National Hydrography Dataset

National Hydrography Dataset
Name	National Hydrography Dataset
Description	Geospatial dataset of the United States' surface water
Location	United States
Creator	United States Geological Survey
Release date	1999
Format	Geodatabase

National Hydrography Dataset is a comprehensive geospatial dataset that contains information about the United States' surface water, including rivers, lakes, wetlands, and coastlines. The dataset is maintained by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in partnership with other federal agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), as well as state and local governments, including the California Department of Water Resources and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The National Hydrography Dataset is used by various organizations, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to support a wide range of applications, such as floodplain management, water quality monitoring, and ecosystem restoration, in collaboration with institutions like the University of California, Berkeley and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Introduction

The National Hydrography Dataset is a key component of the USGS's National Map initiative, which aims to provide a comprehensive and authoritative source of geospatial data for the United States. The dataset is built from a variety of sources, including aerial photography, satellite imagery, and field surveys, conducted by organizations such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the United States Forest Service. The National Hydrography Dataset is designed to support a wide range of applications, from environmental monitoring and natural resource management to emergency response and urban planning, in coordination with agencies like the Federal Highway Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture. The dataset is also used by researchers at institutions like the Harvard University and the University of Michigan to study hydrology, ecology, and climate change, in collaboration with organizations like the National Science Foundation and the Environmental Defense Fund.

Data Components

The National Hydrography Dataset contains a wide range of data components, including hydrographic features such as rivers, lakes, and wetlands, as well as hydrologic units and drainage areas, defined by the USGS and the EPA. The dataset also includes information on water flow and water quality, collected by agencies like the USGS and the NOAA, as well as land cover and land use data, provided by organizations like the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Park Service. The dataset is organized into a hierarchical structure, with smaller hydrologic units nesting within larger ones, similar to the European Union's Natura 2000 network and the Australian Government's National Land and Water Resources Audit. The National Hydrography Dataset is also linked to other datasets, such as the National Elevation Dataset and the National Land Cover Dataset, maintained by the USGS and the Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics Consortium.

Applications and Uses

The National Hydrography Dataset has a wide range of applications and uses, including floodplain management, water quality monitoring, and ecosystem restoration, conducted by agencies like the FEMA and the EPA. The dataset is also used to support emergency response and disaster relief efforts, such as those coordinated by the American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as well as urban planning and infrastructure development, undertaken by organizations like the American Planning Association and the Urban Land Institute. The National Hydrography Dataset is also used by researchers to study hydrology, ecology, and climate change, in collaboration with institutions like the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the University of Colorado Boulder. Additionally, the dataset is used by private companies and non-profit organizations, such as the Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Fund, to support conservation efforts and sustainable development initiatives, similar to those implemented by the European Environment Agency and the United Nations Environment Programme.

Data Management and Updates

The National Hydrography Dataset is managed and updated by the USGS in partnership with other federal agencies, state and local governments, and private companies, including the EPA and the USACE. The dataset is updated regularly to reflect changes in the nation's surface water, such as new dams and reservoirs, constructed by organizations like the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Bureau of Reclamation, as well as changes in land cover and land use, monitored by agencies like the USDA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The National Hydrography Dataset is also subject to quality control and quality assurance procedures to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data, similar to those implemented by the European Commission and the International Organization for Standardization. The dataset is available for download from the USGS website, and can also be accessed through web services and application programming interfaces (APIs), developed by organizations like the Open Geospatial Consortium and the World Wide Web Consortium.

Technical Specifications

The National Hydrography Dataset is stored in a geodatabase format, which allows for efficient storage and retrieval of large amounts of geospatial data. The dataset is built using a variety of data models and schemas, including the USGS's National Hydrography Dataset Data Model and the Open Geospatial Consortium's Geography Markup Language (GML), similar to those used by the European Space Agency and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The National Hydrography Dataset is also compatible with a wide range of geographic information systems (GIS) software, including ESRI ArcGIS and QGIS, developed by organizations like the Environmental Systems Research Institute and the QGIS Development Team. The dataset is available in a variety of projections and coordinate systems, including the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83) and the World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84), used by agencies like the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration.

History and Development

The National Hydrography Dataset was first released in 1999, as part of the USGS's National Map initiative, launched by the USGS and the EPA. The dataset was built from a variety of sources, including aerial photography and satellite imagery, collected by organizations like the NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The National Hydrography Dataset has undergone several updates and revisions since its initial release, including the addition of new hydrographic features and hydrologic units, defined by the USGS and the EPA. The dataset has also been improved through the incorporation of new data models and schemas, such as the USGS's National Hydrography Dataset Data Model and the Open Geospatial Consortium's Geography Markup Language (GML), similar to those used by the European Commission and the International Organization for Standardization. Today, the National Hydrography Dataset is a critical component of the USGS's National Map initiative, and is used by a wide range of organizations and individuals to support environmental monitoring, natural resource management, and emergency response efforts, in collaboration with institutions like the Harvard University and the University of Michigan.

Category:Geospatial datasets