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A review of current United States geospatial datasets and mapping approaches for headwater stream networks
Citation:
Christensen, J., B. Pickard, M. Keefer, K. Fritz, H. Golden, L. Alexander, R. Kwok, M. Weber, AND C. Lane. A review of current United States geospatial datasets and mapping approaches for headwater stream networks. 2021 Society of Freshwater Science Annual Meeting, Virtual, May 23 - 27, 2021.
Impact/Purpose:
Presented at the 2021 Society of Freshwater Science Annual Meeting
Description:
Headwater streams provide essential functions in supporting healthy watersheds, yet headwaters are often under- and/or misrepresented in mapping due to cartographic or sensor constraints and dynamic flows. There is also ambiguity regarding the availability of mapped datasets in the US that are used for stream-related federal and state policies. We reviewed current federal, state and tribal geospatial stream datasets, focusing on headwater extent, flow permanence classifications and additional stream mapping methods that may inform dataset limitations. Federal and state datasets centered on the suite of National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) products, with one-third of the 143 state stream datasets derived from non-federal sources. Few tribal stream datasets exist or are publicly available. Streamflow permanence information was identified for 32 states; eleven state datasets enhanced the NHD classification or were independently developed. Mapping and classification methodologies were mostly undescribed if datasets were unique from the NHD. Promising LiDAR-based technologies combined with machine learning techniques are advancing stream mapping at limited extents. As high resolution stream mapping is applied at broader scales, headwaters can more accurately be incorporated in water resources research and policy decisions.
