The Bear River Watershed Information System Jeffery S. Horsburgh Utah Water Research Laboratory Utah State University David Stevens, Nancy Mesner, Terry Glover, Arthur Caplan EPA Targeted Watersheds Grant Steering Committee

GOAL: Provide Unprecedented Access to Bear River Watershed Data and Information WIS Components –Watershed-wide coordination web pages –A comprehensive data warehouse –A document warehouse –Data visualization and statistical tools

Based on USGS 8-Digit HUC Boundaries Present Summaries of: –Elevation –Land Use/Land Cover –Major Tributaries and Water Bodies –Monitoring Locations –Populated Places –Land Ownership –Precipitation –Streamflow and Water Quality Watershed Descriptive Profiles Watershed-Wide Coordination

People, Organizations, and Projects The Resource Guide Searchable index of experts, organizations, and projects related to water quality in the Bear River Basin Users can submit experts, organizations, or projects Watershed-Wide Coordination

Online Calendar of Events Searchable database of water quality related events Events are linked to front page Can view either calendar or list Users can submit events Watershed-Wide Coordination

News Events Searchable database of Bear River Related News Articles News events are linked to front page Users can submit news events Watershed-Wide Coordination

Document Warehouse/Digital Library Database of Bear River related documents, reports, maps, images, etc. Users can submit digital objects Linking to other external information sources

GIS Data The WIS GIS database includes datasets in the following categories: –Administrative Boundaries –Environmental Monitoring Locations –Climate Monitoring Locations –Hydrology –Land Use/Land Cover –Geology –Terrain –Transportation –Watershed Boundaries Comprehensive Data Warehouse

Time Series Data An observations database has been designed and implemented for archiving environmental time series information for the Bear River Basin The following datasets have been incorporated: –USGS published daily streamflow –USGS published water quality data –USGS groundwater data –STORET water quality data –NRCS SNOTEL Data We will continue to incorporate new data as it becomes available Comprehensive Data Warehouse

Real Time Monitoring Data Integrate real time monitoring efforts in the Bear River basin –USGS –USU –PacifiCorp –Utah Water Rights –Others Integrate as many as possible with the WIS Link to others that already have a nice interface

Data Analysis and Visualization Tools Internet Map Server Time Series Analyst Database Query Utility TMDL Information Viewer

Internet Map Server Allows users to view GIS data Many GIS features are linked to other datasets (i.e., time series data) Data Analysis and Visualization Tools

Time Series Data Stored in Microsoft SQL Server Database User Interaction through Web Browser SQL Queries passed from Time Series Viewer to the server database Query results can be exported to a browser window or directly to Microsoft Excel Time Series Analyst Data Analysis and Visualization Tools

TMDL Information Viewer Internet Map Server TMDL Information Summary Application –Presents summary of TMDL Information for selected water body or point source Data Analysis and Visualization Tools

PhotoViewer Linked to Map Server Displays digital photos taken at locations throughout the watershed Data Analysis and Visualization Tools

Database Query Utility Allows users to query time series data out of the observations database Criteria include –Station name –Station/data type –Parameter –Agency –Time Period Export station information and data as text files Data Analysis and Visualization Tools

Contributions and Lessons Learned

Advanced Observations Data Model Regardless of source, data must be accompanied by enough metadata so that they can be unambiguously interpreted and used.

Spatially Referenced Point and Click Data Access Linking the observational data with its spatial location provides users with: 1.The ability to find the data that they want 2.The ability to look at spatial relationships among sampling locations

Data Visualization and Summary Tools Simple data visualizations and summaries allow users to browse available data with very little effort.

The Road Ahead Maintain a dynamic Watershed Information System –Incorporate new data as they become available –Enhance existing, and build new WIS tools Work closely with the Trading and Modeling teams to incorporate their results

Enhancements to Existing Tools Time Series Analyst –Adding censored data analysis –Adding better statistical summary tools Internet Map Server –Adding additional datasets that are linked to geographic locations on the map Database Query Utility –Make it easier to use

Watershed Characterization Physical Characteristics –Area –Elevation summary (min, max, avg.) Lands and Soil –Land Cover Summary –Land Use Summary –Land Ownership Summary Climate –Precipitation summary –Available climate data stations Water Quantity –Available streamflow gages (daily and real time) –Summary of data at each station (min, max, avg. – could do monthly) Water Quality –Available water quality stations –Summary of data at each station (statistics for common water quality parameters) Demographics –Populated places TMDL Information –Listed water bodies –Years, parameters, etc.

Integration of Other Project Components – WQ Trading Creation of online functionality to support the water quality trading program –Public informational component –“Virtual Trading Room” Integrate the water quality model with the WIS so users can execute “what if” scenarios

Integration of Other Project Components – Outreach and Education Integrate outreach efforts and programs into the WIS Create a dynamic “question and answer” expert system Assist in creation of training materials Identify and implement ways to present information to technical and non-technical users

Project Partners Bear River Commission Jack Barnett Idaho DEQ Lynn Van Every United States EPA Gary Kleeman Water Quality Task Force Mitch Poulson Wyoming DEQ Jack Smith Utah DEQ Mike Allred USU Project Collaborators: Nancy MesnerTerry Glover David StevensArthur Caplan