FACT SHEET

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FARM SERVICE AGENCY

Page 1

February 2013

Wetland Determination Identifiers

Overview

As part of the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture’s (USDA) use of digital 

mapping technology to increase 

efficiency, the Farm Service Agency 

(FSA) and the Natural Resources 

Conservation Service (NRCS) use 

point symbols to identify wetland 

determination locations on FSA 

maps. NRCS has the ability to make 

wetland determinations based on 

landowners’ requests. FSA and 

NRCS use point symbols, known as 

wetland determination identifiers, 

to show the approximate location 

of NRCS wetlands on digital maps 

making those areas more easily 

identifiable for producers. 

The maps are used primarily for 

producer information when making 

crop acreage reports, changing field 

boundaries or requesting a map of 

their land from FSA. 

Wetland Point Symbols

Red, yellow and green symbols 

represent different categories of 

wetland determinations and a legend 

provides an explanation of the various levels of use that are allowed on 

these wetlands.

Red octagons represent “Restricted 

Use” determinations; upside-down 

yellow triangles represent “Limited 

Restrictions” determinations and; 

green circles represent “Exempt 

from Conservation Compliance 

Provisions” determinations.

• Restricted Use = W (Wetland); 

CW, CW+YR (Converted 

Wetland + Year); AW/W (Artificial Wetland/Wetland); GFW, 

GFW+YR (Good Faith Wetland 

+ Year); RSW, RSW+YR (Restored Wetland + Year); RPW 

(Replacement Wetland).

• Limited Restrictions = FW 

(Farmed Wetland); FWP 

(Farmed Wetland Pasture); 

CWNA (Converted Wetland, 

Non-ag Use); AW/FW (Artificial Wetland/Farmed Wetland); 

CWTE (Converted Wetland 

Technical Error); TP (Third 

Party Conversion); WX (Manipulated Wetland) MW; CMW 

(Minimal Effect Wetlands); 

MIW, MWM (Mitigation Wetlands); NI (Not Inventoried); 

OW (Other Waters); Easement.

• Exempt from Conservation 

Compliance Provisions = PC 

(Prior Converted); NW (Non 

Wetland); PC/NW (Prior 

Converted/Non Wetland); CC 

(Commenced Conversion); 

NW/NAD (Non Wetland, 

National Appeal Decision); AW 

(Artificial Wetland).

 The wetland determination identifiers do not represent the size, shape, 

exact location or exact category 

of wetland determination, and the 

maps are not used for wetland 

conservation compliance.. USDA 

participants remain responsible for 

self-certifying compliance with 

USDA wetland conservation provisions. 

For More Information

The maps with the identifiers are 

not the official USDA wetland 

determination maps. Producers who 

have questions about the size, shape, 

exact location or exact category of 

the determination should refer to the 

determination information previously provided to them by NRCS on 

form CPA-026e and attached maps, 

or contact their local NRCS office. 

Both FSA and NRCS have the 

USDA wetland determination maps 

available for landowners and operators. Copies of these original maps 

have previously been provided to all 

producers. Producers may request 

a replacement copy through their 

local FSA or NRCS office if they no 

longer have the original. 

Resources

To view a sample current FSA Map 

visit www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/

FSA_Image/wlnewmap.jpg

To view a sample legend visit 

www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_

Image/wlkey.jpg

To view a PowerPoint presentation 

about wetland determination identifiers, visit 

www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_

File/wetlandsymbol.ppt

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

prohibits discrimination in all of its programs 

and activities on the basis of race, color, 

national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, 

parental status, religion, sexual orientation, 

political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s 

income is derived from any public assistance 

program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to 

all programs.) Persons with disabilities who 

require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large 

print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s 

TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice 

and TDD). 

To file a complaint of discrimination, write to 

USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil 

Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., 

Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or 

call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or 

(800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 

(English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 

(Spanish Federal-relay). 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and 

employer.