UPDATE: Please begin using our new application, the WNHP Data Explorer.
Locations of Reference Standard Wetlands are also included in the map viewer. Reference Standard Wetlands are a subset of WHCV considered to be among the best examples of specific wetland types. These wetlands are generally located in areas with long-term protection status. Reference standard wetlands need to be anchored to a specific classification scheme and specific ecological condition criteria. Here, wetland Subgroups are used as the classification standard and ecological integrity (as measured by the EIA method) as benchmark conditions. Reference standard wetlands shown in the map viewer reflect ecological conditions representative of wetlands with minimal human-induced disturbance and/or the best quality wetlands for a given type remaining on the landscape. These reference standard wetlands can be used to identify restoration potential and benchmarks, mitigation performance standards, conservation priorities, or to provide benchmark data to help understand how wetlands respond to human-induced disturbance.
For more information about Wetlands of High Conservation Value, please see this report. For more information about Reference Standard Wetlands, please see this report and database.
Disclaimers: Not every wetland in Washington has been visited by WNHP staff; additional sites that meet WHCV criteria may occur on the landscape. If you believe you've discovered a new location for a vascular plant or nonvascular species considered to be Endangered, Threatened, or Sensitive by our program, or discovered a rare or high-quality wetland ecosystem type, then see the 'Submitting Data to the Natural Heritage Program' section on our Data Products and Requests web page. WNHP scientists will review submitted data to determine whether the species or communities meet the standard for a new EO.
The accuracy of the boundaries of each EO varies depending on the quality of underlying data. Within the EO metadata, see 'Precision Code' for clarification.