Peter Steeves U.S. Geological Survey Northborough, MA 01532 508.490.5054 [email protected] Improving Science with NHD through Stewardship by Pete Steeves.

Peter SteevesU.S. Geological Survey

Northborough, MA 01532 508.490.5054

[email protected]

Improving Science with NHD through Stewardship

by Pete Steeves

Presented at Stewardship 2009 NHD/WBD Stewardship Conference

Denver, CO

April 14, 2009

Steward Acknowledgements

Bill Kaiser PNW

Susanne Maeder MN

Joe Sewash NC

Ricardo Lopez NY

Seth Hackman

NJ

A Sample of Stewardship Applications

Fisheries management in the Pacific Northwest

(Emphasis: A need for stream densification) Modeling post-hurricane debris flow (landslide) hazards in N Carolina

(Emphasis: Local res NHD developed in coordination with LiDAR) Pollution monitoring in New Jersey

(Emphasis: Events, hyperlinks, and metadata) Discharge permitting and monitoring in New York

(Emphasis: Information Sharing) Storm water mapping and analysis in Minnesota

(Emphasis: Infrastructure links to natural flows)

USGS StreamStats Applications of NHD (done in cooperation with State Steward Agencies) Mapping low and peak flows using regression equations

(Emphasis: Advanced applicability of NHD on the WEB) Flow estimations based on nearby (upstream and downstream) gages

(Emphasis: Using network navigation to more accurately compute stream flow)

Mapping sustainable-yield daily stream flows, factoring in wateruse

(Emphasis: StreamStats on steroids) Mapping perennial and intermittent streams using regression equations

(Emphasis: Value Added Attributes through regression equations)

Fisheries Management in the Pacific Northwest(Emphasis: A need for stream densification)

The PNW Forest Plan contains an Aquatic Conservation Strategy with four components including Riparian Reserves• Riparian Reserves: Initial reserve widths for protected

riparian areas. Reserve widths are defined after classifying and mapping the following reach habitats:

Fish-bearing streams Permanently flowing nonfish-bearing streams Lakes and natural ponds Riparian vegetation Constructed ponds Seasonally flowing or intermittent streams Wetlands less than one acre

Example DensificationExample Densification

Thomas Creek = 95,000 acresThomas Creek = 95,000 acres Original miles = 357Original miles = 357 Total with Densified = 535 milesTotal with Densified = 535 miles 34% value added , 178 miles of new streams , 1.2 mi. / sq.mi.34% value added , 178 miles of new streams , 1.2 mi. / sq.mi. A denser stream network that better reflects the riparian habitatsA denser stream network that better reflects the riparian habitats

Before After

Tracking Post-Hurricane Debris Flow Hazards in North Carolina

(Emphasis: Local res NHD developed in coordination with LiDAR)

• Rick Wooten - Anne Witt - Ken Gillon

• Rebecca Latham - Tommy Douglas• Stephen Fuemmeler - Jennifer Bauer

Background

The program was initiated after Hurricanes Francis and Ivan in 2004

Francis and Ivan triggered over 155 landslides, destroyed 27 homes and killed 5 people

Almost 3000 landslides are in the database …. so far

24k Hydrology and Problem Areas• not all of the “lakes” would be drained

Stream Mapping Hydrology and Problem Areas• now all the “lakes” will drain properly

Modeled Debris Flow Pathways• with correct flow paths through problem areas

Pollution Monitoring in New Jersey (Emphasis: Events, hyperlinks, and metadata)

1. Incorporate the needs of NJDEP Water Programs to add new themes and features to the NHD Model for NJ.

2. Link NHD model to live water quality data existing on the new statewide Water Quality Exchange (WQX).

3. Provide an interactive tool which lets users follow stream flow while identifying monitoring point data collections, TMDL statistics, surface water quality designations, and more.

4. Link in elevation data and other critical data sets to provide a robust model for framework data collection and reference.

Monitoring Points connected to Streams

Station link to WQX!

Station Data – Future WQX View

Edit your Search

New Results

Updated locations based on WQX search query

Show in M

ap

TMDL Assessments

What is ‘FW2-NT’?

Attribute Definitions - Metadata

Discharge Permitting and Monitoring in New York (Emphasis: Information Sharing)

To make informed decisions, To make informed decisions, emphasis must be placed on the emphasis must be placed on the discovery ofdiscovery of and and access toaccess to environmental information. This environmental information. This should be a critical component to the should be a critical component to the missionmission of any environmental agency of any environmental agency

Stove pipe sponge - Aplysina archeri

Solution/ConceptSolution/Concept

LinkLink existing existing documents documents to a given to a given location location on a map (GIS) via NHDon a map (GIS) via NHD GIS with the NHD linkage provides a critical GIS with the NHD linkage provides a critical information portal information portal allowing allowing

discovery discovery andand access access to relevant to relevant institutional knowledgeinstitutional knowledge SimpleSimple yetyet powerful powerful and potentially and potentially transformativetransformative

essentially a value-added benessentially a value-added benefitefit substantial gain for relatively small substantial gain for relatively small investmentinvestment

Old System – Groton SPDES

““anemic featuresanemic features””

New System – SPDES Feature Portfolio

Information versus DataInformation versus Data

DistinctionDistinction between data and information between data and information

DataData: raw, unprocessed observations: raw, unprocessed observations InformationInformation: processed data: processed data Most Most data users beyond actual data data users beyond actual data generator aregenerator are interested interested inin digested data digested data

Effort is Effort is concerned primarily with concerned primarily with informationinformation parallel track with data management parallel track with data management efforts –e.g. Brownfield legislationefforts –e.g. Brownfield legislation

Storm Water Mapping and Analysis in Minnesota (Emphasis: Infrastructure links to natural flows)

Goal:• “Update the NHD for the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area to achieve

feature density consistent with surrounding rural areas by incorporating drainage features captured from local data sources”

Results: • Obtained storm sewer data from 38 local organizations• Added 1078 linear drainage features (588 km) to NHD• Features were storm sewer pipelines, ditches, connectors, artificial

paths• Additions represent 6000 individual pipe features• Connected 363 NHD waterbodies to drainage network

Evaluating Hydrography Density; Adding Missing Features

Improved Network Tracing Ability – Downtown St. Paul area

What is StreamStats?

A map-based Web application that provides information that can be used by engineers, managers, planners, and others to make informed decisions on water-related activities

Primary product is streamflow statistics

Implementation Status

14 states fully implemented

4 states partly implemented

13 states in implementation process

ArcGIS Server 9.2 InterfaceToolbar

Console

Panel Banners

Map FrameMap Frame

Select Ungaged Site Note: Scale must be at least 1:24,000

Click on Point Delineation button

Delineated Basin

Generate Flow Statistics

Coming soon: Basin characteristic and flow statistic names will be

hyperlinks to definitionsClick on Generate Flow Statistics

Flow Estimation Based on a Nearby Gage

Estimates provided if RATIO >= 0.5 and <= 1.5

Click on Estimate Flows Based on

Similar Streamgaging Stations

Estimates Based on Upstream Station

If a downstream gage has a DA-ratio <= 1.5, then estimates will be

computed based on the downstream gage as well as the upstream

gage

Weighted DA-ratio estimates will be

computed based on relative proximity of the gages to the ungaged

site

Overview of Sustainable Yield (SYE) Application

WELL 1

PROPOSED WELL

Impacted streamflow

User-specified instream-flow targets

WWTP 1 USER-SPECIFIED TIME PERIOD

ST

RE

AM

FL

OW Unimpacted

streamflow

User-specified instream-flow targets

USER-SPECIFIED TIME PERIOD

ST

RE

AM

FL

OW

Sustainable yield

NOTE: Delineated basin for illustration only.

Mapping Perennial and Intermittent Streams in Massachusetts

Developed a logistic regression equation to estimate the probability of a stream flowing perennial in Massachusetts

Observed the P/I status of 359 stream sites w/drainage areas from 0.04 to 11 mi2 during summer low-flow conditions

67 of 69 stream sites w/DA >2 mi2 were perennial Remaining 290 P/I stream sites (0-2 mi2) used in equation 15 basin and land-use characteristics tested as possible explanatory

variables in the equation• Variables used were drainage area, percent area of sand and gravel, mean basin

elevation, and percent area of forest land

Automated GIS Procedure Moving Up and Down Tributary Solving Equation to Match Desired Cutpoint Probability

Perennial / Intermittent MapShawsheen River Basin

Perennial Intermittent Transition Points and Intermittent Watersheds