I started a new wiki talk page discussion on the conflicting/controversial usage of the wetland=tidalflat tag regarding implied and explicit surface types:
Also posted a comment on positive related changes being worked on by the carto team:
OpenStreetMap
I started a new wiki talk page discussion on the conflicting/controversial usage of the wetland=tidalflat tag regarding implied and explicit surface types:
Also posted a comment on positive related changes being worked on by the carto team:
Discussion
Comment from Taya_S on 4 March 2026 at 07:10
This old forum thread might also be of interest to you: https://community.openstreetmap.org/t/intertidal-tagging-inconsistencies-beach-sand-or-tidalflat/104919
Comment from jwheare on 4 March 2026 at 09:57
Thanks for that, I think we came to the same conclusion that tidalflat with a surface tag is probably the best scheme. Would you mind adding a brief comment to the wiki discussion so we can try to build some consensus?
Comment from imagico on 4 March 2026 at 17:40
Might be of interest: I wrote more extensively on the current state of coastal mapping in OSM and how it came to be the way it is in 2023.
Comment from jwheare on 4 March 2026 at 18:05
Thanks @imagico, I’ve read your blog posts on this topic in the past and found them very insightful. I need to give them a re-read now that I have a bit more experience under my belt.
I think I’ll prepare a wiki update at some point documenting a brief summary of the history and regional differences in this tag’s usage. It seems there are some strong opinions on what is correct, and what is widespread, but as you mention, it is a complex and regionally varied history.
I’m not sure dictating one way or the other is the way. But mentioning the two alternatives with context should help mappers understand tagging decisions they might see in the wild, and guide them towards making their own decisions in future.