PHS On The Web (POTW) is a web-based, interactive mapping tool for citizens, landowners, local governments, developers, conservation groups and others to find basic information about known locations of Priority Habitats and Species (PHS) in Washington State. PHS is a source of best available science that can inform local planning activities, development projects, conservation strategies, incentive programs, and numerous other applications. The three GIS layers provided in this file geodatabase are the layers displayed in the POTW (Public) online map application. The three layers are scheduled to be updated on the first Monday of each month. These three GIS layers are: WDFWPHSPlusPublicLine, WDFWPHSPlusPublicPoint, and WDFWPHSPlusPublicPolygon. In these three layers, sensitive species are not shown as mapped (as a point, line, or polygon) but the locations are masked as a Section (one square mile), Quarter Township (nine square miles), or Township (thirty-six square miles) polygons.Sensitive species and habitat information are defined in WDFW Policy 5210. Priority habitats and species locations deemed sensitive by WDFW are not publicly displayed beyond a certain resolution (e.g., township or section) due to an increased risk of human interference. Sensitive data is exempt from public disclosure under the Public Records Act; this term is defined in RCW 42.56.430. Sensitive species are any wildlife species likely to become endangered or threatened; this term is defined in WAC 200-200-100. Qualifying landowners, university researchers, government agencies, and tribes may request PHS maps that contain this sensitive data.Since this GIS layer contains non-sensitive species information, it can be used without limitations, but please acknowledge the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) as the source of this information.  Please do not distribute this data, instead refer others to WDFW.  If you have any questions about this layer, you can contact PHS at this email address: [email protected] with a subject line of the email being "POTW Public Dataset Question".Please note, although mapped PHS data is useful for determining the general extent of priority species or habitats, the department has not surveyed the entire state of Washington. PHS map data is meant to serve as a starting point to identify priority habitats and species. It is not meant to replace or preempt more detailed field-based, site-level mapping. Site-specific surveys are usually needed to rule out the presence of priority habitats or species. PHS maps do not provide an official agency determination of the potential impacts to fish and wildlife of a specific project.Additional ResourcesPHS On The Web Application: https://geodataservices.wdfw.wa.gov/hp/phs/PHS On the Web Map Service: https://geodataservices.wdfw.wa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/PHSOnTheWeb/PHSOnTheWebPublic/MapServer