1. The NHD and the Future of Stream Mapping in West Virginia Evan Fedorko West Virginia GIS Technical Center www.wvgis.wvu.edu Jackie Strager (NRAC) www.nrac.wvu.edu Kevin Kuhn Kurt Donaldson WVGISTC

2. Introduction Outline: –Existing stream map: 24K NHD Issues with 24K NHD –Current stream mapping: Local NHD Pilot projects, results and future plans –What’s next: Stewardship and the future of NHD NHD successes and challenges –Case study: Stream modifications in the Coal River Future of NHD Introduction NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship

3. 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 NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship

4. 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 (stewardship section) Introduction NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship

5. 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 NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship

6. The big picture… Introduction NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship Quantifying issues with the NHD Primarily based on WVDEP review

7. The big picture… Introduction NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship Quantifying issues with the NHD Primarily based on WVDEP review

8. The big picture (2)… Type of problem Number of Segments % of Segments Total Length (mi) Possible geometry error6140.28254 NHD attribute error (FCODE)60.003 Karst/sinking streams2910.13107 NHD format error (reaches)60.00n/a Name issues (possible)2040.0989 Name issues1,3370.62657 TOTAL216,57994,796 Quantifying 24K NHD issues as identified by WVDEP review Introduction NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship

9. 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 NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship

10. LR-NHD Conclusions Introduction NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship Two pilot watersheds completed – not available for download yet WV is the first state to complete conflation using USGS’ new (beta) conflation tools At this time, continued development of LR NHD is NOT recommended. Summary of reasons: –Issues with 1:4,800 scale source data – inconsistent collection and 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

11. Future of NHD for WV… Goal: Establish a stewardship program for NHD in WV –Data updates –Ensures data maintenance –Central point of contact Steps taken: –Drafted a business plan for NHD in WV –Drafted an MOU between potential NHD steward and the USGS –Working with potential NHD steward Introduction NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship

12. Stewardship Status Successes –Completed business plan for NHD –Stakeholders have been engaged in an active discussion –Survey conducted in 2008 revealed a great deal of interest in establishing a stewardship program Introduction NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship

13. Stewardship Status Challenges –Data policy issues within potential stewardship agency –Community concerns over what scale of data will be maintained – fear that preferred scale will be “left behind” –Front loading of needed edits to HR-NHD resulting in initial… –Challenge of funding and personnel commitment to NHD stewardship Introduction NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship

14. 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 NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship

15. Original 24K NHD Introduction NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship

16. 2003 Aerial photos 2003 Photo Introduction NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship

17. Mining visible in 2003 2003 Photo Introduction NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship

18. Aerial photos 2007 2007 Photo Introduction NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship

19. Mining visible 2007 2007 Photo Introduction NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship

20. 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

21. Coal case study: Local Introduction NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship

22. Coal case study: Local DescriptionArea (acres) Length of streams (mi) Length of streams (mi) 24K 1:4,800 Entire Coal watershed570,0002,2322,829 Impacted by mining (2003)12,32159n/a Impacted by newer mining (2007) 10,7573338 Introduction NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship

23. West Virginia’s next steps –Identify principal steward(s) –Consolidate key stakeholders and come to consensus on key issues –Implement stewardship plan –Compile errors and begin editing Introduction NHD 24K NHD local Stewardship

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