Audit of Geographic Feature Names in the National Hydrography

Dataset (NHD)

James SeayKentucky Division of Water

Frankfort, KY James.seay@ky.gov

2012 Kentucky GIS ConferenceSeptember 28, 2012

What is the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD)?

•GIS data set built by the US Geological Survey (USGS)•Contains hydrographic features such as lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, dams, canals and stream gages.•Stream flowlines have associated flow directions to allow for its use in hydrographic modeling.•Names for rivers, lakes and other hydrographic features taken from the federal Geographic Names Information System.•Work on current high resolution NHD (1:24k scale) begun in 2002, completed in 2007.•Kentucky Division of Water is the state NHD Data Steward.

What is the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)?

•Database holds the federally recognized names of

geographic features across the USA.

•Maintained by the US Board of Geographic Names (BGN).

•BGN collecting geographic names since 1890.

•Has partnerships with various state, federal and local

agencies to collect and reconcile geographic place names.

•The Kentucky portion of the GNIS has existed since 1979.

Common NHD names issues

•NHD feature missing GNIS ID and/or Name

•Incorrect NHD feature bears GNIS ID/Name

•GNIS ID/Name assigned to incorrect headwaters

stream.

•NHD Feature has a GNIS ID but has not been

digitized into the NHD.

Common GNIS Issues•Duplicate GNIS records

• Occurs along state borders• Artifact from early days of the GNIS database

•Misplaced coordinates for the mouth and/or source of a stream•Associated geographic feature no longer exists (ex. drained lake/reservoir)

• BGN designates ‘lost’ geographic features as ‘historical’

• No GNIS records are deleted.

GNIS Feature no longer exists

S

Reporting GNIS Issues•Problems with the GNIS are to be reported to the BGN at

gnis_manager@usgs.gov.

• Include GNIS ID and Name of problem feature.

• The nature of the problem (ex. duplicate GNIS

records)

• The name of the USGS 7.5 minute topographic map

quad in which this feature may be found.

•To propose or change a name:

http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/name_form.htm

Reporting NHD IssuesNHD Issues may be reported to:

Kentucky Technical Point of Contact (POC): James Seay

James.seay@ky.gov

USGS NHD POC for Kentucky:Elizabeth McCartney

emccartney@usgs.gov

For more information•US Board of Geographic Names (for the latest GNIS data and information about the GNIS database): http://geonames.usgs.gov

•US Geological Survey NHD page: http://nhd.usgs.gov

Questions?