Digital Water Atlas

The Digital Water Atlas (DWA) project supports the assessment of resource status and management options for Michigan's inland waters by developing spatially explicit information describing these waters. A wide variety of spatial and tabular datasets exist for the State of Michigan's aquatic resources and fisheries. Once data have been compiled, integrated, and referenced to a standard hydrography dataset. They are ready for distribution to various members of the Michigan DNR Fisheries Division and affiliates.

This project has a few specific objectives to support science-based management of Michigan's inland waters:

Develop a comprehensive Geographic Information System (GIS) database for Michigan's inland waters that includes landscape-scale and site-specific variables;

Support ecological classification and research of inland lakes and streams; and

Support Michigan DNR Fishieries Division staff in their use of GIS for management purposes.