Wetland Symposium

The National Wetlands Inventory

RON E. ERICKSON AND CHUCK R. ELLIOTT

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort Snelling, MN 55111; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver Federal Center, P.O. Box 25486, Denver, CO 80225

The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) began mapping wetlands in 1977. To date, about 75% of the country (excluding Alaska) has final wetland maps. NWI has digitized about 12% of the Nation's wetlands into a database. The Prairie Pothole Region has received special attention by NWI because of pothole values and the dynamics of prairie wetlands. We contracted with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to obtain special photography (color infrared 1:65,000) when water conditions were suitable for our needs. About 90% of the Prairie Pothole Region currently has final wetland maps, and a similar percentage has been digitized. Wetland trend studies in the Prairie Pothole Region will be conducted by NWI in 1995-96.

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