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Wetlands Mapper

The Colorado Wetland Inventory Mapping Tool displays several different datasets depicting the location and classification of wetlands in Colorado. There are currently over 1.7 million acres of wetlands and waterbodies mapped within Colorado, representing less than 3% of the landscape. Use this mapping tool to explore where wetlands are located or see the Landscape Summaries for an accounting of wetland acres by river basin, subbasin, and county.

Colorado Wetland Inventory Mapping Tool
Wetland datasets displayed on the mapping tool
  • Wetland mapping produced by CNHP and others for the National Wetlands Inventory Program.
  • Riparian mapping produced by Colorado Parks and WIldlife.
  • Potential fen mapping produced by various parties.
  • Potential playa mapping produced by the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies and Playa Lakes Joint Venture.
Hooded lady's tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana, an obligate wetland species. CNHP Staff.
Hooded lady's tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana), an obligate wetland species. CNHP Staff.
Marsh vegetation in a kettle pond. CNHP Staff.
Marsh vegetation in a kettle pond. CNHP Staff.
Emergent marsh vegetation. CNHP Staff.
Emergent marsh vegetation. CNHP Staff.

In addition to the wetland datasets, the Colorado Wetland Inventory Mapping Tool includes two data products created by CNHP.

Additional CNHP datasets displayed on the mapping tool
  • Potential Conservation Areas (PCAs), which represent wetland and riparian areas with high biodiversity significance.
  • Wetland Stressors, a statewide model that integrates stress to aquatic resources from roads, development, resource extraction, and hydrologic modification.
  • Launch the Colorado Wetland Inventory Mapping Tool
  • Launch the USFWS National Wetland Inventory (NWI) Mapping Tool
  • View the NWI Code Diagram
  • View the NWI Code Interpreter
startled elk in our plot
startled elk in our plot

History of Wetland Mapping in Colorado

Historically, Colorado lagged behind most of the country in terms of digital wetland data. The USFWS National Wetland Inventory did map all of Colorado in the 1970s and 1980s, in the early years of the program. However, all the early maps were produced as mylar overlays of U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps. The only way to obtain NWI mapping was to literally purchase the data as a hard-copy paper map, one topographic quadrangle at a time. CNHP started working on wetland mapping in 2007, when less than 15% of the state had digital data available. Since 2007, CNHP focused on converting scanned NWI images into digital data for huge areas of the state, and we have produced updated photo-interpretation of wetland mapping in several areas. As of 2015, we now have statewide digital coverage of NWI mapping for all of Colorado. CNHP has been able to accomplish this by partnering with numerous agencies such as Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, the Transportation Research Board, the Southern Rockies Landscape Conservation Cooperative and several local governments.

Colorado Wetland Mapping Image Year 2015
Colorado Wetland Mapping Image Year 2015
For information, contact Joanna Lemly.

Wetland Data & Tools

Wetlands Mapper
Floristic Quality Calculator
Landscape Summaries
Watershed Toolbox

Related Topics

Wetland Reports
PCA Reports
County Survey Reports
Field Guides and App
Field Manuals
Educational Resources
Watershed Toolbox

Web Projects

  • Rare Plant Guide Online
  • Colorado Wetland Info Center
  • COMaP - Colorado Protected Lands
  • Colorado Bat Working Group
  • STReaMS - Endangered Fishes Database

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  • About CWIC
    ▼
    • What Are Wetlands?
    • Why Are Wetlands Important?
    • Colorado Wetland Plan
    • Wetland Partners
  • Wetland Types
    ▼
    • Overview
    • Ecological Systems
    • Natural Plant Communities
    • Field Guides and App
    • Fen Mapping
  • Wetland Condition
    ▼
    • Overview
    • Ecological Condition
    • Habitat Quality
    • Biodiversity Significance
    • Colorado Wetland Assessment Projects
    • National Wetland Condition Assessment
  • Working in Wetlands
    ▼
    • Overview
    • Conservation
    • Restoration
    • Regulation
    • Best Management Practices
    • Funding and Technical Support
  • Data & Tools
    ▼
    • Wetlands Mapper
    • Floristic Quality Calculator
    • Landscape Summaries
    • Watershed Toolbox
  • Library
    ▼
    • Wetland Reports
    • Potential Conservation Areas
    • County Survey Reports
    • Field Guides and App
    • Field Manuals
    • Educational Resources
  • CNHP Home