The NHD and the Future of Stream Mapping in West Virginia Jackie Strager Natural Resource Analysis...

The NHD and the Future of The NHD and the Future of Stream Mapping in West VirginiaStream Mapping in West Virginia

Jackie StragerNatural Resource Analysis Centerwww.nrac.wvu.edu

Evan FedorkoKevin Kuhn

Kurt DonaldsonWV GIS Technical Center

wvgis.wvu.edu

WV GIS Conference June 2008

Introduction

• Outline of this seminar:– Existing stream map: 24K NHD

• Uses of the NHD• Issues with 24K NHD • Case study: Stream modifications in the Coal River

– Current stream mapping: Local NHD• What is the local NHD?• Progress to date and questions

– What’s next: Stewardship and the future of NHD• NHD stewardship and maintenance • Future of NHD

– Discussion

• Introduction• NHD 24K• NHD local• Stewardship


NHD Status in WV

• National Hydrography Dataset (NHD)• USGS standard for mapped surface waters

• NHD is complete in WV for:– Medium resolution (1:100,000 scale)– High resolution (1:24,000)

• Local resolution NHD (1:4,800) – Pilot projects nearing completion– Gauley– Upper Guyandotte



NHD at many scales…

1:100,000 scale NHDMedium resolution

32,000 miles of mapped streams statewide

1:24,000 scale NHDHigh resolution

54,000 miles of mapped streams statewide

1:4,800 scale streamsLocal resolution

(approx 50% increase in total mapped length

over 24K NHD)

Sutton Lake



Benefits of NHD format

• Nationwide standards• Fundamental framework data layer for

The National Map• Consistent format across spatial scales• Data, tools, technical references available from

USGS


http://nhd.usgs.gov


Uses of NHD data

• Cartographic base map product• Flow network model• Stream measures model

Direction of flow

1 mile

2 miles

Measured Routes


Evaluating the NHD

• What could be improved in 24K NHD in WV?• How was this determined?

– Track known issues (NRAC)– Stream naming/coding process (NRAC/WVDEP)– Systematic statewide review by WVDEP– Case study: mining impacts in the Coal River

watershed



Issues with 24K NHD

• Main Issues:– Errors in geometry– Errors in attributes– Errors in NHD formatting, reach coding– Changes in stream geometry since streams were

mapped

• Source data for 24K NHD:– 24K DLG data– Topo map blue lines– GNIS names



Geometry errors

• NHD linework needs to be fixed• Causes:

– Original topo blue line wrong/missing– Error in NHD creation process (rare)



Geometry errors• Introduction• NHD 24K• NHD local• Stewardship


Geometry errors

Kanawha River



Attribute errors

• Most common: Name errors• NHD name attribute: GNISName• Causes:

– GNIS name incorrect, typos– Name needs to be added to NHD– “Hollows”



Attribute errors

Whitesville quad, Boone County



Attribute errors

Trib to North Fork Cherry River,Nicholas County



NHD formatting issues

• Reach coding errors– Reaches need to be split – Mainstem/tributaries incorrectly identified

• NHD attributing errors (other than name)– Perennial/intermittent– Other (FCODE)



NHD formatting issues

Perennial

Intermittent (?)



Keeping NHD up to date

• Stream drainage changes• Causes:

– Mining– Road construction– Re-routing of streams, channelization– Braids/channels no longer exist



Keeping NHD up to date• Introduction• NHD 24K• NHD local• Stewardship

Formerly Fourmile Branch/White Oak CrSylvester quad, Boone County


Keeping NHD up to date• Introduction• NHD 24K• NHD local• Stewardship


The big picture…• Introduction• NHD 24K• NHD local• Stewardship

Quantifying issues with the NHD

Primarily based on WVDEP review


The big picture (2)…

Type of problemNumber of Segments

% of Segments

Total Length (mi)

Possible geometry error 614 0.28 254

NHD attribute error (FCODE) 6 0.00 3

Karst/sinking streams 291 0.13 107

NHD format error (reaches) 6 0.00 n/a

Name issues (possible) 204 0.09 89

Name issues 1,337 0.62 657

TOTAL 216,579 94,796

• Quantifying 24K NHD issues as identified by WVDEP review



Coal River case study

• Goal: Quantify amount of stream drainage change related to mining for southern WV watershed

• Input datasets:– 24K NHD stream lines– 1:4,800 local stream lines– 2003 SAMB aerial photos– 2007 NAIP aerial photos



Original 24K NHD• Introduction• NHD 24K• NHD local• Stewardship


2003 Aerial photos• Introduction• NHD 24K• NHD local• Stewardship

2003Photo


Mining visible in 2003• Introduction• NHD 24K• NHD local• Stewardship

2003Photo


Aerial photos 2007• Introduction• NHD 24K• NHD local• Stewardship

2007Photo


Mining visible 2007• Introduction• NHD 24K• NHD local• Stewardship

2007Photo


Summary for 24K NHD in Coal

Description Area (acres)

Length of 24K streams

(mi)

Entire Coal watershed 570,000 2,232

Impacted by mining (2003) 12,321 59

Impacted by newer mining (2007)

10,757 33


Local resolution NHD

• Local streams mapped from 2003 SAMB aerial photography and 3m DEM

• Benefits:– Better cartographic base for local mapping– Captures changes in stream geometry, length

• Uses:– Emergency and floodplain management– Water quality permitting– Water resources inventory– Other local/municipal level projects

• Status:– Pilot projects nearly complete for Gauley, Upper Guyandotte



Local NHD issues

• Level of detail varies• Special situations: ditches and culverts• Changes in stream geometry• Using final product: need for stream

generalization?



Issue: Detail varies• Introduction• NHD 24K• NHD local• Stewardship


Issue: Ditches and culverts• Introduction• NHD 24K• NHD local• Stewardship


Issue: Geometry updates

• Streams change constantly• Coal River case study



Coal case study: Local• Introduction• NHD 24K• NHD local• Stewardship


Coal case study: Local

Description Area (acres)

Length of streams

(mi)

Length of streams

(mi)

24K 1:4,800

Entire Coal watershed 570,000 2,232 2,829

Impacted by mining (2003) 12,321 59 n/a

Impacted by newer mining (2007)

10,757 33 38



Future of NHD for WV…

• Goal: Stewardship plan for NHD in WV– Data updates– Ensures data maintenance– Central point of contact

• Additional considerations– NHD generalization?– Completion of local NHD statewide?



Stewardship

http://webhosts.cr.usgs.gov/steward/



Stewardship

• In response to production wrapping up and major partners reducing their role, USGS has envisioned a stewardship program.

• What does the USGS mean by “stewardship?”– Two goals:

• A process by which we ensure that data continues to evolve and reflect changes on the ground as well as correct existing errors

• Bring users with local knowledge to the table



Stewardship

• USGS loosely defines two roles:– Data steward

• Supervision and management of edits to the data• A trustworthy, trained “super-user”

– “Contributors”• Less well defined – those with ‘knowledge’ about

hydrography on the ground• This is essentially “everyone else”



Stewardship

• So, stewardship generally is envisioned to be arranged as such:

National NHD Database

State NHD Steward

“Contributors”

Well documented!

Murky!



Stewardship

• USGS has developed a robust editing tool for THE STEWARD’S use, the NHDGeoEditTool.

• They have also aided in the coordination of stewards.

• The process of actually collecting edits is being left up to the individual stewards.



Stewardship

• Enter the NHD Community!



Stewardship

• Several states are developing methodologies and tools for NHD stewardship

• Most states favor a “targeted audience” approach that also includes the general public:

State NHD Steward

Stewardship Partners(e.g., DEP, DNR, USFS)

General Public



Stewardship

• What should West Virginia do?– Identify principal steward(s)– Consolidate key stakeholders– Critically examine existing NHD data– Discuss the ways in which NHD data is utilized– Develop a stewardship plan



DiscussionNatural Resource Analysis CenterNatural Resource Analysis Center

West Virginia UniversityWest Virginia Universitywww.nrac.wvu.eduwww.nrac.wvu.edu

WV GIS Technical CenterWV GIS Technical CenterWest Virginia UniversityWest Virginia University

wvgis.wvu.eduwvgis.wvu.edu

The NHD and the Future of Stream Mapping in West Virginia Jackie Strager Natural Resource Analysis...

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