Metadata for Montana Subwatershed Basins, 2006 Version Metadata for Montana Subwatershed Basins, 2006 Version

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Identification Information:

Citation:

Originator: Natural Resources Conservation Service Montana State Office

Publication date: 2006

Title: Montana Subwatershed Basins, 2006 Version

Publication place: Helena, Montana
Publisher: Montana State Library

Larger Work Citation:

Title: Montana Watershed Boundary Database, 2006 Version
Online linkage: http://mslapps.mt.gov/Geographic_Information/Data/DataList/datalist_Details.aspx?did={0077A7D3-F6C3-4D08-9837-410E79A12FCC}

Abstract:

This is the Montana subwatershed layer as it existed in 2006. This dataset has been superseded by newer data and should only be used as a historical snapshot of one stage of the subwatershed deliniation process.

This data set is a hydrologic unit boundary layer to the Subwatershed (12-digit) 6th level for the State of Montana. This data set consists of geo-referenced digital data and associated attributes created in accordance with the "FGDC Proposal, Version 2.0 - Federal Standards For Delineation of Hydrologic Unit Boundaries 10/01/04" (http://www.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/huc_data.html). Polygons are attributed with hydrologic unit codes for 4th level sub-basins, 5th level watersheds, 6th level subwatersheds, name, size, downstream hydrologic unit, type of watershed, non-contributing areas and flow modification.

Time period of content:

Calendar date: 2006

Status:

Progress: Complete

Use constraints:

This dataset has been superseded by newer data and should only be used as a historical snapshot of one stage of the subwatershed deliniation process.

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 Montana. The Natural Resource Conservation Service should be acknowledged as the data source in products derived from these data. The Montana 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.

Point of contact:

Tom Potter
Montana Natural Resources Conservation Service
10 E Babcock, Fed Bldg Rm 443
Bozeman, Montana 59715
Telephone: 406-587-6968
E-Mail: thomas.potter@mt.usda.gov
Contact instructions: Please email questions and requests.

Data set credit:

Funding for the Montana Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) was provided by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Montana Natural Resource Information System (NRIS). Representatives from all three organizations contributed a substantial amount of time and salary towards quality review of the dataset.

Data Quality Information:

Logical consistency report:

The layer is topologically correct in that there are no overlaps or gaps between the polygons. The line feature coordinates of the accompanying hydrologic unit boundary layers are identical to the coordinates of the polygons they form boundaries of.

Completeness report:

Hydrologic units are not shown north of the International Boundary with Canada. The Lower Kootenai and Moyie River subbasins do not have watershed or subwatershed information and are not shown beyond Montana's boundary. Otherwise, the boundaries of all hydrologic units in all of the subbasins that intersect Montana are shown.

Horizontal Positional Accuracy Report:

The WBD was produced using Enhanced Digital Raster Graphics (DRG-Es) digital images as source map. Data completeness for DRG files reflect content of the source graphic and may therefore be reflected in the completeness and accuracy of the WBD. The map was digitized from USGS 1:24,000-scale digital raster graphic base maps, with an inherited error of /- 40 feet according to USGS National Map Accuracy Standards. Digitized line locations were held to the /- 40 foot accuracy standards by ensuring that all lines were within a 12 meter buffer of where visual interpretion put the actual boundary. Any lines outside the buffer were corrected. It is estimated that the errors detected were less than 10%. It should be noted that while general rules of hydrology were used (i.e. water flows downhill), the location of boundaries is still somewhat subjective as the 1:24,000-scale DRG-E do not always provide enough information for identifying the location of the boundaries. In these instances group consensus was used. Please refer to the methods section for more details on watershed delineation rules. As with the original DRGs, DRG-E is cast in the Universal Transverse Mercator projection and is referenced to the NAD27 datum. When the drg-es are used in the NAD83 datum the alternate world files only approximate the NAD83 by shifting the coordinates of the imagery. The total error introduced using this shift is less than 2 meters for all DRG-E imagery.

Lineage:

Source information:

Originator: National Mapping Division, U.S. Geological Survey
Publication date: 1940
Title: 1:24000 scale 7.5 minute topographical quadrangles
Source contribution: map delineation

Source information:

Originator: U.S. Geological Survey
Title: 30-m Digital Elevation Models
Online linkage: http://seamless.usgs.gov.
Source scale denominator: 24000
Type of source media: online
Source contribution: map delineation

Source information:

Originator: USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Publication date: 2002
Title: Digital Raster Graphic Mosaics of Montana Counties
Online linkage: http://datagateway.nrcs.usda.gov/
Source scale denominator: 24000
Type of source media: online
Source contribution: map delineation
Beginning date: 2002
Ending date: 2003

Source information:

Originator: USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Publication date: 2005
Title: Orthophoto Mosaics of Montana Counties
Online linkage: http://datagateway.nrcs.usda.gov/
Source scale denominator: 12000
Type of source media: online
Source contribution: map delineation
Beginning date: 2000
Ending date: 2005

Source information:

Originator: USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Publication date: 1996
Title: Montana 5th-Code Watersheds
Online linkage: http://nris.mt.gov/nsdi/nris/shape/hd109.zip
Source scale denominator: 100000
Type of source media: online
Source contribution: map delineation
Calendar date: 1996

Process step:

Level 6 (12-digit) watersheds were delineated within a nested hierarchical structure using the existing Level 5 (11-digit) watershed delineation as a starting framework. The 11-digit code was reduced to 10 digits to conform to the new Federal Standards for the Delineation of Hydrologic Units Boundaries, by dropping the zero in the last position. Data fields were added to the attribute table as specified in the Federal Standards. This data had originally been compiled at a scale of 1:100,000, so the 10-digit lines were only used as a guide.

Process step:

The actual delineation process involved many different people and several different methods. The U.S. Forest Service began the process by assigning the delineation task to each Forest Hydrologist or Hydrologic technician. Delineations were made on 1:24000 topological maps and often stopped at or near the forest boundary. These lines were eventually digitized on a tablet using ArcInfo.

Process step:

Using the Forest Service coverage as a starting point, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) began filling in some of the private lands between the Forest Service lands. This was often done by volunteers with minimal instruction using ArcView 3x and onscreen digitizing.


Process date: 1998

Process step:

In 1999, the NRCS began to take a more serious role in delineating sub-watersheds. An Arc AML was developed to create contour maps from Digital Elevation Models based on 4th and 5th code boundaries. This was overlayed with 1:100,000 hydrology. Paper maps were printed and sub-watersheds were hand drawn. These paper maps were used as a reference while digitizing onscreen using ArcView 3x and the DRG mosaics. This process was used to complete the delineation in Montana. The Forest Service, the NRCS, and the Montana Natural Resources Information System (NRIS) all contributed funding and or manpower to complete the digitizing process.


Process date: 2003

Process step:

Digitizing was often done by 4th code units. These needed to be matched and joined to adjacent units and with the Forest Service data to form a statewide dataset. This was done in ArcView 3.3 in a polygon format. To avoid slivers, a false boundary was created inside of one of the units, then the true boundary was removed. This file was then merged with another that had the true boundary. A polygon was appended between the two, then split at the proper points to extend the polygons previously cut off. Finally, the false boundary was removed by unioning the features on both sides of the false boundary.


Process date: 2003

Process step:

Editing and attributing were also done in ArcView 3.3. Due to the large number of digitizers involved in this project, the dataset was very inconsistent in both style and line quality. It was decided to go through the entire dataset, line by line and unit by unit to make sure the data was meeting the specifications. Fourth-code boundaries were printed to use as tally sheets. Each line was looked at on screen at a scale of 1:10,000 or larger and vertices were added, deleted, or moved as necessary. Sometimes entire watersheds were rebuilt, combined, or split. DOQs were occasionally used to help clarify line placement. Names, flows, and modifications were recorded on the tally sheets, then entered into the attribute table when a 4th code unit had completed the edit process. After the editing was complete, NRIS posted data online for public review and comment. Less then 20 comments were received and about half of those were adopted. The remaining comments were ignored because they did not follow specifications.


Process date: 2005

Process step:

The Montana dataset was matched to surrounding states. The Wyoming dataset was already certified, so the Montana data was joined to that. Most of the Idaho/Montana boundary is Continental Divide or some other major basin boundary. This line was agreed upon with Idaho. Other linework along the northwest boundary was reviewed and accepted by Idaho. The South Dakota/Montana boundary was included in the work certified by Wyoming. For the North Dakota/Montana border, Montana digitized across the border into North Dakota to complete all 4th code units that spanned the border. This was reviewed by North Dakota and agreed to changes were made.


Process date: 2005

Process step:

With all edits complete, the Montana dataset was converted from a shapefile to a coverage using ArcGIS 8.3. Topology was built for both lines and polygons. The line attribute table was populated using ArcView 3.3 according to the specifications. With all data complete, the coverage was projected from UTM to geographic coordinates, then exported.


Process date: 2006

Spatial Reference Information:

Horizontal coordinate system definition:

Grid coordinate system name: State Plane Coordinate System

SPCS zone identifier: 2500

Lambert conformal conic:

Standard parallel: 45.000000
Standard parallel: 49.000000
Longitude of central meridian: -109.500000
Latitude of projection origin: 44.250000
False easting: 600000.000000
False northing: 0.000000

Planar distance units: meters

Geodetic model:

Horizontal datum name: North American Datum of 1983
Ellipsoid name: Geodetic Reference System 80
Semi-major axis: 6378137.0
Denominator of flattening ratio: 298.257

Entity and Attribute Information:

Entity type label: SubWatershed2006

Entity type definition: Polygon feature class

Attribute label: FID

Attribute definition: Shapefile sequence number

Attribute label: Shape

Attribute definition: feature geometry

Attribute label: OBJECTID

Attribute definition: Sequence number from geodatabase version of the data

Attribute label: HUC_8

Attribute definition:: Eight Digit Hydrologic Unit Subbasin Code

A unique 8-digit code from the USGS map series "Hydrologic Unit Maps". The same number was used in every record that pertains to a subwatershed that resides within the same 8-digit sub-basin. Numbers were assigned in an upstream to downstream fashion. Where no downstream/upstream relationship could be determined numbers were assigned in a clockwise fashion.

Attribute label: HUC_10

Attribute definition:: Ten Digit Hydrologic Unit Watershed Code

This field provides a unique 10-digit code for each watershed. This same number was used in every record that pertains to a subwatershed that resides within the same 10-digit watershed. Numbers were assigned in an upstream to downstream fashion. Where no downstream/upstream relationship could be determined numbers were assigned in a clockwise fashion.

Attribute label: HUC_12

Attribute definition:: Twelve Digit Hydrologic Unit Subwatershed Code

This field provides a unique 12-digit code for each subwatershed. Numbers were assigned in an upstream to downstream fashion. Where no downstream/upstream relationship could be determined numbers were assigned in a clockwise fashion.

Attribute label: ACRES

Attribute definition:: This is the area of the 6th level unit in acres, including non-contributing areas.

Attribute label: STATES

Attribute definition:: The "States" field includes the 2-digit postal code of all state(s) that the subwatershed falls within.

Attribute label: NCONTRB_A

Attribute definition:: Non-Contributing Area

Drainage areas that do not flow toward the outlet of any hydrologic unit are considered non-contributing. If a non-contributing area is on the boundary between two or more hydrologic units, the non-contributing area is associated with the hydrologic unit adjacent to the low point on the boundary. This attribute should be the total of the non-contributing areas within a hydrologic unit calculated in acres.

Attribute label: HU_10_DS

Attribute definition:: Fifth Level Downstream Hydrologic Unit Code

This field has the 10-digit code of the 5th level hydrologic unit that is receiving the majority of the flow from the 5th-level watershed that the 6th level HU falls within. Outlets created by ditching or other artificial drainage were not considered for this field. If a HU flows across international borders, "CANADA" or "MEXICO" was used depending on which country the HU drains into. If an HU is a closed basin, then the term "CLOSED BASIN" was used.

Attribute label: HU_10_NAME

Attribute definition:: Fifth Level Hydrologic Unit Name

A name for each 5th level hydrologic unit that relates to the major water feature within the polygon or the major water body it contributes to.

This field used officially recognized names only. This field was populated by following the directions in subsection 6.3 of the Federal Standards for the Delineation of Hydrologic Unit Boundaries, "Watershed and Subwatershed Naming Protocol". The name used to attribute the watershed was used only once within a 4th level unit.

Attribute label: HU_10_MOD

Attribute definition:: Fifth Level Hydrologic Unit Modifications

This field identifies any type of modifications to natural overland flow that alters the location of the hydrologic unit boundary for a 10-digit watershed. This field shows the most significant to least significant modification(s) to the watershed boundary.

Attribute label: HU_10_TYPE

Attribute definition: Fifth Level Hydrologic Unit Type

Attribute label: HU_12_DS

Attribute definition:: Sixth Level Downstream Hydrologic Unit Code

This field was populated with the 12-digit code of the 6th level hydrologic unit that is receiving the majority of the flow from the subwatershed. Outlets created by ditching or other artificial drainage were not considered for this field. If a HU flows across international borders, "CANADA" or "MEXICO" was used depending on which country the HU drains into. If an HU is a closed basin, this field was populated with the term "CLOSED BASIN".

Attribute label: HU_12_NAME

Attribute definition:: Sixth Level Hydrologic Unit Name

A name for each 6th level hydrologic unit that relates to the major water feature within the polygon or the major water body it contributes to.

Officially recognized names were used in this field. This field was populated by following the directions in subsection 6.3 "Watershed and Subwatershed Naming Protocol". The name used to attribute the subwatershed was used only once within a 4th level unit.

Attribute label: HU_12_MOD

Attribute definition:: Sixth Level Hydrologic Unit Modifications

This field identifies any type of modifications to natural overland flow that alters the location of the hydrologic unit boundary for a 12-digit watershed. This field shows the most significant to least significant modification(s) to the watershed boundary.

Attribute label: HU_12_TYPE

Attribute definition: Sixth Level Hydrologic Unit Type

Attribute label: SHAPE_area

Attribute definition: Area of polygon in square meters.

Attribute label: SHAPE_len

Attribute definition: Length of the feature perimeter in meters.

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: Offline Data

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.

Metadata Reference Information:

Metadata date: 12/18/2014

Metadata review date: 03/16/2006

Metadata 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