Geographic information systems (GIS) orient data spatially to facilitate interpretation. GIS information is stored in data layers that can be compiled onto maps. Examples of geographical data include (among many other things) population densities, land cover, roads, and waterways. Assessing this data at a watershed scale can illuminate new patterns within the landscape.
Fond du Lac County Land Information Department has county GIS layers. Available data includes address points, roads, parcels, municipal boundaries, zoning, and contours. There is also an online interface for viewing the data. Contact: Jim Anderson – GIS/Project Specialist (920) 923-3033 ext 125
Green Lake County Land Use Planning & Zoning department has a GIS office that maintains land records and data. Available layers include data relating to parcels, zoning, roads, soils, wetlands, floodplains, orthopotography (aerial photography), and hydrology. Green Lake County also has a GIS Viewer. Zoom in to view parcels and see air photos dating back to 1992. Contact: Gerald Stanuch – GIS Specialist, (920) 294-4174.
University of Wisconsin researchers have access to the campus geoportal and can search for GIS layers by county. They layers include data such as land use, zoning, and parcels.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has a Geospatial Data Gateway containing environmental and natural resources data. Layers can be searched by county. Layers that can be downloaded include precipitation, temperature, landcover, and cropland data.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection provides themed GIS layers which include, among other content, licensed farms, soil maps, and zones for farmland preservation.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also has GIS layers available online. Layers include data on impaired waters, watersheds, and landcover.
A Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources survey of Green Lake’s tributaries in 2014 yielded GIS layers for each tributary and for all of Green Lake County. Read the survey’s final report.
DNR used the resulting shape files to create topical maps for each watershed. All shape files and maps are available for download below.