Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) are wetlands and grasslands set aside for the production of waterfowl and other wildlife species.   These lands are part of the National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) System, and are managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).   The Department of Forest Resources is working to develop geospatial data layers for WPAs throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin for USFWS Region 3.

A variety of types of geospatial data are acquired and/or created for the WPAs, including:

• State and County Boundaries

• Public Land Survey (PLS) Boundaries

• Roads

• Rivers and Lakes

• Wetland Management District Office Locations

• WPA Boundaries and Easement Locations

• LandSat Thematic Mapper (TM) Imagery

One of the most integral steps in constructing geospatial data coverages is the creation of digital boundary files.   Our WPA boundary files are created in accordance with USFWS standard operating procedures.   For more information, follow this link: BOUNDARIES

The geospatial data can be analyzed and displayed using MapServer, the University of Minnesota's interactive mapping application which allows interactive presentation and query of geospatial data via a Web browser.   With these dynamic maps, a user can select and view various data layers, zoom in and out, and ask for information about the layers.

For MapServer technical information, tutorial, and an on-line example for WPAs throughout Minnesota, please click on this link: SAMPLE APPLICATIONS

Final WPA data sets are provided on CD-ROM to the USFWS Region 3 office.   Copies of the data sets are available to the public.   For more information, please contact:

Mary Mitchell, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive
Fort Snelling, MN 55111-4056
Phone: 612-713-5443
Email: mary_s_mitchell@fws.gov

A University of Minnesota Staff paper was generated summarizing the basic methodology used for the WPA project. A copy of this paper can be found HERE.

To view additional web sites related to WPAs, please click on this link: RELATED SITES