Ecoregions are areas where ecosystems (and the type, quality, and quantity of environmental resources) are generally similar. This ecoregion framework is derived from Omernik (1987) and from mapping done in collaboration with EPA regional offices, other Federal agencies, state resource management agencies, and neighboring North American countries. Designed to serve as a spatial framework for the research, assessment, and monitoring of ecosystems and ecosystem components, ecoregions denote areas of similarity in the mosaic of biotic, abiotic, terrestrial, and aquatic ecosystem components with humans being considered as part of the biota. These regions are critical for structuring and implementing ecosystem management strategies across Federal agencies, state agencies, and nongovernmental organizations that are responsible for different types of resources within the same geographic areas. Ecoregions are identified by analyzing the patterns and composition of biotic and abiotic phenomena that affect or reflect differences in ecosystem quality and integrity. These phenomena include geology, landforms, soils, vegetation, climate, land use, wildlife, and hydrology. Internet Archive URL: https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://epa.gov/eco-research/ecoregions

The Freshwater Ecosystems Explorer is a free and easy to use data platform providingnaccurate, up-to-date, high-resolution geospatial data depicting the extent freshwater ecosystems change over time. By helping decision-makers understand dynamic ecosystem changes, the data presented on this open access platform is intended to drive action to protect and restore freshwater ecosystems and enable countries to track progress towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal Target 6.6.

The Lakes Ecosystem Services Online GIS provides geospatial visualization, query, and analysis tool on the types of benefits provided by lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. The data in this dataset is used by the website to provide access to lakes monitoring data, modeled nutrient fluxes, state specific data sets analytical tools and scripts for exploring associations between nutrients and lake ecosystem services, tools for mapping lake ecosystem services. https://archive.epa.gov/aed/lakesecoservices/web/html/ Internet Archive URL: https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://gispub4.epa.gov/LES

Washington's State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP, 2015) is a comprehensive plan for conserving the state's fish and wildlife and the natural habitats on which they depend. It is part of a nationwide effort by all 50 states and five U.S. territories to develop conservation action plans and participate in the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants (SWG) Program. These data layers represent both the observed species range, as well as, the modeled potential species range for Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), as identified in Washington’s State Wildlife Action Plan, 2015.  Species range is defined as the geographic area, in which a species regularly occurs within Washington, including areas used for breeding as well as important distinct foraging, wintering, or migration areas, where appropriate. Range does not include accidental, infrequent, or peripheral areas that are disconnected from the regularly occurring area or wintering or migration areas that are generally broad and nonspecific. SWAP SGCN species ranges (observed and potential) are spatially represented, using USGS watershed boundaries (USGS hydrologic units - HUCS) at various scales.   Potential suitable habitat distribution data for each of the SCGN species was derived from “Ecological Systems” data.   Ecological Systems were developed by NatureServe to provide a mid-scale ecological classification, for uplands and wetlands, useful for conservation and environmental planning. The Washington State SWAP data is organized as a collection of individual species ranges (observed and potential range polygons), as well as, potential habitat distribution raster files - that have been compressed (into a ZIP files) for download. No map services exist for these data at this time.  

This data set estimates large-scale wetland distributions and important wetland complexes, including areas of marsh, fen, peatland, and water.