Vegetated Wetland to Open Water Difference Product

Vegetated Wetland to Open Water Difference Product for HUC12 watersheds in the contiguous U.S. Watersheds with ≤0.5% of vegetated wetland to open water difference, calculated by area, are displayed in gray, while those that have greater than 2% of difference are displayed in dark blue. Patterns are largely controlled by the age of National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) data and land cover trends, including the conversion of drier-end vegetated wetlands to open water via natural and anthropogenic forces. Areas exhibiting the greatest amount of difference (i.e., change) include the Prairie Pothole Region and the Mississippi River Floodplain and Delta. Geographies with the greatest levels of difference could be prioritized for NWI updates.