Watersheds (HUC12)
Description | Spatial | Data Structure | Metadata
Description
Citation
Title: Watersheds (HUC12)
Data type: vector digital data
Description
Abstract: The Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) is a comprehensive aggregated collection of hydrologic unit data consistent with the national criteria for delineation and resolution. It defines the areal extent of surface water drainage to a point except in coastal or lake front areas where there could be multiple outlets as stated by the "Federal Standards and Procedures for the National Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)" "Standard" (https://pubs.usgs.gov/tm/11/a3/). Watershed boundaries are determined solely upon science-based hydrologic principles, not favoring any administrative boundaries or special projects, nor particular program or agency. This dataset represents the hydrologic unit boundaries to the 12-digit (6th level) for the entire United States. Some areas may also include additional subdivisions representing the 14- and 16-digit hydrologic unit (HU). At a minimum, the HUs are delineated at 1:24,000-scale in the conterminous United States, 1:25,000-scale in Hawaii, Pacific basin and the Caribbean, and 1:63,360-scale in Alaska, meeting the National Map Accuracy Standards (NMAS). Higher resolution boundaries are being developed where partners and data exist and will be incorporated back into the WBD. WBD data are delivered as a dataset of polygons and corresponding lines that define the boundary of the polygon. WBD polygon attributes include hydrologic unit codes (HUC), size (in the form of acres and square kilometers), name, downstream hydrologic unit code, type of watershed, non-contributing areas, and flow modifications. The HUC describes where the unit is in the country and the level of the unit. WBD line attributes contain the highest level of hydrologic unit for each boundary, line source information and flow modifications. The intent of defining Hydrologic Units (HU) within the Watershed Boundary Dataset is to establish a base-line drainage boundary framework, accounting for all land and surface areas. Hydrologic units are intended to be used as a tool for water-resource management and planning activities particularly for site-specific and localized studies requiring a level of detail provided by large-scale map information. The WBD complements the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) and supports numerous programmatic missions and activities including: watershed management, rehabilitation and enhancement, aquatic species conservation strategies, flood plain management and flood prevention, water-quality initiatives and programs, dam safety programs, fire assessment and management, resource inventory and assessment, water data analysis and water census.</purpose><supplinf>The WBD was produced and is maintained through a cooperative process involving state, federal and local partners. Process information for a specific state or region can be found within the state specific metadata located at ftp://rockyftp.cr.usgs.gov/ngtoc/hydro/outgoing/WBDArchivedMetadata/. This metadata file has information for WBD features contained in the WBD feature dataset. This includes information about the 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, 14-, 16-digit polygons and WBD_Line dataset. Users accessing the WBD via shapefile will need to search for the attribution related to that specific dataset.
Purpose: The intent of defining Hydrologic Units (HU) within the Watershed Boundary Dataset is to establish a base-line drainage boundary framework, accounting for all land and surface areas. Hydrologic units are intended to be used as a tool for water-resource management and planning activities particularly for site-specific and localized studies requiring a level of detail provided by large-scale map information. The WBD complements the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) and supports numerous programmatic missions and activities including: watershed management, rehabilitation and enhancement, aquatic species conservation strategies, flood plain management and flood prevention, water-quality initiatives and programs, dam safety programs, fire assessment and management, resource inventory and assessment, water data analysis and water census.
Key Words
Theme:
Keywords: inlandWaters, Watershed Boundary Dataset, WBD, Hydrologic Units, Hydrologic Unit Code, HUC, Region, Sub-region, Basin, Sub-basin, Watershed, Subwatershed, 2-digit, 4-digit, 6-digit, 8-digit, 10-digit, 12-digit, 14-digit, 16-digit, National Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD), State, FileGDB 10.1
Keyword thesaurus: None
Data Constraints and Credit
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: The distributor shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of this data, based on the description of appropriate/inappropriate uses described in this metadata document. It is strongly recommended that this data is directly acquired from the distributor and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way. These data should not be used at scales greater than 1:24,000 for the purpose of identifying hydrographic watershed boundary feature locations in the United States. The Watershed Boundary Dataset is public information and may be interpreted by all organizations, agencies, units of government, or others based on needs; however, they are responsible for the appropriate application of the data. Photographic or digital enlargement of these maps to scales greater than that at which they were originally delineated can result in misrepresentation of the data. If enlarged, the maps will not include the fine detail that would be appropriate for mapping at the small scale. Digital data files are periodically updated and users are responsible for obtaining the latest version of the data from the source distributor. Acknowledgment of the origination agencies would be appreciated in products derived from these data.
Dataset credit: Funding for the Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) was provided by the USDA-NRCS, USGS and EPA along with other federal, state and local agencies. Representatives from many agencies contributed a substantial amount of time and salary towards quality review and updating of the dataset in order to meet the WBD Standards. Acknowledgment of the originating agencies would be appreciated in products derived from these data. See dataset specific metadata for further information
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
National Geospatial Technical Operations Center
P.O. Box 25046
Denver, CO 80225
1-877-275-8747
bpgeo@usgs.gov
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Other Federal, State, and local partners (see dataset specific metadata for details ftp://rockyftp.cr.usgs.gov/ngtoc/hydro/outgoing/WBDArchivedMetadata)
20200908
USGS National Watershed Boundary Dataset in FileGDB 10.1 format (published 20200908)
Spatial Reference Information
Horizontal Coordinate System
Coordinate System Details
Geographic coordinate system
Latitude resolution: 8.983152841195215e-09
Longitude resolution: 8.983152841195215e-09
Geographic coordinate units: Decimal Degrees
Geodetic model
Horizontal datum name: D WGS 1984
Ellipsoid name: WGS 1984
Semi-major axis: 6378137.0
Denominator of flattening ratio: 298.257223563
Spatial Domain
Below are the western, eastern, northern, and southern geographic limits of data coverage.
Bounding Coordinates
In Unprojected coordinates (geographic)
BoundaryCoordinate
West-179.229655 (latitude)
East179.856675 (latitude)
North71.439573 (longitude)
South-14.610193 (longitude)
Data Structure and Attribute Information
Name and Format
Data type: vector digital data
Native dataset environment: Version 6.2 (Build 9200) ; Esri ArcGIS 10.5.1.7333
Overview
Direct spatial reference method: Vector
Attributes of WBDHU12
Attributes
objectid
Definition: Internal feature number.
Attribute values: Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
Attribute definition source: Esri
tnmid
metasourceid
sourcedatadesc
sourceoriginator
sourcefeatureid
loaddate
noncontributingareaacres
noncontributingareasqkm
areasqkm
areaacres
referencegnis_ids
name
states
huc12
hutype
humod
tohuc
shape
Definition: Feature geometry.
Attribute values: Coordinates defining the features.
Attribute definition source: Esri
Shape_Length
Definition: Length of feature in internal units.
Attribute values: Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.
Attribute definition source: Esri
Shape_Area
Definition: Area of feature in internal units squared.
Attribute values: Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.
Attribute definition source: Esri
SDTS Feature Description
Spatial data transfer standard (SDTS) terms
Feature class
Type: GT-polygon composed of chains
Count: 102908
Metadata Reference
Metadata Date
Last updated: 20240110
Metadata Standards
Standard name: FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Standard version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
Time convention: local time
FGDC Plus Metadata Stylesheet
Stylesheet: FGDC Plus Stylesheet
File name: FGDC Plus.xsl
Version: 1.7
Description: This metadata is displayed using the FGDC Plus Stylesheet, which is an XSL template that can be used with ArcGIS software to display metadata. It shows metadata elements defined in the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) standard and the ESRI Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (ESRI Profile). This stylsheet is in the public domain and may be freely used, modified, and redistributed. It is provided "AS-IS" without warranty or techical support.
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NEPAssist: Metadata