GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Medium Resolution National Hydrography Dataset (NHD), Montana, 2003 MSDI

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Data Provider U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Date 2003
Content Type Downloadable Data
MSDI Framework Hydrography
Abstract This is an archive of the medium-resolution (1:100,000 scale) National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) for Montana from 2003. Please see the U.S. Geological Survey or the Montana State Library if you are looking for current NHD data.The archive contains state-wide representations of four NHD themes in shapefile format created from USGS data by the Montana State Library:1 - nhd_drain - These are all the lines that form the hydrography drainage network. They include lines that represent surface water flow paths and other lines that provide flow connectivity through water bodies. Each line has a description of what sort of feature it represents.2 - nhd_reach - These are the nhd_drain lines aggregated so that each reach is a link between the place where two reaches intersect. Many of the reaches have names and each one has a stream level indicator. Most of them consist of a single nhd_drain feature, but they may consist of more than one nhd_drain if the link contains more than one type of drainage feature.3 - nhd_wb - These are all of the water bodies, including lakes, ponds, reservoirs, wetlands, glaciers, playas, and polygons representing wide streams and canals.4 - nhd_lake - These are all of the lakes and ponds.The primary U.S. Geological Survey distribution format for the data at the time was called NHDinARC. This format consists of a Arc/Info coverage workspace for each of Montana's 100 hydrologic sub-basins. Each workspace contains Arc/Info coverages with several region and route subclasses representing the reaches, drainage links, and waterbodies. It also contains INFO tables describing relationships between the features. The archive contains the USGS help file for NHDinARC.The National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) is a feature-based database that interconnects and uniquely identifies the stream segments or reaches that comprise the nations surface water drainage system. The medium-resolution dataset is based on the content of the U.S. Geological Survey 1:100,000-scale Digital Line Graph (DLG) hydrography data, integrated with reach-related information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Reach File Version 3.0 (RF3). More specifically, it contains reach codes for networked features and isolated lakes, flow direction, names, stream level, and centerline representations for areal water bodies. Reaches are also defined to represent waterbodies. The NHD also incorporates the National Spatial Data Infrastructure framework criteria set out by the Federal Geographic Data Committee.
Purpose The National Hydrography Dataset combines elements of the DLG and RF3: spatial accuracy and comprehensiveness from the DLG and network relationships, names, stream level, and a unique identifier (reach code) for surface water features from RF3. The NHD supersedes DLG and RF3 by incorporating them, not by replacing them. Users of DLG and RF3 will find the National Hydrography Dataset both familiar and greatly expanded and refined. The NHD provides a national framework for assigning reach addresses to water-related entities, such as industrial dischargers, drinking water supplies, fish habitat areas, wild and scenic rivers. Reach addresses establish the locations of these entities relative to one another within the NHD surface water drainage network in a manner similar to street addresses. Once linked to the NHD by their reach addresses, the upstream/downstream relationships of these water-related entities and any associated information about them can be analyzed using software tools ranging from spreadsheets to geographic information systems (GIS). GIS can also be used to combine NHD-based network analysis with other data layers, such as soils, land use and population, to help better understand and display their respective effects upon one another. Furthermore, because the NHD provides a nationally consistent framework for addressing and analysis, water-related information linked to reach addresses by one organization (national, state, local) can be shared with other organizations and easily integrated into many different types of applications to the benefit of all. The National Hydrography Dataset is designed to provide comprehensive coverage of hydrologic data for the U.S. While initially based on 1:100,000-scale data, the NHD is designed to incorporate - and encourage the development of - higher-resolution data required by many users. It will facilitate the improved integration of water-related data in support of the application requirements of a growing national user community and will enable shared maintenance and enhancement.
Supplemental Information
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.
Data Access https://ftpgeoinfo.msl.mt.gov/Data/Spatial/MSDI/Hydrography/Historic/MT_Hydrography2003_SHP.zip
Distributor Montana State Library
PO Box 201800
Helena, MT 59620-1800
Telephone: 406-444-5354
TDD/TTY:
Fax:
Email: geoinfo@mt.gov
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.
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Metadata date 01/22/2016

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