1. How much does it cost me to get maps from the Geospatial Data Gateway? (Top)

Download is free.

For NAIP please see FAQ 4.

External storage device data delivery is no longer available. Please use Bulk Download options.

Please note that there is no capacity to fill large National Elevation Dataset orders. For these requests, send an email request to USGS - bulkdatainfo@usgs.gov and include the following:
• Your information (address and phone number)
• Product requested.
• Area requested (applies to the High Resolution Orthoimagery)
• Format
Also note: Bulk orders for non-Government personnel are not available for NAIP, LiDAR, NED or LAS datasets.

2. Downloading problems. (Top)

Make sure your order has not expired. Orders only remain on the system for four days. If your order has expired you will need to use the Gateway and place the order again. Use the Gateway "Check Order" to determine if an order has expired.

When downloading, make sure you are using the entire URL. If you are clicking on a link in your completion email make sure it is complete and not truncated because some of the URL may be on subsequent line(s). You can always use the Gateway "Check Order" to ensure the correct file path URL. After you click on the link, click the Save button not the Open button.

For larger files, if your are connected to a VPN, try disconnecting from the VPN to obtain faster download speeds.
A download manager may also be helpful for large files because a manager will error correct and retry. Information on some shareware client tools can be found here. Free Download Manager is popular.

Problems extracting .zip archives:
Occasionally using built in windows decompression will cause an error like "not enough space available". To overcome this problem, purchase and use WinZip or download and use open source 7zip. This seems to occur with the GSSURGO product.

3. Datasets that I used to order do not appear to be available anymore. Where can I download them? (Top)

Many datasets were moved to a Direct Download option via Box.com. Click here to view available datasets

4. What is the availability of the most current NAIP imagery? (Top)

We do not have specific dates as to when the newest current year imagery will become available. After imagery is inspected it becomes available. Go here for information. Compare the 'Inspection Status' map to the 'Availability Map' to see if an area of interest will be available soon. NAIP compressed county mosaics (CCMs) are available here. More FAQs regarding NAIP CCMs are located here.

5. How and where do I get a viewer for my digital maps? (Top)

Some suggested free online GIS data viewers are located at the following links: NRCS Iowa Map Viewer, but can map beyond Iowa, Earth Explorer or ArcGIS Map Viewer . We do not support or endorse any particular data viewer. You can also use your favorite web search engine on 'GIS Viewers' .

6. How can I find out the dates of specific quads used to create ortho mosaics? (Top)

For NAIP products:
See the seamlines shapefile for the state.

For DRG mosaics:
The Quadrangle Index 1:24,000 product has a 'create' field that is the create date for each of the quads used to produce the mosaic.

Regarding MDOQ* products:
Available metadata is not as comprehensive as it needs to be because not all image dates for a mosaic are recorded in the metadata. Some metadata reflect the dates the mosaics were created, and this is obviously misleading. Other metadata reflects a range of image dates used to create the mosaics. While this is better, users still can’t determine image dates for specific areas in the mosaics. Over time these deficiencies will be resolved.

The Service Center data centers in Salt Lake City, Utah and Fort Worth, Texas understand user frustration with this problem. As soon as possible, the data centers will begin delivering a complimentary product, a shapefile, with DOQ boundaries and attributes to include file names and image dates.

7. Why did I receive watershed boundary data or national hydrography data for a different geographic area than I ordered? (Top)

Watershed and national hydrography boundaries do not follow state and county boundaries. Users are generally interested in obtaining all data for a complete watershed or group of watersheds for an area of interest, such as a county. Processing logic when ordering data by county is:

WBD12 (24k) – All wbd12 polygons and lines in hydrologic unit sub-basins (8-digit HUC) that are inside or cross the county are delivered. 8-digit sub basins that are inside or touch a county are all delivered when ordering a county.

WBD8 (24k) – All wbd8 polygons and lines in hydrologic unit regions (2-digit HUC) that are inside or cross the state are delivered. 2-digit regions (only the portions already completed at 1:24,000) that touch the state are all delivered when ordering a county.

HUC8 (250k) – All huc8 polygons in hydrologic unit regions (2-digit HUC) that are inside or cross the state are delivered. 2-digit regions touching the state are all delivered when requesting a County.

Because watershed boundary polygons are delivered that touch or cross a county or state, the resulting map(s) that are delivered may be for a county or state that you did not select. Please use the "Status Maps" option on the home page to see the area of coverage.

8. Why are there quads missing from my NED, LiDAR or IFSAR order? (Top)

NED 10M, NED3M, LiDAR2M, LiDAR1M and IFSAR are not available for the entire US. See the following Gateway 'Status Maps' for their respective coverages:
NED 3M Status Map
NED 10M Status Map
LiDAR Status Map
IFSAR Status Map
IFSAR Alaska Status Map
For more detail on the above NED 3M and NED 10M layers, a polygon shape file of the coverage including attributes such as original resolution, production method, and dates can be downloaded.

LiDAR data is collected by project. When this layer is ordered there is a link in the accompanying README file to download the metadata which includes dates.

These elevation layers are developed on a project by project basis whose boundaries do not coincide with a county, state or rectangular boundary order area. As a result, an order may have missing quadrangles and individual quadrangles may be only partially covered. In addition, quadrangles that are inside, crossing or touching the order area are provided which may make it appear that quadrangles for the wrong adjacent county are delivered.

The United States Interagency Elevation Inventory is a useful site for searching and downloading all manner of elevation data in the US.

9. How can I order just the data that falls in a selected area of interest rather than the entire county? (Top)

For most map layers, the user has the ability to extract a subset of the data rather than the entire map(s). To do this, you must use the "Order Data by Lat/Long Bounding Box", "Order Data with Interactive Map", or "Order Data by Place" method of ordering data as well as change the data inclusion type from the default of "Standard" to "Extract" in step three (How). Please note that, for image layers, the Extract option is limited to an area of interest of .25 degrees in either the x or y direction and may process more slowly. If extracting from an image that exceeds 8 GB, close the warning message in step two (What), continue to step three (How), "OK" the No Available Delivery Options pop-up message, click on the HERE button to change the inclusion to Extract and then the download option will become available. Also note, in cases where the area of interest crosses through a polygon, the entire polygon is extracted and not clipped to the area of interest. For more information on the behavior of the Extract option for the different map layers, please see the Inclusion Table.

10. The download files are a different size than the estimate. (Top)

The estimated downloaded size of each product that is shown in the order summary is the size of the maps in megabytes when they are placed on your disk. When you order products via download they are compressed into a zip file. Putting the maps into a zip file usually reduces the size, making the zip file much smaller than the estimate. However, products which are produced with enhanced wavelet compression such as ERMapper and MrSid county mosaics can actually become larger in a zip file.

11. The image products did not arrive in the projection I expected. (Top)

The choice of projection only applies to vector map products. All image products are delivered in their native projection which is UTM NAD83 or WGS 84 in the case of the pacific basin. For counties that cross UTM zones the more prominent zone was designated as the UTM projection.

12. Where can I download topographic images (DRGs) by county? (Top)

On the main Geospatial Data Gateway page, below the green "Get Data" button, there is a menu that says, "I want to...", and underneath that there is a link for Direct Data Download. The link takes you here. The data you are looking for is listed as Topographic Images, Digital Raster Graphic County Mosaic by NRCS, and that link will take you here, where you can download the data for your state. The counties are labeled by FIPS code. If you are not familiar with FIPS codes, there is a key here.

13. Why was Soil Survey (SSURGO) data removed from the Gateway? Where can I download SSURGO data? (Top)

The data is available to order on Web Soil Survey, so it was removed from the Geospatial Data Gateway ordering system to reduce redundancy. There is a note on the main Geospatial Data Gateway page that states, "As of December 31, 2019 the Raster Soil Survey datasets are only available through the Direct Download option on the home page and are no longer available through the Gateway ordering process." To visit the direct download page for soils, click here. Questions regarding soils data should be directed to soilshotline@usda.gov.

14. Why do I get the error "Our records indicate that you have already placed an order for these maps in the last five days."? (Top)

If you attempt to place an order for the same data set that you've ordered within the last 4 days, you will receive this error as an effort to reduce unnecessary duplication of data orders. Sometimes there is a need for reordering such as ordering in a different delivery format. If this is the case, contact the Gateway using the contact option from the main menu and request to have your current order deleted. The alternative is to wait 4 days and order again.

15. Raster files display in the wrong projection. (Top)

ArcGIS 9.2 introduced some bugs with raster projections. Older MrSID files that have a datum of NAD83 are incorrectly read as NAD27. A work around to this problem is to edit the map's Spatial Reference properties in ArcCatalog:

1. In ArcCatalog, bring in the MrSID file. Go to File > Properties > When the Properties Box appears, scroll down to “Spatial Reference” and hit the Edit button. Use either the “Select” button or “Import” button to change from NAD27_UTM to NAD83_UTM, with applicable Zone, and then the “Apply” button, then “OK”.

2. Leave ArcCatalog open. Open a new ArcMap session. Before you bring in the above raster, in the new ArcMap session, go to Tools > Options > Raster, and uncheck the "Use world file to define the coordinates of the raster."

3. Now bring in the MrSID file by dragging from ArcCatalog into the ArcMap table of contents.

The mosaic should now display correctly.

16. How do I display adjacent MrSid images with transparent background? (Top)

Users often need to display two or more NAIP CCMs, orthophotos, or digital raster graphic mosaics without having "no data" areas block out overlap areas. ArcGIS software must be used to display transparent no data areas. The following procedures may resolve the issue.

Load the raster image into ArcGIS Pro. In the table of contents, right click the raster image and select Symbology. In the lower half of the symbology window, select the Mask tab. Check the box to display background value. This should work if "no data" areas are black. If the "no data" areas are white, before you select the Mask tab, copy the "max value" that is indicated on the Statistics tab. Then, go to the Mask tab, check the box to display background value, and paste the "max value" into all of the boxes.

17. How do I find the dates of the NED source datasets? (Top)

The coverage and spatial metadata attributes of each NED source dataset, such as original resolution, production method, and dates, are in a polygonal shape file located here.

LiDAR data is collected by project. When this layer is ordered there is a link in the accompanying README file to download the metadata which includes dates.

18. Why is the menu not listing all the data layers I see on the Status Map? (Top)

Effective 1 February 2006 the USDA SCA Geospatial Data Distribution policy was fully implemented. As a result of this new policy, geospatial data not financed by USDA SCA is no longer available to the public. If you are an authorized USDA user, you must login from the Gateway main menu to see all the data layers. More information about the policy can be found here.

19. What are the access and use constraints of data delivered from the Gateway? (Top)

Information presented on this website is considered public information (unless otherwise noted) and may be distributed or copied. More information can be found here.

20. Why are there images missing from the NAIP county mosaic?. (Top)

All the full resolution images that make up a county may not have been available at the time the compressed county mosaic was created which results in holes in the county. Sometimes this is due to smoke from wildfires or weather. NAIP imagery is only flown once a year, so these holes will not be filled until the following collection year.

21. Why did the Gateway return an item with the status of "Success (Nothing Found)"? (Top)

If you use the "Quick County(s)" option, the Gateway will create an order of the selected product for every county in your list. If there is no data for a particular county, the order for that county will return a status of "Success (Nothing Found)". The Gateway notifier will state "No Map(s) were found in the area ordered" in the notification email.

The "Status Maps" link on the Gateway home page will show the counties covered by a particular product. In step two (What) the green "+" button will provide a detailed list of all map(s) included with a particular product.

22. Is it possible to select an area of interest by uploading a polygon shapefile? (Top)

No, that is not a feature that is supported by the Geospatial Data Gateway at this time.

23. Why do I get a winzip panel with no files when I press 'Download Now'? (Top)

You should get a panel with the choices Open, Save, or Cancel. Always select Save. To get the default dialog of Open, Save, or Cancel when downloading a .zip file, use:
-Windows Explorer/Tools/Folder Options/
or
-Start/Control Panel /Folder Options/
then select File Types tab, find ZIP in Extensions, click Advanced button and finally "Confirm open after download"
You can also right click and select 'Save Target As' to specify a location and name.

24. Why is Common Land Unit (CLU) no longer available? (Top)

Effective October 30, 2014, CLU is unavailable from the Geospatial Data Gateway until further notice. Should you require CLU data, please contact the GEO Sales office. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Please be advised that with the enactment of The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, Title I—Commodity Programs, Subtitle F—Administration, Section 1619 on May 22, 2008, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is no longer allowed to make the geospatial data, including access to the Common Land Unit (CLU) records, available to the public, even through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Section 1619 is an Exemption 3 statute that prohibits FSA from sharing this data with the public. However, there is a provision that a farmer or rancher may request their own information from the local field office. Please click here to find your local field office.

25. Why do the values in the WBD ACRES field differ from the values of calculated acres? (Top)

The ACRES field was calculated based on the North America Albers Equal Area Conic projection. Data delivered by the Gateway is either in Geographic, UTM or State Plane. Any area calculations will be based on the map's current projection and therefore will differ from the original ACRES values.

26. What is the procedure for making a color infrared image from the NAIP 4-band Compressed County Mosaic (CCM)? (Top)

In ArcGIS Pro, add the CCM to the map and click on the layer in the table of contents. Click on the Raster Layer menu on the ribbon on the top of the screen, then change the band combination to Color Infrared. There are alternative instructions for manually changing the settings for each band here.

27. How do I get one national map of all Watershed Boundary Data (WBD) for HUC 2-12? (Top)

An archive of the WBD national map for HUC 2-12 and Lines can be found here. These downloads for each HUC level are ESRI File Geodatabases of all the WBD polygons or HUC 2-12 lines.

To get a single map of each HUC level of all WBD in a state:
-Use the "Order Data by State" option for defining your area of interest.
-In step two (What), select one or more of the Watershed Boundary Dataset products.
-In step three (How), for the Data Format selection, pick either the 'ESRI Shape File' or 'ESRI File GeoDataBase Feature Class' option from the choice list.

28. What happened to the FEMAQ3 Flood Data? (Top)

In an effort to provide our customers a more up to date map and data service for FEMA data, NRCS will no longer be serving FEMAQ3 data through the Geospatial Data Gateway and instead will be referring our customers to the FEMA site. More information can be found here.

29. Where can I find a boundary file for Agricultural Statistics Districts? (Top)

Please visit the National Agricultural Statistics Service website.

30. Where can I find a Plant Hardiness Zone map? (Top)

The Agricultural Research Service provides a Plant Hardiness Zone map as an image file here. Shape files can be downloaded from the PRISM website here (please note that only the shapefiles can be downloaded if you are a Federal employee or Military).

31. Why do the National Elevation Data (NED) maps show resampling as "nearest neighbor"? (Top)

Nearest Neighbor is the resampling method used to construct the pyramids, not the actual map data. Either bilinear interpolation or cubic convolution is recommended for continuous type elevation data to resample and reproject from the source geographic data to a UTM projection. The USGS uses bilinear interpolation which, determines the new value of a cell based on a weighted distance average of the four nearest input cell centers. The Gateway uses cubic convolution, which fits a smooth curve through the 16 nearest input cell centers even though it is a more compute intensive operation because cubic convolution produces a smoother surface and honors negative elevations such as those in Death Valley, CA.

32. How do I get one national map of all the PRISM Climate Precipitation and Temperature Rasters? (Top)

Zip files of the conterminous US for the 30-year periods 1961-1990, 1971-2000, 1981-2010 and 1991-2020 can be found here. These downloads are ESRI File Geodatabase that contain monthly and annual average precipitation and average minimum and maximum temperatures raster layers for the contiguous US.

33. Is the NAIP imagery served by the Gateway 3-band or 4-band? (Top)

The NAIP Compressed County Mosaics (CCMs) served by the Gateway are a secondary product created from NAIP quarter quad source data. The status maps on the FPAC BC GEO website refer to the NAIP quarter quad source data which is 4-band imagery. The CCMs were primarily 3-band imagery until the 2024 collection year. 2024 is the first year in which all NAIP CCMs were provided as 4-band. The name of the Box file folder containing the CCMs for a state includes an “m” if the CCMs are multispectral (4-band), an “n” for natural color (3-band), or a “c” for color infrared (3-band). For example, 4-band data for New Mexico collected in 2024 is in a folder titled nm_m. In 2022, the CCMs for New Mexico were 3-band and are divided into two folders titled nm_c and nm_n. The 4-band NAIP quarter quad source data is available for purchase from the GEO Sales office. See the NAIP GeoHub for more information.

34. Why are there what appears to be tile boundaries in NHD water bodies and how can they be removed? (Top)

Please see the document located here for more information.

35. As an NRCS employee, where can I find the authoritative NRCS .styles, in order to symbolize my data with the official, approved symbols? (Top)

.Style files for the official NRCS data symbology sets, accessible only by NRCS employees, can be found at the NRCS GIS Share Point site here.

The style files include symbology for: National Conservation Plans; National Conservation Practice Standards; National Cooperative Soil Survey; National Resources Inventory; National Soil and Water Conservation Engineering; National Thematic Maps; National Watershed Projects; and NRCS-SOI-37A. A one-page guide on using the .styles in ArcMap 10.0 is also provided on the Share Point site.

36. How can I obtain LIDAR, Hillshade or NED without going over the 8 GB order size limit? (Top)

Use this document as a reference to order by interactive map, but if ordering large elevation datasets, limit the bounding box to a smaller portion of a county and place multiple orders of the county in 2 or more sections. It may take some trial and error to get the elevation orders under the size limit for large counties.

Additional resources for obtaining Elevation data for USDA personnel:
https://gis.sc.egov.usda.gov/image/rest/services
https://geoobserver.sc.egov.usda.gov/geoobserver/index.html

37. How can I order easements or another dataset in one national layer? (Top)

Use this document as a reference to order by interactive map, but if ordering large elevation datasets, limit the bounding box to a smaller portion of a county and place multiple orders of the county in 2 or more sections. It may take some trial and error to get the elevation orders under the size limit for large counties.

38. Will the access to the Geospatial Data Gateway remain available if there is a government shutdown? (Top)

Unfortunately, due to a lapse in funding, the Gateway servers would likely not remain online nor would they have any staff to maintain the servers in the event of a government shutdown.

39. How can I request assistance if the issue I have encountered is not addressed by the FAQs? (Top)

You can click on the “Contact Us” link on the top of this page for information on how to request further assistance.