NHDPlus: NHDPlus: A Big PLUS for User A Big PLUS for User

ApplicationsApplicationsESRI User Conference - ESRI User Conference - July 24, 2005July 24, 2005

The NHDPlus TeamThe NHDPlus Team

Horizon Horizon Systems Systems

CorporationCorporation

Sponsored Sponsored byby

US EPAUS EPA

The NHDPlus TeamThe NHDPlus TeamEPA Project LeadTommy Dewald

Horizon Systems

Cindy McKay

Jen Hill

Bob Deffenbaugh

USGS WRD

Rich Moore

Craig Johnston

Al Rea

RTI International.

Tim Bondelid

NHD Plus – What is it?NHD Plus – What is it? Greatly Improved 1:100K NHDGreatly Improved 1:100K NHD A Set of Value Added AttributesA Set of Value Added Attributes Elevation-based Catchment for Each Elevation-based Catchment for Each

Segment in the Stream NetworkSegment in the Stream Network Catchment CharacteristicsCatchment Characteristics Flow Direction and Flow Accumulation GridsFlow Direction and Flow Accumulation Grids NHD Network Node ElevationsNHD Network Node Elevations Stream Gages Linked to Stream NetworkStream Gages Linked to Stream Network Flow Volume & Velocity Estimates for Each Flow Volume & Velocity Estimates for Each

Segment in the Stream NetworkSegment in the Stream Network

1:100K NHD Improvements1:100K NHD Improvements

Stream and waterbody name corrections Stream and waterbody name corrections and additionsand additions

Correction to stream network coordinate Correction to stream network coordinate order (pointing downstream)order (pointing downstream)

Correction of gaps, overlaps, overshoots, Correction of gaps, overlaps, overshoots, etc. in network geometryetc. in network geometry

Independent QAQC of flow table.Independent QAQC of flow table. Flow table and geometry agree.Flow table and geometry agree.

The Value-Added Attributes:The Value-Added Attributes:

A set of two dozen network characteristicsA set of two dozen network characteristics Based solely on native NHD contentBased solely on native NHD content Created with softwareCreated with software Built using the national NHDBuilt using the national NHD Provides alternatives to navigating with the Provides alternatives to navigating with the

geometrygeometry

Display•Generalization Attribute

•Stream Order•Waterbody Identifier

•Waterbody Type•Upstream Miles•Distance to Sink

NavigationAnalysis

Value Added Attributes

•Stream Order•Waterbody Identifier

•Waterbody Type•Upstream Miles•Distance to Sink

•Drain Stream Level •Link-Node Traversal•Hydrologic Sequence•Terminal Identifiers•Level Path Identifiers•Independent Flow Table

Simple Query Network NavigationSimple Query Network Navigation

A Series of Attributes Computed From the Flow Table and the Geometry

Once Computed, Independent of Geometry and GIS

Navigate with SQL Query

VAAs Help with NHD DisplaysVAAs Help with NHD Displays

e.g. Strahler Stream Ordere.g. Strahler Stream Order

The smallest permanent The smallest permanent streams are called "first streams are called "first order". Two first order order". Two first order streams join to form a larger, streams join to form a larger, second order stream; two second order stream; two second order streams join to second order streams join to form a third order, and so on. form a third order, and so on. Smaller streams entering a Smaller streams entering a higher-ordered stream do not higher-ordered stream do not change its order number.change its order number.

Strahler 1964Strahler 1964

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2

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VAAs for AnalysisVAAs for Analysis

CatchmentsCatchments

The portion of the land surface that The portion of the land surface that drains to a network segmentdrains to a network segment

Catchments built using 30m National Catchments built using 30m National Elevation Dataset (NED)Elevation Dataset (NED)

Generated using the “New England Generated using the “New England Method” (with AGREE.AML)Method” (with AGREE.AML)

Outputs include catchments in grid Outputs include catchments in grid format and as polygonsformat and as polygons

NHDPlus CatchmentsNHDPlus Catchments

NHDPlus CatchmentsNHDPlus Catchments Production status 7/8/05 – 2,161,911 catchments and counting

International Catchment AreasInternational Catchment Areas

Bathymetric Gradient in WaterbodiesBathymetric Gradient in Waterbodies

Standard DEM Flow linesStandard DEM Flow lines

Flow lines with Bathymetric GradientFlow lines with Bathymetric Gradient

Elevation SmoothingElevation SmoothingPerform and display analyses along a stream profilePerform and display analyses along a stream profile

Upstream Elevation Smoothing

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Path Length (Km)

OriginalSmoothed

Flow EstimatesFlow EstimatesUnit Runoff MethodUnit Runoff Method

Estimate average annual unit runoff by 8-Estimate average annual unit runoff by 8-digit HUC (sub-basin)digit HUC (sub-basin)

Estimate Drainage Area (DA) for Each NHD Estimate Drainage Area (DA) for Each NHD segmentsegment

Route and accumulate incremental flows to Route and accumulate incremental flows to estimate mean annual flow by segmentestimate mean annual flow by segment

Flow estimates developed using mean Flow estimates developed using mean annual flows at HCDN gagesannual flows at HCDN gages

Multiple regression technique with Multiple regression technique with coefficients by hydrologic regioncoefficients by hydrologic region

NHD Plus implementation uses catchment-NHD Plus implementation uses catchment-based DA’s, PRISM data overlaid on based DA’s, PRISM data overlaid on catchmentscatchments

Flow EstimatesFlow EstimatesVogel, et al MethodVogel, et al Method

Cumulative Drainage AreaCumulative Drainage AreaReg 17 DA QA

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Gage DA (sq km)

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A (s

q km

)

Snake River

Flow Estimates Vs Gage Flow

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Gage Flow (cfs)

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low

(cfs

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quromqvogel

Velocity EstimatesVelocity Estimates

Inputs: Drainage area, stream segment Inputs: Drainage area, stream segment slope, mean annual dischargeslope, mean annual discharge

Future QAQC Possibilities: USGS Time of Future QAQC Possibilities: USGS Time of Travel DatabaseTravel Database

Reference: Jobson, H. E. 1996. Prediction Reference: Jobson, H. E. 1996. Prediction of Travel Time and Longitudinal Dispersion of Travel Time and Longitudinal Dispersion in Rivers and Streams. USGS Water in Rivers and Streams. USGS Water Resources Investigations Report 96-4013.Resources Investigations Report 96-4013.

NHDPlus Applications - Some NHDPlus Applications - Some ExamplesExamples

Some of these are “Right out of the box”Some of these are “Right out of the box” Some are simple ArcView OperationsSome are simple ArcView Operations Some require programmingSome require programming

Within a database environmentWithin a database environment The programming is not complex or lengthyThe programming is not complex or lengthy

Analyses can go back and forth between catchments Analyses can go back and forth between catchments and the flow networkand the flow network

For many applications, building the front end user For many applications, building the front end user interface is probably more work than the actual interface is probably more work than the actual application buildingapplication building

Quad Density Artifacts in NHDQuad Density Artifacts in NHD

NHD with Flow > 2 cfs: NHD with Flow > 2 cfs: Hydrologic EquityHydrologic Equity

Cincinnati “Area of Influence”: The Cincinnati “Area of Influence”: The Watershed that is 3 Days Time of Watershed that is 3 Days Time of

Travel UpstreamTravel Upstream

Simple Dilution and Decay ModelSimple Dilution and Decay ModelConcentration Profile

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207520802085209020952100

Pathlength

Con

c (m

g/l)

C_nodecayC_decay

SPARROW Model Results:

Predicted Total Nitrogen Catchment Yield

Contributions to Total Nitrogenfrom each source

Atmospheric Developed

Agriculture Point Source

=+

+ +

Correcting the GeoCoding, use Update NHD Location tool.1) Zoom-in to site and NHD reach, DRG highly recommend.2) Click Update NHD Location tool, (cursor changes to flag)3) Click on NHD stream that best represents where streamflow is being gaged

(before) (after)

13082500 13082500

Update NHD Location -

• 23,945 gages were reviewed and examined

•17,482 gages batch indexed correct & NHD location not moved - 73%. • 962 gages were flagged as "Do Not Use“ - 4%

• 1230 gages were flagged as "No 100k NHD Reach" - 5%

• 4271 NHD locations moved an average of 795 meters - 18%

• 4111 site locations moved an average of 1123 meters - 17%

• 117 meters is the mean distance between the site location and NHD location

Streamgage Review Summary

Wrapup - Importance of the VAAsWrapup - Importance of the VAAs Easier answers to network questionsEasier answers to network questions Fast, simple, reliable network navigationFast, simple, reliable network navigation

Fast, sequential routingFast, sequential routing Simple SQL queriesSimple SQL queries Link Node routingLink Node routing

Provide some commonly used attributesProvide some commonly used attributes Stream OrderStream Order Hydrologic SequenceHydrologic Sequence Stream Path IdentifierStream Path Identifier

Establish the integrity of the networkEstablish the integrity of the network

For More Information:For More Information:

NHD Sessions I and II Tuesday AMNHD Sessions I and II Tuesday AMRoom 25-C (SDCC)Room 25-C (SDCC)

NHD User Group Meeting Wed 12:15—NHD User Group Meeting Wed 12:15—1:15 Room 30-B (SDCC)1:15 Room 30-B (SDCC)

Contacts:Contacts:

Tommy Dewald Tommy Dewald DEWALD.TOMMY@epamail.epa.gov

Cindy McKay LDM@Horizon-Systems.com

Tim Bondelid timothy@rti.org Rich Moore rmoore@usgs.gov Craig Johnston cmjohnst@usgs.gov Al Rea ahrea@usgs.gov

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NHDPlus Production UnitsNHDPlus Production Units

(Targeted Completion Dec, 2005)(Targeted Completion Dec, 2005)