1 | FRESH Web-based Mapping Application User’s Guide Office of Environmental Planning 

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FEMA’S FLOOD RISK ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT (FRESH) 

Web-based Mapping Application User’s Guide 

FRESH Map tool:

https://fema.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c01581a28192417b90b7898ebc323c5c

This site is best viewed using Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox. If using Internet Explorer, you may not 

experience the full effect when viewing the site. Screenshots captured in this User’s Guide use Microsoft Edge.

The Flood Risk Endangered Species Habitat (FRESH) Web-based mapping application helps communities 

identify the potential presence of federally listed threatened and endangered species and their designated 

critical habitats within their community, and specifically, their regulatory floodplain. FRESH uses authoritative 

species data sources for evidence-based decision-making to promote the conservation of species and habitat, 

where possible. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) worked collaboratively with the U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in the development of 

FRESH. The tool enables users to discover, understand, and communicate the unique environment of their 

NFIP-participating community to assist with the conservation of protected species and habitat, where 

possible. Data and results from FRESH can be used to assist with conservation actions, including for 

Community Rating System (CRS) credits. This User’s Guide provides an overview of how to use FRESH; the 

Application section describes how to use FRESH to complete a Floodplain Species Assessment (FSA). 

Disclaimer: This geospatial mapping tool is designed to help communities identify areas within their floodplains where threatened and endangered species and their designated 

critical habitat (if applicable) may occur. These maps do not guarantee a species will occur within an area, nor do they preclude the presence of an unexpected species; however, 

these maps are a good indicator of species (and critical habitat where applicable) that could be affected by activities within the area. If a specific development project or land use 

decision may affect Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed species or critical habitat within a community, FEMA recommends contacting the local National Marine Fisheries Service 

(for marine species) or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) office with any questions regarding ESA compliance. Additionally, for USFWS species, utilize the Information for 

Planning and Consultation (IPaC) https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/ project planning tool to assist in starting an environmental review.
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Home Page 

Legend This widget displays labels and symbols for layers in the map and can be set to automatically update when the 

visibility of a layer or sublayer changes. Symbols appear in the legend as widgets are activated.

Layer List This widget provides a list of operational layers and symbols and allows the user to turn individual layers 

on and off. Each layer has a check box that allows the user to control its visibility. To turn a layer on, click on the 

check box next to the layer. Other layers are detailed in the Additional Information section.

The Area of Interest widget allows the user to select the location on the map to analyze information from 

feature layers within the specified area.

The My location widget is a shortcut if the user is located within the area being mapped. This will initiate a 

pop-up requesting location access to the device being used. Click Allow to use this feature.

Clicking on the Home widget (or Default extent) will reset the view to the entire United States.

Using Area of Interest 

From the home screen, type the project address in the search bar and then click on this widget, referred to as 

the Area of Interest. Another option is to click on the Area of Interest widget and identify a location either by 

point, line, or polygon at the bottom of the screen, and then launch the Area of Interest widget. 

To find a location, enter an address, city, or state in the search bar in the upper right-hand corner.
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Select the Polygon icon and click desired starting point; 

continue shape by clicking points to draw desired shape and 

double-click to complete shape. 

Use the plus (+) and minus (-) signs to zoom to a level where the 

project area can be captured using the Polygon feature, clicking 

the desired shape around the perimeter of the project or 

community. Re-select layers including Critical Habitat once the 

Area of Interest is selected. 

The Polygon is the recommended method for establishing the 

Area of Interest. 

Point Select the Point icon and click desired place on map. 

Line Select the Line icon and click desired places on map to 

create a line. 

Buffer Distance When using either Point or Line, a Buffer Distance 

must be entered in the drop-down to create an area around the point 

or line. The distance can be any number greater than zero and should 

be large enough to provide an understanding of the number and 

identity of species or critical habitat present in the area, thus allowing

the user to consider conservation activities during project planning. 

The buffer should reflect the area outside of the immediate project 

area that may be affected by the project, such as construction noise 

or runoff. The buffer distance shown is an example only and not 

meant as guidance.

Contact the USFWS or NMFS offices in your area if a project may have impacts on listed species or critical habitat, or visit 

USFWS’s Information for Planning and Conservation website (IPaC). 

If using Point or Line, a report cannot be created if the buffer distance is identified as 0.0.

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Data within the map populates according to the chosen layers. Tabs along the banner at the bottom of the screen allow 

the user to view results for each layer (layers shown in red box below). Tabs identify individual species by critical habitat 

or range. Each tab should be reviewed to better understand the location for each species range or habitat in relation to 

the floodplain for the selected area.

Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) are only depicted at a close range. Shaded blue depicts an Area of 

Interest polygon.

Select the Legend widget to activate the drop-down legend for the National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL).

Select the Layer List widget to turn on/off specific data layers. If ranges impact visibility on the map, increase 

the transparency by choosing the three dots following the layer title and toggle to the desired transparency.

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Other Icons and Tools under Area of Interest 

Add Data The Add Data widget enables the user to add customized data to FRESH by searching for layers in ArcGIS 

Online or ArcGIS Enterprise content (only with an ArcGIS User Account), entering URLs, or uploading their own GIS data 

files. Click Add Data; a small window will open with three options: Search, URL, and File. 

• The Search function will search for available data layers to add from the ArcGIS Enterprise Library (with an ArcGIS User Account). 

Once a data layer is identified, the data can be reviewed by clicking on Details; to add the data layer, click Add.

• The user can incorporate data from a GIS Web Service using the URL function. Choose the Web Service from the drop-down 

menu under Type. Once the Web Service type is selected, copy and paste the GIS Web Service’s URL and click Add.

• To add GIS data, the File Function allows the user to upload data files from the user’s local drive. Click Browse, choose a zipped 

shapefile from your computer to upload, and select Open to add the data. If the data is for a specific location, the map will 

zoom to that area.

 

Using the Draw Tool 

The Draw widget creates graphics to display on the map. Line distances and shaped areas may be added as 

text. Click the Draw icon, select Draw Mode, and adjust the graphics using Color, Transparency, Outline Color,

and Outline Width. Click on the map to add a shape. To clear a shape, scroll down in Draw and click Undo.

Area and perimeter 

measurements may be shown; 

slide the toggle to On before 

drawing the area to be 

measured. 

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Printing and Saving Area of Interest Data 

After designating the Area of Interest and selecting the desired layer, a banner is shown across the bottom of the map. 

To view, generate, and print the results, select the Printer icon. To download results, select the Cloud icon. 

Note: The Camera icon is a future feature and is currently unavailable. 

The Cloud icon downloads all of the species and habitat reports to your computer in a .CSV file type. 

Generating a Report 

To generate a report, choose the Printer icon in 

the Area of Interest widget.

After choosing the Printer widget, a window opens allowing 

the user to set report properties for orientation and paper 

size. A3, A4, Portrait (shown), or tabloid may be selected. 

Comments may be entered in the text box. After setting the

report properties, select OK. 

After clicking OK, a new tab opens in the browser to preview the report for printing. To print the report, select Print. 

In the advanced settings, a user can set specific dimensions, choose the spatial reference, and add in metadata 

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Within the report, the Threatened and Endangered Species Ranges table provides the Common Name (COMNAME) and 

Scientific name (SCINAME) for each species.

Proximity. The term “proximity” in the tables is a remnant title associated with the data layer and not necessarily an 

indicator that a particular habitat or species is within the Area of Interest. Note: The distance may be quite large 

depending on species, habitat, and migration patterns and is not relevant in the analysis. 

Species Range Distance. The Distance Columns in the tables (shaded gray) refer to the distance from the Area of 

Interest to the centermost point of the species range distance. Note: The range distance may be quite large depending 

on species, habitat, and migration patterns and is not relevant in the analysis. 

Species Notes:

Downstream or marine species. FRESH will show species with range in the Area of Interest. In 

addition, species outside of the Area of Interest (downstream) can benefit from conservation activities 

undertaken in upstream areas. For example, conservation actions improving river water quality at one 

location may positively impact habitat for species downstream. Conservation actions benefitting 

freshwater habitat of anadromous or catadromous species, such as salmon or eel, may positively 

impact marine species that prey on those species.

Migratory birds. Some migratory bird species have large species ranges and may use habitat for 

short-term stopover sites to rest or feed, or the habitat may be within the flyover path of a migratory 

route. Additional research may be necessary to determine if habitat within the Area of Interest is 

used by migratory birds.
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The status of the species and any critical habitat within the Area of Interest is included below the Species Ranges table. 

Another option to obtain a species list is by clicking the three dots 

next to the layer of interest for Threatened and Endangered 

Species Ranges and USFWS-Critical Habitat in the Layer List and

choose “View in Attribute Table” from the drop-down menu. 

A species list will populate at the bottom of the screen with common name, 

scientific name, and listing status within the Area of Interest.

 

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Additional Information on Functions 

Layer List 

Layer Information Shown

USFWS Species Current Range Species ranges by USFWS Region for endangered, threatened, proposed, and 

candidate species

CRC Community Layers Participation in the CRS, Special Land Use Authority Areas, Tribal Land Use Authority 

Areas

Threatened and Endangered Species 

Ranges Terrestrial species ranges

USFWS Critical Habitat USFWS-designated areas essential to species conservation

NOAA NMFS Species Layers Marine and salmon species ranges, or nearshore areas used at different life stages

NOAA NMFS Critical Habitat Layers NMFS-designated areas essential to species conservation

NFHL National Flood Hazard Layer

Basemap Gallery 

Questions or Comments? 

Send any questions, comments, or suggestions for the FRESH Web-based Mapping Application to: 

FEMA-FRESHComments@fema.dhs.gov 

Operational layers and symbols are turned on and off by clicking on the checkbox next 

to the layer. Information portrayed by the layers are detailed below.

Basemaps may be chosen to provide a realistic depiction of the Area of 

Interest from other authoritative reference sources. The ESRI Default Map is 

recommended for best use. Alternative basemaps are identified below.