Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)Applications WorkshopApplications Workshop

NHD/WBD WorkshopApril 17, 2009

Presenters:Presenters: Karen Hanson, USGS-UTKaren Hanson, USGS-UT Milo Anderson, EPA R5 (remotely)Milo Anderson, EPA R5 (remotely)

Materials provided by:Materials provided by:Mark Stanger, DWQ-DEQ, UTMark Stanger, DWQ-DEQ, UT

Margo Berendsen, WyGISCMargo Berendsen, WyGISCTed Geier, USFS Ted Geier, USFS Keith Larson, NRCS AZKeith Larson, NRCS AZDave Brower, NRCS WADave Brower, NRCS WALinda Davis, Idaho Dept. Water ResourcesLinda Davis, Idaho Dept. Water ResourcesDan Wickwire, BLM ORDan Wickwire, BLM OR

The WBD……….The WBD………. Defines the Defines the aerial extentaerial extent of water drainage to a point of water drainage to a point

Establishes a Establishes a base-line drainage boundary frameworkbase-line drainage boundary framework, accounting , accounting for all land and surface areasfor all land and surface areas

ImpartialImpartial to any administrative units, special projects, particular to any administrative units, special projects, particular program or agencyprogram or agency

At a minimum, the hydrologic units must be delineated and At a minimum, the hydrologic units must be delineated and georeferenced to USGS georeferenced to USGS 1:24,0001:24,000-, 1:25,000-, or 1:63,360-scale -, 1:25,000-, or 1:63,360-scale topographic maps, which meet National Standards for Spatial Data topographic maps, which meet National Standards for Spatial Data Accuracy Accuracy (NSSDA)(NSSDA)

Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quadrangles (DOQQs) or Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quadrangles (DOQQs) or higher higher resolutionresolution imagery, contours of elevation, stream locations and other imagery, contours of elevation, stream locations and other relevant data are useful in improving the accuracy or currentness of relevant data are useful in improving the accuracy or currentness of the hydrologic unit boundariesthe hydrologic unit boundaries

Hydrologic Unit Level Name Coding Digits Size (in acres) Number

1 Region 2  

2 Sub-region 4    

3 Basin 6    

4 Sub-basin 8

5 Watershed 10 40,000-250,000 5 to 15

6 Sub-watershed 12 10,000-40,000 5 to 15

Establishes hierarchical units of Establishes hierarchical units of proportionate sizes and numbers per proportionate sizes and numbers per

nested 5nested 5thth and 6 and 6thth levels levels

Attribution - Attribution - polygonpolygon 8- 10- and 12-digit 8- 10- and 12-digit codingcoding

8- 10- and 12-digit 8- 10- and 12-digit downstream codingdownstream coding

10- and 12-digit 10- and 12-digit namingnaming

Size reported as Size reported as acreageacreage

State(s)State(s) that subbasin falls in that subbasin falls in

Type Type at 10- and 12-digit (characteristic)at 10- and 12-digit (characteristic)

ModificationsModifications at 10- and 12-digit at 10- and 12-digit

Non-contributingNon-contributing aacreagecreage

GNIS # GNIS # at 10- and 12-digitsat 10- and 12-digits

Attribution - Attribution - lineline

LevelLevel (1-6) (1-6)

LinesourcesLinesources

Metadata versionMetadata version

www.ncgc.nrcs.usda.gov/products/datasets/watershedwww.ncgc.nrcs.usda.gov/products/datasets/watershed

Federal Guidelines, Requirements, and Procedures for the National Watershed Boundary

Dataset Techniques and Methods

2008http://pubs.usgs.gov/tm/tm11a3/

WBD Delivery of “certified” dataWBD Delivery of “certified” datahttp://datagateway.nrcs.usda.gov/http://datagateway.nrcs.usda.gov/

Overview of WBD ApplicationsOverview of WBD Applications This dataset provides a This dataset provides a consistent framework (size-coding consistent framework (size-coding

scheme)scheme) for local, regional, and national applications to manage, for local, regional, and national applications to manage, archive, exchange, and analyze data by hydrologic featuresarchive, exchange, and analyze data by hydrologic features

The usefulness of hydrologic units in a variety of levels based on natural The usefulness of hydrologic units in a variety of levels based on natural surface-water flow and topography cannot be underestimated for surface-water flow and topography cannot be underestimated for

potentially potentially invaluable analytical and statistical purposesinvaluable analytical and statistical purposes and and applicationsapplications

This This workshop will focus on describing a wide range of workshop will focus on describing a wide range of applicationsapplications for this data, such as watershed management, water- for this data, such as watershed management, water-quality initiatives, watershed modeling, resource inventory and quality initiatives, watershed modeling, resource inventory and assessment, fire assessment and management, Total Maximum Daily assessment, fire assessment and management, Total Maximum Daily Load, and more…….Load, and more…….

IDWR-IDAHOIDWR-IDAHO Floodplain Management is using the WBD for Floodplain Management is using the WBD for HAZUS flood modelingHAZUS flood modeling

Dam Safety uses information for determining Dam Safety uses information for determining reservoir capacity inputreservoir capacity input, and , and with Digitial Elevation Models (DEM’s) to show with Digitial Elevation Models (DEM’s) to show channel slopeschannel slopes

Water Resources uses it for:Water Resources uses it for:• Showing Showing water quantitywater quantity• Source of waterSource of water for storage sites for storage sites• Looking at Looking at public drinking water supply sitespublic drinking water supply sites• Analyzing total maximum daily loads (TMDL’s) and other Analyzing total maximum daily loads (TMDL’s) and other water qualitywater quality

parametersparameters• Refining and Refining and updating otherupdating other IDWR IDWR layerslayers based on watersheds based on watersheds

Administrative boundariesAdministrative boundaries District boundariesDistrict boundaries A common accurate layer to use as a base for identification and A common accurate layer to use as a base for identification and

analysisanalysis Refining basin and aquifer boundaries prioritized for Aquifer Refining basin and aquifer boundaries prioritized for Aquifer

Planning and ManagementPlanning and Managemento

BLM-IdahoBLM-Idaho

Land use planningLand use planning Aquatic species conservation strategyAquatic species conservation strategy Watershed enhancement and protectionWatershed enhancement and protection Watershed analysis and Subbasin assessmentWatershed analysis and Subbasin assessment

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Watershed analysisWatershed analysis

National Marine Fisheries Service Endangered Species Act National Marine Fisheries Service Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section(ESA) Section 77 Consultation Biological Opinion and Magnuson Consultation Biological Opinion and Magnuson

Population analysisPopulation analysis Programmatic (Watershed, Subbasin, or Basin scale) biological Programmatic (Watershed, Subbasin, or Basin scale) biological

assessmentsassessments

USFS-IdahoUSFS-Idaho

Assess and analyze the direct and cumulative effects of the Assess and analyze the direct and cumulative effects of the various forest projectsvarious forest projects

Road densityRoad density Forest Travel Management Planning for determining motorized Forest Travel Management Planning for determining motorized

routesroutes Number of stream crossingsNumber of stream crossings Equivalent clear cut acresEquivalent clear cut acres Watershed vulnerabilityWatershed vulnerability Geomorphic integrityGeomorphic integrity

NRCS-WashingtonNRCS-Washington Any Any planning activity that requires hydrologic modelingplanning activity that requires hydrologic modeling Watershed resourceWatershed resource inventories and fish distribution inventories and fish distribution River Basin StudiesRiver Basin Studies Small Watershed ProgramsSmall Watershed Programs Watershed Protection and Flood PreventionWatershed Protection and Flood Prevention

Watershed Surveys and PlanningWatershed Surveys and Planning• Floodplain management studiesFloodplain management studies• Flood insurance studiesFlood insurance studies• Development of watershed plans for mitigation of flood damages; Development of watershed plans for mitigation of flood damages;

conservation, development, utilization and disposal of water, conservation, development, utilization and disposal of water, and conservation and proper utilization of landand conservation and proper utilization of land

Watershed RehabilitationWatershed Rehabilitation Web-based Web-based Progress ReportingProgress Reporting Performance Results SystemPerformance Results System (PRS) (PRS) IdentificationIdentification of state workload activities and of state workload activities and analysisanalysis Conservation Security ProgramsConservation Security Programs (CSP) (CSP) Rapid Watershed AssessmentsRapid Watershed Assessments

NRCS-WashingtonNRCS-WashingtonApplying the WBD for Rapid Watershed AssessmentsApplying the WBD for Rapid Watershed Assessments

Increases the speed and efficiency generating information to guide conservation Increases the speed and efficiency generating information to guide conservation implementation, and putting it into the hands of local decision makersimplementation, and putting it into the hands of local decision makers

Rapid Watershed Assessments provide initial estimates of where Rapid Watershed Assessments provide initial estimates of where conservation investments would best address the concerns of conservation investments would best address the concerns of landowners, conservation districts, and other community organizations landowners, conservation districts, and other community organizations and stakeholdersand stakeholders

HelpsHelps land-owners and local leaders land-owners and local leaders set prioritiesset priorities and determine the best and determine the best actions to achieve their goalactions to achieve their goal

The assessments are conducted by:The assessments are conducted by: watershed planning teams traveling through each watershedwatershed planning teams traveling through each watershed meeting with landowners and conservation groupsmeeting with landowners and conservation groups then then inventorying agricultural areasinventorying agricultural areas identifying conservation opportunities and current levels of resource identifying conservation opportunities and current levels of resource

managementmanagement estimating impacts of these opportunitiesestimating impacts of these opportunities on the local priority resource on the local priority resource

concerns concerns

BLM-Washington/OregonBLM-Washington/Oregon Analysis units for Analysis units for slope impactslope impact in regard to wood debris in regard to wood debris

flow potentialflow potential

Determining Determining rain on snow susceptibilityrain on snow susceptibility

Estimating Estimating peak water flow calculationspeak water flow calculations

Defining Defining riparian management areasriparian management areas

Evaluation and summary of Evaluation and summary of fish habitat restorationfish habitat restoration capacity capacity

Determination of Determination of slope sediment susceptibilityslope sediment susceptibility

EPA-Great LakesEPA-Great LakesThe US Environmental Protection Agency, USEPA, applies the WBD to many The US Environmental Protection Agency, USEPA, applies the WBD to many

facets of their programs. Using Subwatershed (5th-level, 10-digit hydrologic facets of their programs. Using Subwatershed (5th-level, 10-digit hydrologic unit) boundaries for Impaired (303d) Waters assessment is one critical unit) boundaries for Impaired (303d) Waters assessment is one critical application.application.

Classifying Impaired (303d) Waters by WatershedClassifying Impaired (303d) Waters by Watershed Many watersheds that drain into the Great Lakes include areas classified as Many watersheds that drain into the Great Lakes include areas classified as

“impaired waters”. One particular area is called the Betsie-Platte Watershed. This “impaired waters”. One particular area is called the Betsie-Platte Watershed. This basin was known for a large logging industry in the late 1800s and early 1900s basin was known for a large logging industry in the late 1800s and early 1900s that led to deep sand deposits in the rivers and creeks and roads cut through that led to deep sand deposits in the rivers and creeks and roads cut through forests. Attempts at crop farming the cut over land proved largely unsuccessful forests. Attempts at crop farming the cut over land proved largely unsuccessful due to poor soils. The area is known for orchards and vineyards. The watershed due to poor soils. The area is known for orchards and vineyards. The watershed has large stretches of State forest and Federal park lands. A majority of the land has large stretches of State forest and Federal park lands. A majority of the land is forested. Native plant species in the area range from the extremely drought is forested. Native plant species in the area range from the extremely drought tolerant species to wetland speciestolerant species to wetland species

The Swamp Milkweed, desired by the Monarch Butterfly as the favorite food The Swamp Milkweed, desired by the Monarch Butterfly as the favorite food source for the larvaesource for the larvae

The watershed is The watershed is home to critical habitathome to critical habitat identified by the Nature Conservancy identified by the Nature Conservancy include: Great Lakes Hemlock - Beech - Hardwood Forest, Great Lakes include: Great Lakes Hemlock - Beech - Hardwood Forest, Great Lakes Beachgrass Dune, Great Lakes Shoreline Cattail - Bulrush Marsh, Great Lakes Beachgrass Dune, Great Lakes Shoreline Cattail - Bulrush Marsh, Great Lakes Dune Pine Forest, Great Lakes Beachgrass Dune, Interdunal Wetland. • Critical Dune Pine Forest, Great Lakes Beachgrass Dune, Interdunal Wetland. • Critical species identified by the Nature Conservancy and other partners include Prairie species identified by the Nature Conservancy and other partners include Prairie Moonwort, Prairie Dunewort, PipingMoonwort, Prairie Dunewort, Piping

Land Cover: Betsie-Platte

Watershed Size: 812 sq. miles

Between 1996 and 2001, there has

been a slight increase in developed

land and slight decreases in

cultivated land and grassland

Result related to Land Cover change

Watershed Priorities:Watershed Priorities:

IdentifiedIdentified Platte River Platte River impairmentsimpairments include fertilizers; human and animal waste; oils, include fertilizers; human and animal waste; oils, toxic chemicals, and salt; sediment; heated runoff; altered stream; pesticides; toxic chemicals, and salt; sediment; heated runoff; altered stream; pesticides; bacteria; and channel flowbacteria; and channel flow

The watershed has listed impairments for mercury, PCB and chlordane fish The watershed has listed impairments for mercury, PCB and chlordane fish consumption advisories for a limited number of waterbodiesconsumption advisories for a limited number of waterbodies

The watershed has seen significant The watershed has seen significant erosionerosion at stream crossings at stream crossings

There is significant There is significant sedimentationsedimentation that has occurred in the watershed that has occurred in the watershed

Watershed and environmental groups have been undertaking significant projects to Watershed and environmental groups have been undertaking significant projects to protect and protect and restore the watershedrestore the watershed. The primary focus of the protection and restoration . The primary focus of the protection and restoration efforts include:efforts include:

Improving water quality and Soil Erosion and Sediment ControlImproving water quality and Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Removing manmade drainage featuresRemoving manmade drainage features on former farmland to reduce excess on former farmland to reduce excess

storm water runoffstorm water runoff Purchase of easements to protect open spacePurchase of easements to protect open space and improve environmental and improve environmental

functionsfunctions Protecting ecologically sensitive areasProtecting ecologically sensitive areas like wetlands and their associated forests like wetlands and their associated forests

as well as undeveloped shorelineas well as undeveloped shoreline Protected sensitive “dune and swale” topography at Sleeping Bear Dunes. The Protected sensitive “dune and swale” topography at Sleeping Bear Dunes. The

area is recognized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as “globally rare habitat.”area is recognized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as “globally rare habitat.” Remove invasive species and restore dunesRemove invasive species and restore dunes in the Greater Point Betsie in the Greater Point Betsie

landscape to benefit the rare natural communities, including Pitcher's thistle, a landscape to benefit the rare natural communities, including Pitcher's thistle, a threatened speciesthreatened species

Improve habitatImprove habitat for critical species like the Piping Plover for critical species like the Piping Plover

USGS-StreamStatsUSGS-StreamStats

USGS has partnered with ESRI, Inc. to develop a Web application USGS has partnered with ESRI, Inc. to develop a Web application named StreamStatsnamed StreamStats

This is an integrated Geographic Information System (GIS) This is an integrated Geographic Information System (GIS) application that uses web services, ArcSDE, ArcGIS, and the application that uses web services, ArcSDE, ArcGIS, and the ArcHydro Tools toArcHydro Tools toA GIS program that determines A GIS program that determines boundaries of boundaries of the drainage basins for ungaged sites, measures the physical the drainage basins for ungaged sites, measures the physical characteristics of the drainage basins, and solves regression characteristics of the drainage basins, and solves regression equations to estimate streamflow statistics for the sitesequations to estimate streamflow statistics for the sites

Program Program allows on the fly computation of parametersallows on the fly computation of parameters necessary to necessary to utilize existing and future flood frequency regression equationsutilize existing and future flood frequency regression equations

Integrates completed 24k products for UtahIntegrates completed 24k products for Utah – Watershed Boundary – Watershed Boundary Data Set (WBD), National Hydrography Data Set (NHD), and Digital Data Set (WBD), National Hydrography Data Set (NHD), and Digital Elevation Models (DEM) compiled state-wide or regionallyElevation Models (DEM) compiled state-wide or regionally

NHD stream cells subtracted from DEM surface in “burning’ technique

Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) added to DEM surface in “walling” technique

NHDPlus-EPA NHDPlus-EPA (USGS involvement)(USGS involvement)

Greatly improved 1:100K National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) Greatly improved 1:100K National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) A set of value added attributes to enhance stream network A set of value added attributes to enhance stream network

navigation, analysis and display navigation, analysis and display An elevation-based catchment for each flowline in the stream An elevation-based catchment for each flowline in the stream

networknetwork Catchment characteristics Catchment characteristics Headwater node areas Headwater node areas Cumulative drainage area characteristics Cumulative drainage area characteristics Flow direction, flow accumulation and elevation grids Flow direction, flow accumulation and elevation grids Flowline min/max elevations and slopes Flowline min/max elevations and slopes Flow volume & velocity estimates for each flowline in the stream Flow volume & velocity estimates for each flowline in the stream

network network

NHDPlusNHDPlus

The US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, The US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, assisted by the US Geological Survey, has supported the assisted by the US Geological Survey, has supported the development of NHDPlus to enhance the development of NHDPlus to enhance the EPA WATERSEPA WATERS applicationapplication

NHDPlus is an integrated suite of application-ready geospatial NHDPlus is an integrated suite of application-ready geospatial data sets that incorporate many of the best features of the data sets that incorporate many of the best features of the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD), the National Elevation National Hydrography Dataset (NHD), the National Elevation Dataset (NED), the National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD), and Dataset (NED), the National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD), and the Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)the Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)

http://www.horizon-systems.com/nhdplus/http://www.horizon-systems.com/nhdplus/

NHDPlusNHDPlus TOOLS:TOOLS:

NavigationNavigation• upstream main stem, upstream with tributaries, downstream main stem, and downstream with upstream main stem, upstream with tributaries, downstream main stem, and downstream with

divergences. Any of the four types of navigation may be stopped at a user-supplied distance divergences. Any of the four types of navigation may be stopped at a user-supplied distance from the starting point.from the starting point.

Catchment Attribute Allocation and Accumulation ToolCatchment Attribute Allocation and Accumulation Tool• May be used separately or in combination. Takes a user-supplied grid format dataset of one or May be used separately or in combination. Takes a user-supplied grid format dataset of one or

more landscape attributes and allocates the attributes to the NHDPlus catchments. The more landscape attributes and allocates the attributes to the NHDPlus catchments. The accumulation function builds, for each NHDPlus Flowline, the total upstream accumulated accumulation function builds, for each NHDPlus Flowline, the total upstream accumulated values for attributes that have been allocated to either NHDPlus catchments or NHDPlus values for attributes that have been allocated to either NHDPlus catchments or NHDPlus flowlinesflowlines

Basin Delineator ToolBasin Delineator Tool• Delineates drainage basins for a user-defined set of basin pourpoints. The pourpoints must be Delineates drainage basins for a user-defined set of basin pourpoints. The pourpoints must be

located on the NHDPlus network which is defined as the subset of flowlines with known flow located on the NHDPlus network which is defined as the subset of flowlines with known flow direction (i.e. NHDPlus.NHDFlowline.Flowdir = "With Digitized"). The input pourpoints are direction (i.e. NHDPlus.NHDFlowline.Flowdir = "With Digitized"). The input pourpoints are specified by a basin identifier, an NHD linear reachcode, and a measure along the reach. specified by a basin identifier, an NHD linear reachcode, and a measure along the reach. BasinDelineator returns a shapefile containing basin polygonsBasinDelineator returns a shapefile containing basin polygons

Aquatic Exposure ToolAquatic Exposure Tool• Conducts a geospatial analysis of the NHDPlus stream network to identify potential pesticide Conducts a geospatial analysis of the NHDPlus stream network to identify potential pesticide

use impacts. Based on an initial area of concern and a method for estimating pesticide impact, use impacts. Based on an initial area of concern and a method for estimating pesticide impact, AquaXpos analyzes the stream network to find places, downstream from potential pesticide AquaXpos analyzes the stream network to find places, downstream from potential pesticide use sites, where chemical impact's may exceed a specific level of concern.use sites, where chemical impact's may exceed a specific level of concern.

USGS Stream Gage NetworkUSGS Stream Gage Network