No matter where you live, you can play a role in protecting and preserving the region’s air, water and quality of life. Now that you've searched the regional habitat inventory, find out what you can do next. Go
Habitat Tool
Planning and conservation › Regional planning and policy › Nature in Neighborhoods › Protecting habitat and water › Habitat inventory › Habitat Tool
Search the region’s habitat inventory, which includes more than 800,000 acres. Then get answers, take action and connect to resources that help conserve, protect and restore wildlife habitat and protect water quality in your area.
Enter your home or business address.
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Riparian class I
Riparian class II
Riparian class III
Upland class A
Upland class B
Upland class C
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Regional floodplain areas based on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) 100 year floodplain plus the 1996 area of inundation
Regional wetland areas based on National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) and local wetland inventories.
Watershed boundary
Watershed
Air Photo
Streets
Riparian HabitatUpland HabitatHealthy riparian habitat keeps our water cool and clean
Riparian habitat is the area located adjacent to a water body or in the active floodplain. Healthy, intact riparian habitat performs key ecological functions critical to fish and wildlife, providing shade, moderating streamflow, storing water, filtering sediments and pollutants and stabilizing stream banks.
Healthy upland habitat sustains native plants and wildlife
Upland habitat is typically located further away from water sources. Healthy upland wildlife habitat provides food and shelter for urban wildlife and improves the health of water resources downstream. The best upland wildlife habitats include larger habitat patches with extensive interior habitat areas. These areas minimize lower quality edge habitat, provide connectivity and proximity to streams or wetlands and/or contain habitats for unique and sensitive species.
Search, learn, take action
No matter where you live, you can play a role in protecting and preserving the region's air, water and quality of life. Now that you've searched the regional habitat inventory, consider these steps:
- If you are considering developing or making changes to your land, contact your local jurisdiction or county with questions or inquiries about local regulations or development codes for this property or area.
- Learn more about Metro’s Nature in Neighborhoods program, a unique approach to habitat and water quality protection that includes voluntary, incentive-based, educational and regulatory elements. Go
- Connect with your local watershed council and find ways to improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat in your watershed and neighborhood. Connect
- Check out the State of the Watersheds report to find out how healthy your watershed is. Go
- Manage and care for your property in nature-friendly ways -- learn more about
- Explore innovative design and development approaches that show how our cities, buildings and backyards can improve water quality and provide valuable wildlife habitat:
- Discover how you can add more nature to your neighborhood. Apply for funds from Metro’s Nature in Neighborhoods grant programs:
- Make a difference in your neighborhood, create more livable communities and connect with others -- find more Metro grants that help turn great ideas into reality.
A note about accuracy of information
Metro continually gathers and processes the most accurate and up-to-date information available. These maps were updated in September 2004 and reflect revisions suggested by residents and local governments.
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