This data layer depicts lands and waters administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in North America, U.S. Trust Territories and Possessions. It may also include inholdings that are not administered by USFWS. The primary source for this information is the USFWS Realty program.
The intended application of this data layer is as a cadastral framework for use with other data layers in GIS and mapping applications. It is specifically not intended to be used as a land survey or representation of land for conveyance or tax purposes.
The FwsInterest feature class is an aggregated data layer derived by appending separate regional feature data sets into a single national set. The spatial and positional accuracy of this information will vary depending on the original source data and methods utilized. Data sources are not listed in this document but are maintained for each region and can be requested. We strive to improve the accuracy of this data and incorporate more reliable information when available.
publication date
This data layer was compiled for use with natural resource mapping and GIS applications. It is inappropriate to use these data for legal purposes.
US Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Realty, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 622
Up to three levels of quality-control review are conducted with corrections being incorporated after each review until the dataset is deemed acceptable. FwsInterest utilizes coded domains to limit coding errors.
Polygons are closed and adjusted to the most accurate geographic features, usually on a USGS 7.5' topographic quad.
FwsInterest is a dynamic data layer, updates and revisions are ongoing.
This data layer has been verified against USGS 1:24,000-scale and 1:63,360-scale Digital Raster Graphics (DRGs) or 1:12,000-scale Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quads (DOQQs) where available. For some areas not covered by USGS, nautical charts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are used.
Spatial and attribute information
Processes vary by region.
US Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Realty, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 622
Area of feature in internal units squared.
ESRI
Complex Name - Name of a number of stations combined under one management structure
USFWS National Wildlife Refuge System
Internal feature number.
ESRI
Feature geometry.
ESRI
Organization Name - Official name given to a Service organization that has been assigned an official five-digit numeric organization code by the Washington Office, Division of Financial Management
USFWS Data Element Standard for Organization Name
Division Name - Name given to a Service organization division
USFWS Division of Realty
Unit Name - Name given to a Service unit of a specific National Wildlife Refuge
USFWS Division of Realty
Subunit Name - Name given to a Service subunit of a specific National Wildlife Refuge
USFWS Division of Realty
Organization Code - Unique five-digit numeric codes assigned by the Washington Office, Division of Financial Management, to Service organizations where personnel are assigned and all unstaffed land management units. Organization codes may also be assigned to meet an administrative requirement.
USFWS Division of Financial Management
The ORGCODE that reflects the actual managing station of a particular Service unit of the NWRS.
USFWS Division of Realty
Interior-USFWS number: unique 1-6 character code assigned by the Washington Office, Division of Realty, to each organizational unit, area, or project site over which the Service has some type of jurisdiction.
USFWS Data Element Standard for IFWS Number
Literals - Unique alpha codes assigned by the Washington Office, Division of Realty, that identify the organizational units, areas, and project sites on Service-owned lands.
USFWS Data Element Standard for Literals
Geographic Information System Acres - Acres determined by GIS software for each polygon
USFWS Division of Realty
Document Acres - Acres indicated in deed or other official document
USFWS Division of Realty
The current status of USFWS management pertaining to a parcel of a land or water, and whether the parcel is owned and/or managed by the USFWS (Acquired) or is owned and/or managed by another party (Inholding).
USFWS Division of Realty
Acquired - Parcel for which FWS has fee or less than fee interest.
USFWS Division of Realty
Inholding - Lands within the approved acquisition boundary for which the FWS has yet to acquire an interest.
USFWS Division of Realty
Survey Acres - Acres determined by survey
USFWS Division of Realty
Interest Type 1 - the primary real property interest (land or water) held by the USFWS.
USFWS Division of Realty
Easement - area of land where USFWS shares interest via easement or lease
USFWS Division of Realty
Secondary - area of land where USFWS holds secondary interest to another federal agency (ies)
USFWS Division of Realty
Uncertain - status of parcel is uncertain because it is unknown or requires additional research
USFWS Division of Realty
Life Use Reservation - An estate in property, the duration of which is confined to the life of one or more persons or contingent upon certain happenings.
USFWS Division of Realty
Partial Interest - A shared ownership in a tract of land, between the Service and others.
USFWS Division of Realty
Agreement - A written concurrence between USFWS and another party(ies) for management of a parcel of land or water.
USFWS Division of Realty
Lease - Management of land and/or water is given by the owner to the USFWS for a specified period of time.
USFWS Division of Realty
Fee - Lands owned in Fee by the United States where the Service is the primary administering agency.
USFWS Division of Realty
Tract Number - Number assigned to each tract
USFWS Division of Realty
Interest Type 2 - The secondary real property interest (land or water) held by the FWS.
USFWS Division of Realty
Conservation
USFWS Division of Realty
Electrical
USFWS Division of Realty
Flowage
USFWS Division of Realty
Grassland
USFWS Division of Realty
Occupancy
USFWS Division of Realty
Miscellaneous
USFWS Division of Realty
Roads
USFWS Division of Realty
Underground Materials
USFWS Division of Realty
Wetlands
USFWS Division of Realty
Timber in exchange for FWS receiving title to land
USFWS Division of Realty
Memorandum of Understanding
USFWS Division of Realty
Agriculture
USFWS Division of Realty
Ditch, Canal, or Culvert
USFWS Division of Realty
Electrical and Telephone
USFWS Division of Realty
Flowage and Wetland
USFWS Division of Realty
All Minerals (includes gas and oil)
USFWS Division of Realty
Levy, Dike or Jetty
USFWS Division of Realty
Pipeline
USFWS Division of Realty
Water
USFWS Division of Realty
Land in exchange for FWS receiving title to land
USFWS Division of Realty
Easement across native owned land
USFWS Division of Realty
Memorandum of Agreement
USFWS Division of Realty
Not applicable
USFWS Division of Realty
Comments - Additional information
USFWS Division of Realty
FWS Region - Regional offices within the Service that have responsibility for program and/or administrative activities within a geographically-defined area
USFWS Division of Realty
Pacific Region, Region 1
USFWS Division of Realty
Southwest Region, Region 2
USFWS Division of Realty
Great Lakes - Big Rivers Region, Region 3
USFWS Division of Realty
Southeast Region, Region 4
USFWS Division of Realty
Northeast Region, Region 5
USFWS Division of Realty
Mountain - Prairie Region, Region 6
USFWS Division of Realty
Alaska Region, Region 7
USFWS Division of Realty
Pacific Southwest Region (California and Nevada), Region 8
USFWS Division of Realty
Interest Identification Number - A concatenation of IFWS and TRACTNO that includes a period (.) separator
USFWS Division of Realty
Organization Type - Administrative categories that identify Service organizations by their primary facility function, program activities, specialized duties and responsibilities, and/or operational status.
USFWS Data Element Standard for Organization Type
Administrative Site
USFWS Division of Realty
Coordination Area
USFWS Division of Realty
Fisheries Research Station
USFWS Division of Realty
Farm Service Administration
USFWS Division of Realty
Fish Technology Center
USFWS Division of Realty
National Fish Hatchery
USFWS Division of Realty
National Wildlife Refuge
USFWS Division of Realty
Wildlife Management Area
USFWS Division of Realty
Waterfowl Production Area
USFWS Division of Realty
Wildlife Research Center
USFWS Division of Realty
US Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Realty, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 622
Although these data and information have been processed successfully on a computer system at the USFWS, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy or utility of the data and information on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data, and information, and aggregate use with other data and information. It is also strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data and information. The USFWS shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data and information described and/or contained herein.
US Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Realty, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 622