Metadata for Montana Watershed Boundaries - WEB SERVICE Metadata for Montana Watershed Boundaries - WEB SERVICE

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Identification Information:

Citation:

Originator:: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Geospatial Center of Excellence
Originator: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Publication date: 02/20/2025
Title: Montana Watershed Boundaries - WEB SERVICE
Online linkage: https://gisservicemt.gov/arcgis/rest/services/MSDI_Framework/WatershedBoundaries/MapServer

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, 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 data was previously updated through the USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) Program approximately annually. Data are available as a geodatabase with all HUC levels or as shapefiles subset by HUC level (2-digit, 4-digit, 6-digit, 8-digit,10-digit, 12-digit).

This dataset represents the Final Snapshot provided for download by the USGS on January 7, 2025.

Find additional information on the USGS Watershed Boundary Dataset here: https://www.usgs.gov/national-hydrography/access-national-hydrography-products

Future watershed boundary updates will be completed with the USGS 3D Hydrography Program (3DHP): https://www.usgs.gov/index.php/3DHP

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.

Time period of content:

Calendar date: 02/20/2025
Currentness reference: Publication Date

Status:

Progress: Complete
Maintenance and update frequency: As needed

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 U.S.A. The NRCS should be acknowledged as the data source in products derived from these data. 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. Federal, State, or local regulatory bodies are not to reassign to the Natural Resources Conservation Service any authority for the decisions they make. The Natural Resources Conservation Service will not perform any evaluations of these maps or purposes related solely to State or local regulatory programs. 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. Files are dated, and users are responsible for obtaining the latest version of the data from the source distributor.

The Montana State Library Geographic Information Services provides this product/service for informational purposes only. The Library did not produce it for, nor is it suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes. Consumers of this information should review or consult the primary data and information sources to ascertain the viability of the information for their purposes. The Library provides these data in good faith but does not represent or warrant its accuracy, adequacy, or completeness. In no event shall the Library be liable for any incorrect results or analysis; any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages to any party; or any lost profits arising out of or in connection with the use or the inability to use the data or the services provided. The Library makes these data and services available as a convenience to the public, and for no other purpose. The Library reserves the right to change or revise published data and/or services at any time.

Point of contact:

Authoritative Data Team
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Geospatial Center of Excellence
PO Box 25046
Denver, Colorado 80225
Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747)
Fax: 817-509-3469

Point of contact:

Montana State Library
PO Box 201800
Helena, MT 59620-1800
Telephone: 406-444-5354
TDD/TTY telephone: Montana Relay 711
Fax: 406-444-0266
E-Mail: geoinfo@mt.gov

Data set credit:

Funding and support for the Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) were provided by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the United States Geological Survey. Representatives from the U.S. Geological Survey and Environmental Protection Agency contributed a substantial amount of time and salary towards quality review and updating of the dataset in order to meet the Federal Standards for Delineation of Hydrologic Unit Boundaries.

Spatial Data Organization Information:

Point and vector object information:

SDTS object type: GT-polygon composed of chains

SDTS object count: 115

Spatial Reference Information:

Horizontal coordinate system definition:

Map projection:

Map projection name: WGS 1984 Web Mercator Auxiliary Sphere
Map projection parameters:

Planar distance units: meters

Geodetic model:

Horizontal datum name: D WGS 1984
Ellipsoid name: WGS 1984
Semi-major axis: 6378137.0
Denominator of flattening ratio: 298.257223563

Entity and Attribute Information:

Entity type label: WBDHU2

Entity type definition:

Polygon feature class representing the 2-digit hydrologic unit boundaries (previously referred to as Regions) and are part of the WBD delivery.

Attribute label: HUC2

Attribute definition:: The HUC2 field is a unique 2-digit hydrologic unit code. These codes are set and cannot be updated.
Codeset name: Federal Standards and Procedures for the National Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)

Entity type label: WBDHU4

Entity type definition:

Polygon feature class representing the 4-digit hydrologic unit boundaries (previously referred to as Subregions) that are part of the WBD delivery.

Attribute label: HUC4

Attribute definition: The HUC4 field is a unique 4-digit hydrologic unit code.
Codeset name: Federal Standards and Procedures for the National Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)

Entity type label: WBDHU6

Entity type definition:

Polygon feature class representing the 6-digit hydrologic unit boundaries (previously referred to as Basins) and are part of the WBD delivery.

Attribute label: HUC6

Attribute definition: The HUC6 field is a unique 6-digit hydrologic unit code.
Codeset name: Federal Standards and Procedures for the National Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)

Entity type label: WBDHU8

Entity type definition:

Polygon feature class representing the 8-digit hydrologic unit boundaries (previously referred to as Subbasins) and are part of the WBD delivery.

Attribute label: HUC8

Attribute definition: The HUC8 field is a unique 8-digit hydrologic unit code.
Codeset name: Federal Standards and Procedures for the National Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)

Entity type label: WBDHU10

Entity type definition:

Polygon feature class representing the 10-digit hydrologic unit boundaries (previously referred to as Watersheds).

Attribute label: HUC10

Attribute definition: The HUC10 field is a unique 10-digit hydrologic unit code.
Codeset name: Federal Standards and Procedures for the National Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)

Entity type label: WBDHU12

Entity type definition:

Polygon feature class representing the 12-digit hydrologic unit boundaries (previously referred to as Subwatersheds).

Attribute label: HUC12

Attribute definition: The HUC12 field is a unique 12-digit hydrologic unit code.
Codeset name: Federal Standards and Procedures for the National Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)

Attribute label: ToHUC

Attribute definition:: The 12-digit hydrologic unit ToHUC code attribute is the code for the 12-digit hydrologic unit that is downstream from and naturally receives the majority of the flow from another 12-digit hydrologic unit.
Codeset name: Federal Standards and Procedures for the National Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)

Entity type label: WBDLine

Entity type definition: Line feature class defining the hydrologic unit boundaries

Attribute label: HUDigit

Attribute definition:: HUDigit is a domain-based field that indicates the minimum number of digits used to represent the hydrologic unit bounded by the line.
Codeset name: Federal Standards and Procedures for the National Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)

Attribute label: HUMod

Attribute definition:: Two-character, uppercase abbreviation used to track either a modification to natural overland flow that alters the location of the hydrologic unit boundary or special conditions that are applied to a specific boundary line segment. The value identifies the type of modification, from the list provided, that has been applied to the boundary segment. If more than one abbreviation is used, the list is separated by commas without spaces and organized from most to least predominant.
Codeset name: Federal Standards and Procedures for the National Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)

Attribute label: LineSource

Attribute definition:: LineSource represents the code for the base data used for delineating hydrologic unit boundaries. If more than one code is used,then the list is separated by a comma with no spaces with the most recent LineSource listed first in the sequence.
Codeset name: Federal Standards and Procedures for the National Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)

Attribute label: AreaSqKm

Attribute definition: Area of the gaged watershed
Attribute domain: Calculated polygon area, square kilometers

Attribute label: AgencyCode

Attribute definition: Site Agency code
Codeset name: U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System

Attribute label: SiteNumber

Attribute definition: U.S. Geological Survey unique site identifier
Attribute domain:: Unique code identifying a measurement site in the National Water Information System database

Attribute label: StationName

Attribute definition: Site Name
Attribute domain:: Common name associated with site in the National Water Information System database

Attribute label: TotalAreaSqMi

Attribute definition: Total drainage area
Attribute domain: Total area of the polygon, square miles

Attribute label: ReferenceTNMIDNHDPointEvent

Attribute definition: Unique identifier for NHD point event representing gage
Attribute domain: Unique identifier that is automatically generated

Attribute label: Remarks

Attribute definition: Remarks
Attribute domain:: Free text holding remarks from reviewers and/or dataset originator

Attribute label: LengthKm

Attribute definition: Length of the line
Attribute domain: Calculated line length, kilometers

Attribute label: LineSource

Attribute definition:: Code identifying the base data used for delineating hydrologic unit boundaries
Codeset name: Federal Standards and Procedures for the National Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)

Attribute label: AgencyCode

Attribute definition: Site Agency code
Codeset name: U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System

Attribute label: SiteNumber

Attribute definition: U.S. Geological Survey unique site identifier
Attribute domain:: Unique code identifying a measurement site in the National Water Information System database

Entity type label:

WBDHU2, WBDHU4, WBDHU6, WBDHU8, WBDHU10, WBDHU12, Major Drainage Areas

Entity type definition:

The following attribute fields are common to all feature classes within the WBD

Attribute label: OBJECTID

Attribute definition: Internal feature number.
Attribute domain:: Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute label: Shape

Attribute definition: Feature geometry.
Attribute domain: Coordinates defining the features.

Attribute label: TNMID

Attribute definition:: TNMID (short for The National Map Identification) is a unique 40-character field that identifies each element in the database exclusively.
Attribute domain:: TNMID is an automatically assigned code that stays with each element. When an element is updated or changed, TNMID links the element to the metadata record and documents the change. TNMID is also used to maintain relationship classes in the normalized data model. When an element is deleted or split, TNMID stays with the original element and is not used again. When an element is split, new permanent identifiers are assigned to the resultant parts.

Attribute label: MetaSourceID

Attribute definition:: MetaSourceID is a unique identifier that links the element to the metadata tables.
Attribute domain:: MetaSourceID is a unique identifier that links the element to the metadata tables. This ID is generated and assigned automatically by the database and remains with the object permanently.

Attribute label: SourceDataDesc

Attribute definition:: SourceDataDesc is a space provided for a brief description of the type of base data used to update or change the current WBD.
Attribute domain:: The WBD In-State Steward completes this field as part of the metadata form.

Attribute label: SourceOriginator

Attribute definition:: SourceOriginator is the description of the agency that created the base data used to improve the WBD.
Attribute domain:: The WBD In-State Steward completes this field as part of the metadata form

Attribute label: SourceFeatureID

Attribute definition: SourceFeatureID is a long, unique code.
Attribute domain:: This code identifies the parent of the feature if the feature is the result of a split or merge, and it is automatically generated and assigned.

Attribute label: LoadDate

Attribute definition:: LoadDate represents the date when the data were loaded into the official USGS WBD ArcSDE database. The field is the effective date for all feature edits, and it is automatically generated.
Range domain minimum: 12:00:00 AM
Range domain maximum: 5/22/2015 9:18:54 AM

Attribute label: SHAPE_Length

Attribute definition: Length of feature in internal units.
Range domain minimum: 0.00969668135620442
Range domain maximum: 156.106394893564

Entity type label:

WBDHU2, WBDHU4, WBDHU6, WBDHU8, WBDHU10, WBDHU12, WBDHU14, WBDHU16, NWISDrainageArea, NonContributingDrainageArea

Entity type definition:

The following attribute field is common to all polygon feature classes within the WBD

Attribute label: Shape_Area

Attribute definition: Area of feature in internal units squared.
Range domain minimum: 1.4877635179339E-06
Range domain maximum: 9.79299310229808

Entity type label: WBDHU2, WBDHU4, WBDHU6, WBDHU8, WBDHU10, WBDHU12

Entity type definition:

The following attribute fields are common to the WBD hydrologic unit polygon datasets

Attribute label: GNIS_ID

Attribute definition:: GNIS_ID is a preassigned numeric field that uses a unique number to relate the name of the hydrologic unit to the GNIS names database.
Codeset name: Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)

Attribute label: AreaAcres

Attribute definition:: The area of each hydrologic unit including non-contributing areas stored in acres AreaAcres is common to all polygon feature classes and is calculated at the 12-digit hydrologic unit from the intrinsic area value maintained by the GIS software; therefore, acreage values may vary from user calculations, depending on the projection of the data. North American Albers Equal Area Conic, North American Datum 1983 is the required projection to use for calculation. If the units of the area field are stored in square meters, then use the conversion factor 0.0002471. For example, 40,469,446 square meters multiplied by 0.0002471 =10,000 acres
Range domain minimum: 0
Range domain maximum: 50000000
Attribute units of measure: acres

Attribute label: AreaSqKm

Attribute definition:: The area of each hydrologic unit including non-contributing areas stored in square kilometers. AreaSqKm is calculated at the 12-digit hydrologic unit from the intrinsic area value maintained by the GIS software; therefore, the square kilometer values may vary from user calculations, depending on the projection of the data. North American Albers Equal Area Conic, North American Datum 1983 is the default projection.
Range domain minimum: 0
Range domain maximum: 100000
Attribute units of measure: square kilometers

Attribute label: States

Attribute definition:: The States or outlying area attribute identifies the State(s) or outlying areas that the hydrologic unit falls within or touches. Will be populated with the 2 character state abbreviation or outlying area attribute for each area that the unit falls within in alphabetical order.
Codeset name: Federal Standards and Procedures for the National Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)

Attribute label: Name

Attribute definition:: Name refers to the GNIS name for the geographic area in which the hydrologic unit is located.
Codeset name: Federal Standards and Procedures for the National Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)

Entity type label: WBDHU10, WBDHU12

Entity type definition:

The following attribute fields are common to the 10-digit, 12-digit WBD polygon datasets

Entity type label: WBDHU12

Entity type definition:

The following attribute fields are common to the 12-digit WBD polygon datasets

Entity and attribute overview:

The Watershed Boundary Dataset is a comprehensive set of digital spatial data that represents the surface drainages areas of the United States. The information included with the features includes a feature date, a unique common identifier, name, the feature length or area, and other characteristics. Names and their identifiers are assigned from the Geographic Names Information System. The data also contains relations that encode metadata. The names and definitions of all these feature attributes are in the Federal Standards and Procedures for the National Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD). The document is available online at https://pubs. usgs.gov/tm/11/a3/.

Entity and attribute detail citation:

The names and definitions of all fields within the WBD attribution are in the U.S. Geological Survey, Federal Standards and Procedures for the National Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD). The document is available online at https://pubs.usgs.gov/tm/11/a3/. Information about the attribute tables and fields are in Section 6: Geospatial Data Structure and Attributes

Distribution Information:

Distributor:

Montana State Library
PO Box 201800
Helena, MT 59620-1800
Telephone: 406-444-5354
TDD/TTY telephone: Montana Relay 711
Fax: 406-444-0266
E-Mail: geoinfo@mt.gov

Resource description: Live Data and Maps

Distribution liability:

The Montana State Library provides this product/service for informational purposes only. The Library did not produce it for, nor is it suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes. Consumers of this information should review or consult the primary data and information sources to ascertain the viability of the information for their purposes. The Library provides these data in good faith but does not represent or warrant its accuracy, adequacy, or completeness. In no event shall the Library be liable for any incorrect results or analysis; any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages to any party; or any lost profits arising out of or in connection with the use or the inability to use the data or the services provided. The Library makes these data and services available as a convenience to the public, and for no other purpose. The Library reserves the right to change or revise published data and/or services at any time.

Standard order process:

Digital form:

Metadata Reference Information:

Metadata date: 02/12/2025

Metadata contact:

Montana State Library
PO Box 201800
Helena, Montana 59620-1800
Telephone: 406-444-5354
TDD/TTY telephone: Montana Relay 711
Fax: 406-444-0266
E-Mail: geoinfo@mt.gov