Water Area
The total surface area of inland water bodies (lakes, rivers, reservoirs) within a ZIP code or ZCTA boundary.
Water area represents the portion of a ZCTA's total area covered by inland water features such as lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, canals, and reservoirs. The Census Bureau distinguishes between permanent water features and intermittent ones, and between inland water and coastal/Great Lakes water.
Most urban ZIP codes have minimal water area, but ZCTAs near the Great Lakes, major reservoirs, or coastal estuaries may have water areas exceeding their land areas. Some ZCTAs in lake regions of Minnesota and Wisconsin have a water percentage above 50%.
Water area data is useful for environmental analysis, flood risk assessment, recreational planning, and understanding why certain ZIP codes have lower developable land than their total area suggests.