USA - National Hydrography Dataset Plus High Resolution (beta) - USGS

The NHDPlus High Resolution (NHDPlus HR) is a scalable geospatial hydrography framework built from the high resolution National Hydrography Dataset, nationally complete Watershed Boundary Dataset, and ⅓ arc-second (10 meter ground spacing) 3D Elevation Program data. The NHDPlus HR brings modeling and assessment down to a local, neighborhood level, while nesting seamlessly into the national context.

NHDPlus HR is modeled after the highly successful NHDPlus Version 2. Like the NHDPlus version 2, the NHDPlus HR is comprised of a nationally seamless network of stream reaches, elevation-based catchment areas, flow surfaces, and value-added attributes that enhance stream network navigation, analysis, and data display. However, users will find that the NHDPlus HR, which increases the number of features nationally from about three million in the NHDPlus Version 2 to over 30 million, provides richer, more current content that also can be used at a variety of scales.

The NHDPlus HR framework extends the hydrologic network seamlessly across the terrain by including not only streams, but also associated catchment areas that drain to each stream segment. This association allows information about the landscape to be related to the stream network. Observational data on the stream network, such as water quality samples, streamgage measurements, or fish distribution, can also be linked to the framework. Together, the framework and linked data can support a limitless range and type of applications, for example:

Predicting the risk, timing, and magnitude of flood events Estimating when and where an event such as a toxic spill will affect populations and ecosystems downstream Enabling riparian property owners to better understand upstream invasive species threats When completed, the NHDPlus HR will provide a common geospatial framework that is open and accessible for use by everyone, including government, citizens, and industry. It will be the geospatial framework supporting the Open Water Data Initiative, which seeks to integrate currently fragmented water information into a connected national water data infrastructure to underpin innovation, modeling, data sharing, and solution development. NHDPlus HR will not only provide far more detail than NHDPlus V2 in order to support local analysis and modeling, special attributes also allow the selection of more generalized stream networks for regional or national analysis, while retaining the spatial accuracy of the highest-resolution, nationally available datasets.

Hydrologic regions available

Northeast - 01

Tennessee - 06

Texas - 12

Upper Colorado - 14

Lower Colorado - 15

Mid-Atlantic - 02

Great Basin - 16

What are the components of NHDPlus HR?

The NHDPlus HR is built using:

The National Hydrography Dataset High Resolution data at 1:24,000 scale or better The 1/3 arc-second (10 meter ground spacing) 3D Elevation Program data The nationally complete Watershed Boundary Dataset NHDPlus HR consists of vector and raster data layers. It includes a snapshot of the NHD and WBD at the time the NHDPlus HR was built, as well as the following components:

A set of value added attributes, in addition to the standard NHD attributes, that enhance stream network navigation, analysis and display

An elevation-based catchment area for each flowline in the stream network

Catchment characteristics, including mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, and mean annual runoff, and mean altitude

Cumulative drainage area characteristics

Mean annual flow (1971-2000) and velocity estimates for each flowline in the stream network.

Flow direction, flow accumulation, elevation, and hydro-enforced elevation rasters

Headwater node areas

Flowline min/max elevations and slopes

What is NHDPlus HR Beta?

Large geospatial datasets sometimes contain errors due to processing, input errors, or other issues, particularly when they are first created. To ensure data quality, the NHDPlus HR is being created in an iterative fashion starting with production of a “Beta” version. While in Beta, the data will undergo a structured review by volunteers in the user community, during which errors in the component hydrography datasets (NHD and WBD) will be identified and corrected. The data will then be “refreshed” using the updated component datasets to create an improved product. This period of user review is a vital part of the overall process. Please see the section below on helping with the NHDPlus HR for more information on how to get involved.