Public Waters Inventory Maps and Lists
Public waters are all waterbasins and watercourses that meet the criteria set forth in Minnesota Statutes, Section 103G.005, subd. 15 that are identified on Public Water Inventory maps and lists authorized by Minnesota Statutes, Section 103G.201. Public waters wetlands include all type 3, type 4, and type 5 wetlands (as defined in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Circular No. 39, 1971 edition) that are 10 acres or more in size in unincorporated areas or 2 ? acres or more in size in incorporated areas (see Minnesota Statutes Section 103G.005, subd. 17b, Wetland Type). DNR Waters utilizes county-scale maps to show the general location of the public waters and public waters wetlands (lakes, wetlands, and watercourses) under its regulatory jurisdiction. These maps are commonly known as Public Waters Inventory (PWI) maps. The regulatory "boundary" of these waters and wetlands is called the ordinary high water level (OHWL). Public Waters Inventory maps are available on a county-by-county basis. Additionally, county-by-county lists of these waters are available in tabular form.
Map description
Public Waters Inventory maps are available on a county-by-county basis. The baseline map used for the construction of the PWI maps is the Minnesota Department of Transportation county highway map. Some maps have several "sheets" per county. During the inventory process, the public waters and public waters wetlands were "added" (drafted) to each county highway base map and are visibly darker than other "background" information on the base map. A map legend describes the waters that DNR Waters regulates. The public waters are identified with a number followed by a "P" (e.g., 85P) and the public waters wetlands are identified with a number followed by a "W" (e.g., 30W). Watercourses are not numbered, however they appear as heavily "bolded" solid or dashed lines. The solid lines indicate watercourses over which DNR Waters always has permit authority. The dashed lines indicate watercourses where DNR Waters jurisdiction is subject to public ditch law procedures. In addition, the legend on several county PWI maps indicate the existence of more detailed maps (not available in hard copy or online) that depict additional waters that DNR Waters regulates. These maps more clearly show certain reaches of DNR-designated trout streams on 7.5-minute series topographic maps prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey. Finer detailed PWI maps are only available for viewing at applicable county auditors offices, DNR Waters regional and area offices, DNR area fisheries offices, county soil and water district offices, zoning and engineering offices, watershed district offices, and the DNR Waters Central Office in St. Paul.
Availability of Public Waters Inventory Maps and Lists
Paper maps and lists
By law, Public Waters Inventory maps and lists are available for viewing at all county auditors offices. They are also available for viewing at DNR Waters regional, area, and central offices; soil and water conservation district offices; and watershed district offices.
Public Waters Inventory maps and lists, and National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) maps are available for purchase from:
Minnesota's Bookstore
660 Olive Street, St. Paul, MN 55155
tel. (651) 297-3000 (metro area) or 1-800-657-3757 (statewide)
Electronic maps and lists
View Public Waters Inventory Maps
- scanned maps
- draft ArcView shapefiles
- draft ArcView files are available from DNR FTP site
- Metadata from DNR Data Deli
View Public Waters Inventory Lists
For general program questions or assistance, contact:
John Fax, DNR Waters Hydrologist
(651) 259-5667, john.fax@dnr.state.mn.us
For GIS Public Waters and Public Waters Wetland mapping related questions, contact:
Glenn Radde, DNR Wetlands GIS Manager
(651) 259-5690, glenn.radde@dnr.state.mn.us
