The NHD and the Future of Stream Mapping in West Virginia Evan Fedorko West Virginia GIS Technical Center Jackie Strager (NRAC) Kevin Kuhn Kurt Donaldson WVGISTC

Introduction Outline: –History of NHD Development in West Virginia Overview of NHD status in WV Local Resolution NHD Pilot Projects –Existing stream map: 24K NHD Known issues Need for upgrades/stewardship –What’s next: Stewardship and the future of NHD Challenges Recommendations Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

NHD Status in WV National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) 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 complete –Gauley –Upper Guyandotte Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

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 Status: –Pilot projects complete for Gauley, Upper Guyandotte watersheds in late 2008 –Not currently downloadable from USGS Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

LR-NHD Conclusions Two pilot watersheds completed WV one of the first states to complete conflation using USGS’ new conflation tools At this time, continued development of LR-NHD is not recommended. Reasons: –Issues with 1:4,800 source data – inconsistent inclusion of “special features” such as ditches and culverts –Comparative difficulty of conflation process –Propagation of HR-NHD errors –General lack of interest by the WV NHD community –The persistent generalization question –Continued changes in stream geometry Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

Evaluating the NHD At this time, most complete statewide stream dataset is the 24K NHD (HR-NHD) What can be improved in 24K NHD in WV? Evaluation of the 24K NHD –Statewide review by WVDEP –Documentation of errors by NRAC, WVDEP –Case study of mining-related changes (Coal River) Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

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 Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

Issues with NHD: Source data NHD Source data: USGS Topo maps Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

Issues with NHD Quantifying issues with the NHD Primarily based on WVDEP review Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

Issues with NHD Quantifying issues with the NHD Primarily based on WVDEP review Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

Quantifying issues Type of problem Number of Segments % of Segments Total Length (mi) Possible geometry error NHD attribute error (FCODE) Karst/sinking streams NHD format error (reaches)60.00n/a Name issues (possible) Name issues1, TOTAL216,57994,796 Quantifying 24K NHD issues as identified by WVDEP review Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

Geometry issues in NHD Stream updates needed due to: Construction of dams, impoundments Roads, highways Ongoing mining-related alterations Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

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 Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

Original 24K NHD Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

2003 Aerial photos 2003 Photo Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

Mining visible in Photo Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

Aerial photos Photo Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

Mining visible Photo Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

Summary for 24K NHD in Coal DescriptionArea (acres) Length of 24K streams (mi) Entire Coal watershed570,0002,232 Impacted by mining (2003)12,32159 Impacted by newer mining (2007) 10,75733 Total: 4.1% of stream length NOTE: Similar analysis shows that 1.3% of mapped local scale streams were impacted by mining between 2003 and 2007.

Future of NHD for WV Goal: Establish a stewardship program for NHD in WV, including: –Ensure data updates and maintenance (immediate & long-term) –Develop procedures & policies –Establish central point of contact –Identify principal steward, sub-stewards Steps taken so far: –Drafted a business plan for NHD in WV –Drafted an MOU between potential NHD steward and the USGS Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

Business Plan Completed business plan for NHD in WV Business plan includes: –History of the NHD –Local Resolution Development –Current uses/users of NHD in WV –A plan for NHD stewardship in WV –A draft memorandum of understanding between the USGS and a stewardship entity Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

Recommendations (1) Identify the principal NHD steward for West Virginia –Candidates include: WVDEP Water, WVDEP TAGIS, WV GIS Technical Center, Natural Resource Analysis Center Responsibilities of the principal steward: –Sign MOU with USGS –Leads and coordinates stewardship efforts –Acts as the principal authority on stewardship issues –May or may not be editor of NHD data with USGS Geo Edit tools Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

Recommendations (2) Identify a core group of sub-stewards –Candidates: West Virginia GIS Technical Center, Natural Resource Analysis Center, WV Department of Natural Resources, USFS – Mon National Forest, et al. Responsibilities of sub-stewards: –Trained to use USGS NHD Geo Edit tools –Participate in editing of NHD data –Fill in knowledge gaps Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

Recommendations (3) Work as a group with the NSDI and NHD liaisons to secure start up funding for NHD Stewardship We believe funding equivalent to 1 FTE employee will be necessary to get an NHD stewardship program off the ground Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

Recommendations (4) Develop a coordination framework for editing the NHD; emphasize: –Organized editing –Information sharing Schedule an onsite NHD Geo Edit training session –PS and sub-stewards will participate Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

Recommendations (5) Convene a hydrographic data users group Some suggested tasks and topics: –Develop a “best practices” document for NHD use within groups or agencies –Explore, document and promote NHD tools and software such as the Hydro Event Management Tool (HEM) –Identify and discuss NHD stewardship policy issues Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

Recommendations (6) Continue and expand the compilation of known errors to the NHD Develop a methodology to receive potential edits from stewardship community, such as a web editing or web based problem reporting tool. –Several states have deployed or are developing similar tools; Vermont, Alabama, Texas, et al. Introduction Current NHD Stewardship

Discussion Natural Resource Analysis Center West Virginia University WV GIS Technical Center West Virginia University wvgis.wvu.edu