Outstanding and Exceptional Resource Water (OERW) designations are designed to include Wisconsin's cleanest waters. The OERW dataset was first developed in the 1990s using narrative descriptions from the state’s OERW designations described in NR102 and the state’s 1:24,000 scale hydrography dataset using 7.5 minute USGS topographic quadrangle maps. The OERW spatial data quality has been reviewed by GIS specialists working with biological field staff and using more detailed landmarks and data over time. The accuracy of the delineations continue to improve with the use of improved technologies and tools. Year 2006 designations were derived by selecting and copying applicable features from the 1:24,000 scale hydrography dataset.

24K Hydro File Geodatabase, including bank lines, flow lines, junction points, hydro lines, water bodies, hydro points, and a network. Access the user guide, data dictionaries, and metadata below.The DNR Hydrography database was developed statewide using several 1:24,000-scale sources. This data layer includes information about surface water features represented on the USGS 1:24,000-scale topographic map series such as perennial and intermittent streams, lakes, etc. Because the sources of the Hydrography data span many years and originate from several sources, the data may reflect areas of transition from one source to another. As a result, the water features as represented in the Hydrography data may not always match what you see on a particular USGS quad or Digital Raster Graphic (DRG). General source information is presented on this map: Wisconsin Hydrography Source Information. Note: Wetlands delineations are not included in the DNR Hydrography data layer. For information about DNR Wetlands data, see the Wisconsin Wetland Inventory web page.Report errors in this data to Dennis Wiese (dennis.wiese@wisconsin.gov) with the following information:HYDROID of the feature in question; OR if the feature is missing, a location coordinate or description (e.g. latitude/longitude, Public Land Survey System Township, Range, and Section identifier) that identifies the area in question.Optional but very helpful: a screen capture of the area in question, or the Water Body Identification Code (WBIC) of the feature in question.DNR staff can access the hydrography database in the agency's central GIS data repository. The hydrography feature classes are stored in the feature dataset "W23324.WD_HYDRO_DATA_24K".USER GUIDES AND DOCUMENTATION: WDNR_HYDRO_24k_GETTING STARTED WDNR HYDRO 24K UPDATES DOCUMENT 24K HYDRO DECISION RULESData Dictionaries and Metadata WDNR_HYDRO_24k_waterbody_data_dict WDNR_HYDRO_24k_waterbody_metadata WDNR_HYDRO_24k_flowline_data_dict WDNR_HYDRO_24k_flowline_metadata WDNR_HYDRO_24k_bank_data_dict WDNR_HYDRO_24k_bank_metadata WDNR_HYDRO_24k_junction_data_dict WDNR_HYDRO_24k_junction_metadata WDNR_HYDRO_24k_line_data_dict WDNR_HYDRO_24k_line_metadata WDNR_HYDRO_24k_flowline_wbic_data_dict WDNR_HYDRO_24k_flowline_wbic_metadata WDNR_HYDRO_24k_waterbody_wbic_data_dict WDNR_HYDRO_24k_waterbody_wbic_metadataArcMap Layer (.lyr) Files 24k Hydro Flowline Duration 24k Hydro Bank Lines 24k Hydro Flowline Streams 24k Hydro Waterbody Open Water

This is a polygon layer derived from a 1:500,000-scale map showing the original, pre-settlement vegetation cover in Wisconsin. The original vegetation cover data was digitized in 1990 from a 1976 map created from land survey notes written in the mid-1800s when Wisconsin was first surveyed. Linework representing lakes and other hydrographic areas in other data sets were subsequently merged with the original vegetation cover data set to more closely match the source map.This digital version of the original vegetation cover map can be used to identify regional changes in land cover since the time when the state was first surveyed. The data is not intended for landscape-scale analysis.All 72 counties of Wisconsin are represented. Islands in Lake Michigan and Lake Superior belonging to Wisconsin counties are also represented.Associated Lookup Tables *these can also be found in the open data item under Download / Additional ResourcesLUC_Level_CodesVeg_Type_Codes

Wetland and surface water polygon data mapped using LiDAR based sources and high-resolution leaf on/off imagery. Mapped to meet or exceed National Wetland Inventory mapping standards for limited parts of Wisconsin. Data mapped after 2018. Visible below 1:95,000.Funding is provided by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office for Coastal Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act, Grant #NA19NOS419008, and the USDA Forest Service, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest through both the Good Neighbor Authority program in partnership with WDNR Forestry Division and internal appropriated funding. Portions of wetland mapping provided by the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin - Madison Department of Forestry and Wildlife Ecology and Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture.This layer should be used in conjunction with the following layers:

Wisconsin Wetland Inventory Polygon Layer (stereo-pair mapping)Wisconsin Wetland Inventory Filled/Drained Polygon Layer (stereo-pair mapping)Wisconsin Wetland Inventory Filled/Drained Point Layer (stereo-pair mapping)Wisconsin Wetland Inventory Point Layer (stereo-pair mapping)

For more information on 2013 FGDC Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States visit: https://www.fgdc.gov/standards/projects/wetlands/nwcs-2013For more information on Wisconsin DNR Wetland Mapping visit: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Wetlands/inventory.htmlFor mapping methodology, visit: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Wetlands/WWI_SOP.pdf

Original Wisconsin Wetland Inventory maps were created using stereo-pair, 9”x9”, B/W (NIR) aerial photography flown at a scale of 1:20000 (1in=1667ft). Each photo covered four Public Land Survey System Sections with each section being approximately 1 square mile. Wetland delineations were drafted onto the photos using stereoscopes. The photos were scanned and the wetland information digitized into a GIS. Data mapped between 1988-2016. Visible below 1:95,000.Funded by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office for Coastal Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act, Grant #NA19NOS419008.

This layer should be used in conjunction with the following layers to get full coverage:

Wisconsin Wetland Inventory NWI Polygon Layer (LiDAR based mapping)Wisconsin Wetland Inventory Polygon Layer (stereo-pair mapping)Wisconsin Wetland Inventory Filled/Drained Point Layer (stereo-pair mapping)Wisconsin Wetland Inventory Point Layer (stereo-pair mapping)

For more information on Wisconsin DNR Wetland Mapping visit: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Wetlands/inventory.html

For the Wisconsin Wetland Classification System used in the stereo-pair dataset visit: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Wetlands/WWI_Classification.pdf

Wild and Scenic Rivers are established to protect natural streams, to attract out–of–state visitors, to assure the well–being of our tourist industry, and to preserve some rivers in a free-flowing condition and protect them from development. This dataset is useful for locating recreation opportunities on free-flowing Wisconsin Rivers. More information on Wisconsin’s Wild and Scenic Rivers can be found at the DNR’s page on Wisconsin’s wild and scenic rivers.

The WDNR major basin boundaries were derived from the Subbasin (8-digit) 4th level hydrologic units from the digital Watershed Boundary Dataset for the State of Wisconsin. HUCs were clipped to the state boundary, then dissolved on the major basin code (which was added manually after the clip process). Area and perimeter were then recalculated. This data set consists of georeferenced digital data and associated attributes created in accordance with the "FGDC Proposal, Version 1.0 - Federal Standards For Delineation of Hydrologic Unit Boundaries 3/01/02". These polygons are attributed with hydrologic unit codes and names for 4th level sub-basins. The dataset extent is the state of Wisconsin, plus the extent of 8-digit HUCs that extend across the state line into northern Illinois and western upper Michigan.

Sensitive Areas of Lakes are designated as Critical Habitat Areas in Wisconsin. These areas comprise of aquatic vegetation identified by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as offering critical or unique fish and wildlife habitat, including seasonal or life stage requirements, or offering water quality or erosion control benefits to the body of water. Wisconsin law mandates special protections for these critical habitats. Critical Habitat Designation is a program that recognizes those areas and maps them so that everyone knows which areas are most vulnerable to impacts from human activity.

Wisconsin's Watershed data layer contains 330 delineated watersheds created initially for the Priority Watershed Program. Basins and watersheds are interconnected areas of land draining from surrounding ridge tops to a common point such as a lake or confluence with a neighboring land area.These watersheds were originally delineated by Wisconsin DNR for the Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Abatement Program, also generally known as the Priority Watershed Program. They generally indicate areas that drain into a common river system or lake, but may also be based on DNR basin management criteria.

Note: This service is only for using online; full resolution downloads are not supported. Hillshade image service created from Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) derived from county-produced LiDAR covering several Wisconsin counties, with a vertical exaggeration factor of 2. This service was last updated in May, 2023. It can be used in conjunction with its associated Index layer, DEM and Hillshade from LiDAR - Index, to determine flight years of source LiDAR and resolution of source DEMs. Also see the Index layer item details for detailed information about counties included in this service and in related services: DEM from LiDAR (Units in Meters) and DEM from LiDAR (Units in Feet).Some areas display as data gaps (white artifacts) when the service is viewed at statewide scales but display normally when zoomed in to scales of approximately 1:1,000,000 or larger. We hope to address the no-data areas and small-scale data gaps in future updates to this service. The source DEMs have not been hydrologically conditioned. The Vertical Datum for the DEMs is NAVD88.

The Hillshade is intended for visualization of the landscape, rather than analysis. When queried, the Hillshade pixel values do not indicate elevation; instead, the pixel values range from 0 to 255 because the image is rendered as an 8-bit greyscale image. If elevation values are needed, use the LiDAR-Derived DEM Imagery Layer.

WI DNR acknowledges the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USGS, FEMA, the Southeastern WI Regional Planning Commission, and the individual counties listed in DEM and Hillshade from LiDAR - Index, for making source data available. For more information, visit https://dnr.wi.gov/feedback/ and choose Geographic Information Systems Data as the subject.

This service contains nitrogen restriction areas, liquid manure restriction areas, and proposed targeted areas in Wisconsin. This feature layer is hosted by DNR for the purpose of download on DNR's Open Data Portal.For more information about these layers, please refer to DNR's hosted feature layers that are used in the Nitrogen Restriction Areas of Wisconsin Viewer:Nitrogen Restriction AreasLiquid Manure Restriction AreasProposed Targeted Areas

This data set is a polygon feature class representing Wisconsin DNR Turkey Management Zones. Turkey Management Zones indicate the areas with various turkey hunting regulations throughout Wisconsin. Hunting regulations may vary between and within zones. Users should consult the most recent Hunting Regulations Handbook to determine which regulations apply to which zones, or portions of zones.

Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin are aggregations of NHFEU (National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units) subsections that have been assigned descriptive names. The Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin are represented on a May, 1999 map prepared under the direction of the DNR Division of Land Ecosystem Management Planning Team.The NHFEU concept, developed by the USFS, is considered one of the oldest and best-documented ecosystem classification schemes at the federal level. The NHFEU has been refined over the years as new information becomes available to identify lower levels of the hierarchy.

This data set reflects updates by WDNR through 10/31/2014. This data layer is a polygon layer representing Important Bird Area Boundaries in Wisconsin, prepared by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). For more information on Wisconsin's Important Bird Area program, see publication PUB-WM-475-2007, Important Bird Areas of Wisconsin: Critical Sites for the Conservation and Management of Wisconsin's Birds, Yoyi Steele, editor.

This layer consists of a polygon coverage at 1:500,000 scale with information about bedrock type used in the GCSM. Bedrock is the consolidated material that underlies the soils and surficial deposits; "bedrock type" is defined as type of the uppermost rock layer. Bedrock type is important in assessing an area's susceptibility to groundwater contamination, especially if the bedrock is located close to the land surface. The source for this layer is the set of 1:500,000-scale compilation sheets for a 1981 map of bedrock geology of Wisconsin published by the WGNHS. Because of the generalized nature of the GCSM project, bedrock types were grouped into 4 categories during automation of this data layer.See the usage documentation (https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=e1e89ae505594459a46407f1daf4ad5d) and the Full report (https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=fd4d0c43abc04b4ab915586d9a0e89dd) for more information.

The Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) is a comprehensive aggregated collection of hydrologic unit data consistent with the national criteria for delineation and resolution. It defines the areal extent of surface water drainage to a point except in coastal or lake front areas where there could be multiple outlets as stated by the "Federal Standards and Procedures for the National Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)" “Standard” (https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/tm11A34). Watershed boundaries are determined solely upon science-based hydrologic principles, not favoring any administrative boundaries or special projects, nor particular program or agency. This dataset represents the hydrologic unit boundaries to the 12-digit level for all HUs coded as being entirely or partially contained in Wisconsin.At a minimum, the HUs are delineated at 1:24,000-scale in the conterminous United States, meeting the National Map Accuracy Standards (NMAS). Higher resolution boundaries are being developed where partners and data exist and will be incorporated back into the WBD. WBD data are delivered as a dataset of polygons and corresponding lines that define the boundary of the polygon. WBD polygon attributes include hydrologic unit codes (HUC), size (in the form of acres and square kilometers), name, downstream hydrologic unit code, type of watershed, non-contributing areas, and flow modifications. The HUC describes where the unit is in the country and the level of the unit. WBD line attributes contain the highest level of hydrologic unit for each boundary, line source information and flow modifications. Staff in the WI DNR GIS Section downloaded the National WBD from the USGS National Map Staged Products Directory on April 13th, 2023: https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/index.html?prefix=StagedProducts/Hydrography/WBD/National/GDB/. The USGS National WBD metadata indicates a Publication Date of 03-28-2023. WI DNR staff extracted all HUs entirely or partially contained in Wisconsin, using information in the WBD "STATES" attribute. The data were then projected to the Wisconsin Transverse Mercator coordinate referencing system (WKID 3071). This feature class includes a subset of the original WBD attribute data. For information about the complete set of available WBD attributes, refer to the NATIONAL_WBD_GDB.xml metadata file on the USGS National Map Staged Products Directory.