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CBW-upst-shade-buffer-Data: Riparian shade buffer dataset for stream temperature regional modeling
Citation:
Connolly, C., N. Detenbeck, AND K. Gootman. CBW-upst-shade-buffer-Data: Riparian shade buffer dataset for stream temperature regional modeling. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, 2026. https://doi.org/10.23719/d-n1mc
Impact/Purpose:
This work is a part of a larger effort to develop a fine-resolution spatial stream network (SSN) temperature model for the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S that can be used by tribes and regional partners to address temperature issues in the region's watersheds. In many larger stream and river networks, particularly the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, there is a need to update water quality standards for temperature, focus conservation and restoration activities to protect cold-water streams for sensitive species like native brook trout, and continue analyses and mapping/modeling to identify stream reaches with thermally resilient groundwater inputs to focus habitat restoration efforts. This subproduct demonstrates efficient processing and aggregation of riparian shade values generated by EPA’s RShade program (USEPA/dmap-RShade) for various upstream distance and travel time buffers. The example focuses on generating shade buffer estimates to facilitate future development of regional stream temperature models to evaluate mitigation potential of forested riparian zones in the mid-Atlantic. The subproduct includes the input data, output data (i.e., results), and metadata that accompany EPA's CBW-upst-shade-buffer-Calc program (USEPA/CBW-upst-shade-buffer-Calc). With the input data, the user has the ability to reproduce the results of the CBW-upst-shade-buffer-Calc R program, providing method and data-transparency. The results, which include average effective shade estimates for various upstream distance and water travel time riparian buffers were created for the development of a high-resolution statistical stream network (SSN) temperature model based on the NHDPlusHR flowline network; however, the results are made available for other purposes and to share with regional partners.
Description:
This subproduct includes the input data and output data (i.e., results) of EPA's CBW-upst-shade-buffer-Calc program (ACE.409.4.2.10). These datasets and the accompanying readme file are stored separately on Zenodo (https://zenodo.org/records/16278599). The input data include stream temperature monitoring station information generated by EPA's CBW-cont-stream-temp-QC program (https://github.com/USEPA/CBW-cont-stream-temp-QC) and shade output generated by EPA's dmap-Rshade program (https://github.com/USEPA/dmap-RShade) for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (CBW). The input data also includes 50m-spaced shade point coordinates that correspond to shade values. By applying the CBW-upst-shade-buffer-Calc program with the full input data, users have the ability to reproduce the riparian shade buffer results in the output data, providing method and data-transparency. The output datasets include average effective shade for various upstream distance and water travel time buffers for stream temperature monitoring sites across the CBW. The user also has the ability to use the shade results for their own purposes. This data product facilitates future development of regional stream temperature models that are needed by EPA and its regional partners in the mid-Atlantic to evaluate mitigation potential of forested riparian zones in order to protect cold-water stream habitat.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: CBW-upst-shade-buffer-Data: Riparian shade buffer dataset for stream temperature regional modeling
https://zenodo.org/records/16278599