Where our outdoor information comes from
Every source behind lake pages and the Outdoor Opportunity card: who runs it, what it can genuinely supply, whether we are permitted to use it, and when it was last checked. A source counts as connected only after a real check has succeeded for the coverage we claim. Open the official link on any source and check for yourself before you travel.
3 of 22 sources are connected. The rest are listed so you can see exactly what we do not cover.
Official weather, water, road and season information always comes first. WildGrid never replaces a state or federal agency, and nothing here is an emergency warning service. If a source looks wrong or out of date, tell us and we will correct or remove it.
- Permission required
North Dakota Game & Fish — Fishing Waters
North Dakota Game & Fish Department
Reuse terms not confirmed · No successful check recorded
Can supply: species and fishery status, stocking, depths and shoreline, ramps, piers and facilities, accessibility, aquatic nuisance species
Permission required
- Not connected
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Attribution required · No successful check recorded
Can supply: lake identity and DOW number, fisheries surveys, stocking, public water access, ice-out dates
Not connected
- Not connected
Minnesota DNR state parks and managed units (Geospatial Commons)
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Attribution required · No successful check recorded
Can supply: state park, recreation area and wayside names, official park page links, public access without trespass flag, the state's own record update dates
Not connected
- Not connected
North Dakota state parks and state lands (ND GIS Hub)
North Dakota state agencies / ND GIS Hub
Attribution required · No successful check recorded
Can supply: state park, recreation area, natural area and nature preserve names, the state's own unit description, the state's own acreage figures
Not connected
- Not connected
USGS Water Data (OGC APIs)
U.S. Geological Survey
Public domain — free to use with attribution · No successful check recorded
Can supply: lake and river stage, elevation, discharge, water temperature
Not connected
- Connected
National Weather Service API — hourly forecast
NOAA / National Weather Service
Public domain — free to use with attribution · No successful check recorded
Can supply: forecast, hourly weather, wind and gusts, precipitation, temperature
Connected
- Connected
National Weather Service API — active alerts
NOAA / National Weather Service
Public domain — free to use with attribution · No successful check recorded
Can supply: watches, warnings and advisories, severity, effective and expiry times
Connected
- Permission required
North Dakota Game & Fish — fishing reports
North Dakota Game & Fish Department
Written permission required · No successful check recorded
Can supply: bite quality reports, water and ice conditions, seasonal fish activity
Permission required
- Permission required
Minnesota DNR — fishing and lake conditions
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Reuse terms not confirmed · No successful check recorded
Can supply: fishing regulations, lake conditions summaries, ice safety guidance
Permission required
- Permission required
ND Roads (North Dakota 511) — road conditions and closures
North Dakota Department of Transportation
Reuse terms not confirmed · No successful check recorded
Can supply: road surface conditions, closures and restrictions, incidents
Permission required
- Permission required
Minnesota 511 — road conditions and closures
Minnesota Department of Transportation
Reuse terms not confirmed · No successful check recorded
Can supply: road surface conditions, closures and restrictions, incidents
Permission required
- Connected
WildGrid recorded field observations
WildGrid (human-entered)
Licensed for derived use · No successful check recorded
Can supply: fishing observations, hunting activity observations, water and ice observations, access and rule changes
Connected
- Not connected
Water Quality Portal (EPA / USGS)
EPA, USGS and NWQMC
Public domain — free to use with attribution · No successful check recorded
Can supply: water chemistry samples, clarity, nutrients, toxin-related results
Not connected
- Not connected
North Dakota DEQ — water quality and HAB
North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality
Reuse terms not confirmed · No successful check recorded
Can supply: harmful algal bloom reports and advisories, impairment status
Not connected
- Not connected
NOAA NDBC and partner buoys
NOAA National Data Buoy Center (stations may be operated by other agencies)
Public domain — free to use with attribution · No successful check recorded
Can supply: wind, waves, water temperature
Not connected
- Not connected
USACE reservoir water control data
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Public domain — free to use with attribution · No successful check recorded
Can supply: reservoir elevation, storage, inflow and outflow
Not connected
- Permission required
Lake of the Woods Tourism fishing reports
Lake of the Woods Tourism
Written permission required · No successful check recorded
Can supply: local fishing reports
Permission required
- Permission required
Devils Lake CVB fishing reports
Devils Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau
Written permission required · No successful check recorded
Can supply: local fishing reports
Permission required
- Permission required
Mille Lacs area tourism fishing reports
Mille Lacs area tourism organisations
Reuse terms not confirmed · No successful check recorded
Can supply: local fishing reports
Permission required
- Permission required
Leech Lake area tourism fishing reports
Leech Lake area tourism organisations
Reuse terms not confirmed · No successful check recorded
Can supply: local fishing reports
Permission required
- Permission required
Lake Vermilion resort and guide reports
Independent resorts and guides
Written permission required · No successful check recorded
Can supply: guide-reported conditions
Permission required
- Permission required
Lake Winnie resort association reports
Lake Winnibigoshish area resort association
Written permission required · No successful check recorded
Can supply: local fishing reports
Permission required