General The data source shallowgroundwater is a geospatial dataset of multipolygons that represent the estimated areas, in the Flemish region of Belgium, where the mean lowest groundwater level (MLW; Knotters & Van Walsum, 1997; Van Heesen, 1970) is less than approximately 2 m below soil surface (hence, “shallow” groundwater). We expect groundwater dependent species and communities to be present within these areas. Outside these areas we assume they are groundwater independent. We combined several data sources in order to estimate these areas. Compilation of the data source We compiled the dataset through an iterative process of adding specific data sources (referred in the description of attributes below), followed by validation steps based on both the actual presence of groundwater dependent habitat types or regionally important biotopes (Natura 2000 habitat map) and in situ measurements of groundwater levels (Watina+ database). The coverage of these validation data by shallowgroundwater was 96.9% and ... :