National Hydrography Dataset
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This article or section may contain out-of-date information. The information is no longer correct, or no longer has relevance. If you know about the current state of affairs, please help keep everyone informed by updating this information. (Discussion) |
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Tagged for cleanup on 12/30/12. Imports are highly discouraged at this time, based on feedback from Paul Norman. See Talk:National_Hydrography_Dataset#Dec_2012_Cleanup_Request_and_Notes |
The National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) is a United States-wide hydrography dataset produced by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). This dataset includes lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and other features related to water such as dams. As a product of the US Government, the dataset is in the public domain. Due to this and the general high quality of the data, some regard it as suitable for import into OpenStreetMap, and some of those people have proceeded with importing. This page details the process, progress, and mapping as the dataset is imported.
A description of the dataset can be found here on the NHD website.
Contents
Import Process
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Imports and automated edits should only be carried out by those with experience and understanding of the way the OpenStreetMap community creates maps, and only with careful planning and consultation with the local community. See Import/Guidelines and Automated Edits code of conduct for more information. Imports/automated edits which do not follow these guidelines might be reverted! |
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Note: There is an effort (as of June 2011) organized by Ben Supnik, a X-Plane developer, to pre-process all NHD data to enable contributors to more easily merge this data into the OSM database. Read more about it in these mailing list conversations: NHD data extract (2011/04/26), NHD data import question (2011/04/27), NHD import and conversion - sample data (2011/04/28). |
Please try to limit duplicate nodes/ways in your uploads. One solution is to alter scripts so that they make one file per feature class (by making large numbers of points per file) (waterbody, area, etc.) per subbasin. Merge these files in Josm and then remove duplicate nodes. This also provides an opportunity to check whether any features have been previously uploaded. Large files, which take along time to merge in JOSM, can also be merged together with Osmosis. Once you have the merged file, you can upload from JOSM as it will automatically split these large files into appropriately sized changesets.
Get the data
Obtain High Resolution Shapefiles from the NHD web site by using the NHD Geodatabase Viewer or go to the NHD Geodatabase, which has a simpler interface. Read the "How to extract" instruction on the left, pop-ups must be enabled for the site.
Note: Some NHD items will appear in multiple adjacent sub-basin extracts. If possible, either load in an editor and preview for river bodies extending outside the map line, or test for duplicate NHD:ComID values in separate uploads.
NHD SubRegions can be downloaded directly from the nhdftp site
The NHD files are no longer shapefiles but are Personal GDB or File GDB files. These files can be difficult to process with open source tools but QuantumGIS and gdal have support for Personal GDB files with the default windows builds.
Python
Python scripts for converting the shape files can be found at https://svn.openstreetmap.org/applications/utils/import/nhd2osm/
- I've had difficulty getting the NHD Area one to run, when ignored features are present. It looks like a comparison should be changed from to
if l.GetNextFeature() == None:
if l.GetNextFeature() is None:
- I've had difficulty getting the NHD Area one to run, when ignored features are present. It looks like a comparison should be changed from
Java
Here is a sample rules file to use with the Java Shp-to-osm.jar script based on the defined. NHD Rules
Projection
Default projection is 4269: NAD83
Attribute to tag mapping
Contained below are some possible mapping schemes, that is what OSM tags to assign to an object based on the attributes of the object in the original Shapefile. Note that there is no one unified scheme, and it can differ from one area to the next.
None of the three mappings listed here is up to date with the latest NHD files. If you wish to propose an import you may need to produce your own.
Mapping 1: Mapping
This may be the oldest mapping, and should be deprecated?
SHP Key | OSM Tag(s) | Description |
---|---|---|
ComID | nhd-shp:com_id | Common ID. Unique to all of NHD data. |
FDate | nhd-shp:fdate | Capture date. |
ReachCode | nhd-shp:reach_code | Reach (section) code. |
GNIS_ID | gnis:id=* | USGS Geographic Names Information System feature identifier. |
GNIS_NAME | name=* | USGS Geographic Names Information System name. |
Elevation | ele=* | Feature elevation. Not used very often. |
The NHD data comes in shapefiles, but most information is built into the single "FCode" field. The following describes a possible mapping.
FType | FCode | OSM Tag(s) | Description |
---|---|---|---|
ArtificialPath | 55800 | name=*, waterway=river | Artificial paths are usually used to indicate the centerlines for rivers that are wide enough to designate with an multipolygon. |
CanalDitch | 33600 | waterway=ditch; some may need to be hand-edited to waterway=canal | A canal or ditch (usually with a concrete or earthen surround). |
Connector | 33400 | waterway=stream | "A known, but nonspecific connection between two nonadjacent network segments" [1] |
StreamRiver | 46003 | waterway=stream intermittent=yes | Intermittent streams. |
StreamRiver | 46006 | waterway=stream | Permanent/perennial streams or rivers. |
FType | FCode | OSM Tag(s) | Description |
---|---|---|---|
StreamRiver | 46006 | waterway=riverbank | The polygon riverbank for a river that should be drawn wider than a line. This polygon will surround a line of code 55800 with the river's name. |
FType | FCode | OSM Tag(s) | Description |
---|---|---|---|
BayInlet | 31200 | natural=bay, might need to be natural=coastline | Bay or inlet. |
LakePond | 39001 | natural=water, occurrence:intermittent?? | Intermittently visible lake/pond. |
LakePond | 39004 | natural=water | More permanently visible lake/pond. |
Reservoir | 43612 | man_made=wastewater_plant | Sewage treatment pond. |
SwampMarsh | 46600 | natural=wetland | A generic swamp/marsh area. |
(See http://nhd.usgs.gov/chapter1/index.html#_Toc435603829)
Mapping 2: Proposed Tags for all NHD keys
Have updated keys to National Hydrography Dataset Model version 2.1, released 3/23/2012 NHD poster
FCODE | Feature Type | OSM Tag | Description |
30700 | AREA TO BE SUBMERGED | NONE | Area |
31200 | BAY/INLET | natural=bay | Area |
31800 | BRIDGE | NONE | Area |
33400 | CONNECTOR | feature type only: no attributes | |
33600 | CANAL/DITCH | waterway=canal | feature type only: no attributes |
33601 | CANAL/DITCH | waterway=canal | Canal/Ditch Type|aqueduct |
33603 | CANAL/DITCH | waterway=canal | Canal/Ditch Type|stormwater |
34300 | DAM/WEIR | waterway=dam | feature type only: no attributes |
34305 | DAM/WEIR | waterway=dam | Construction Material|earthen |
34306 | DAM/WEIR | waterway=dam | Construction Material|nonearthen |
36100 | PLAYA | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
36200 | FLUME | waterway=canal | feature type only: no attributes |
36400 | FORESHORE | water=tidal | feature type only: no attributes |
36700 | GAGING STATION | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
36900 | GATE | waterway=lock_gate | feature type only: no attributes |
37300 | HAZARD ZONE | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
37800 | ICE MASS | natural=glacier | feature type only: no attributes |
39000 | LAKE/POND | natural=water | feature type only: no attributes |
39001 | LAKE/POND | natural=water intermittent=yes | Hydrographic Category|intermittent |
39004 | LAKE/POND | natural=water | Hydrographic Category|perennial |
39005 | LAKE/POND | natural=water | Hydrographic Category|perennial; stage|high water elevation |
39006 | LAKE/POND | natural=water | Hydrographic Category|perennial; stage|date of photography |
39009 | LAKE/POND | natural=water water=perennial | Hydrographic Category|perennial; stage|average water elevation |
39010 | LAKE/POND | natural=water intermittent=yes | Hydrographic Category|perennial; stage|normal pool |
39011 | LAKE/POND | natural=water | Hydrographic Category|perennial; stage|date of photography |
39012 | LAKE/POND | natural=water | Hydrographic Category|perennial; stage|spillway |
39800 | LOCK CHAMBER | lock=yes | feature type only: no attributes |
40300 | INUNDATION AREA | landuse=basin? | feature type only: no attributes |
40307 | INUNDATION AREA | landuse=basin? | Inundation Control Status|not controlled |
40308 | INUNDATION AREA | landuse=basin? | Inundation Control Status|controlled |
40309 | INUNDATION AREA | landuse=basin? | Inundation Control Status|controlled, stage|flood elevation |
41100 | NONEARTHERN SHORE | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
42000 | UNDERGROUND CONDUIT | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
42001 | UNDERGROUND CONDUIT | NONE | Positional Accuracy|definite |
42002 | UNDERGROUND CONDUIT | NONE | Positional Accuracy|indefinite |
42003 | UNDERGROUND CONDUIT | NONE | Positional Accuracy|approximate |
42800 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline | feature type only: no attributes |
42801 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water location=overground | Product|water; Pipeline Type|aqueduct; Relationship to Surface|at or near |
42802 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water location=aboveground bridge=aqueduct | Product|water; Pipeline Type|aqueduct; Relationship to Surface|elevated |
42803 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water location=underground | Product|water; Pipeline Type|aqueduct; Relationship to Surface|underground |
42804 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water location=underwater | Product|water; Pipeline Type|aqueduct; Relationship to Surface|underwater |
42805 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water location=overground | Product|water; Pipeline Type|general case; Relationship to Surface|at or near |
42806 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water location=aboveground bridge=aqueduct | Product|water; Pipeline Type|general case; Relationship to Surface|elevated |
42807 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water location=underground | Product|water; Pipeline Type|general case; Relationship to Surface|underground |
42808 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water location=underwater | Product|water; Pipeline Type|general case; Relationship to Surface|underwater |
42809 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water location=overground | Product|water; Pipeline Type|penstock; Relationship to Surface|at or near |
42810 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water location=aboveground bridge=aqueduct | Product|water; Pipeline Type|penstock; Relationship to Surface|elevated |
42811 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water location=underground | Product|water; Pipeline Type|penstock; Relationship to Surface|underground |
42812 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water location=underwater | Product|water; Pipeline Type|penstock; Relationship to Surface|underwater |
42813 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water | Product|water; Pipeline Type|siphon |
42814 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water | Product|water; Pipeline Type|general case |
42815 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water | Product|water; Pipeline Type|penstock |
42816 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water | Product|water; Pipeline Type|aqueduct |
42820 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water | Product|water; Pipeline Type|stormwater |
42821 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water location=overground | Product|water; Pipeline Type|stormwater; Relationship to Surface|at or near |
42822 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water location=aboveground bridge=aqueduct | Product|water; Pipeline Type|stormwater; Relationship to Surface|elevated |
42823 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water location=underground | Product|water; Pipeline Type|stormwater; Relationship to Surface|underground |
42824 | PIPELINE | man_made=pipeline type=water location=underwater | Product|water; Pipeline Type|stormwater; Relationship to Surface|underwater |
43100 | RAPIDS | whitewater=rapids | feature type only: no attributes |
43400 | REEF | feature type only: no attributes | |
43600 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | feature type only: no attributes |
43601 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|aquaculture |
43603 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|decorative pool |
43604 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|tailings pond; Construction Material|earthen |
43605 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|tailings pond |
43606 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|disposal |
43607 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|evaporator |
43608 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|swimming pool |
43609 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|treatment-cooling pond |
43610 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|treatment-filtration pond |
43611 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|treatment-settling pond |
43612 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|treatment-sewage treatment pond |
43613 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|water storage; Construction Material|nonearthen |
43614 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|water storage; Construction Material|earthen; Hydrographic Category|intermittent |
43615 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|water storage; Construction Material|earthen; Hydrographic Category|perennial |
43617 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|water storage |
43618 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|unspecified; Construction Material|earthen |
43619 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|unspecified; Construction Material|nonearthen |
43621 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|water storage; Hydro Cat|perennial |
43623 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|evaporator; construction material|earthen |
43624 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|treatment |
43625 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|disposal; construction material|earthen |
43626 | RESERVOIR | landuse=reservoir | Reservoir Type|disposal; construction material|non-earthen |
44100 | ROCK | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
44101 | ROCK | NONE | Relationship to Surface|abovewater |
44102 | ROCK | NONE | Relationship to Surface|underwater |
44500 | SEA/OCEAN | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
45000 | SINK/RISE | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
45400 | SPECIAL USE ZONE | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
45401 | SPECIAL USE ZONE | NONE | Special Use Zone Type|dump site; Operational Status|operational |
45402 | SPECIAL USE ZONE | NONE | Special Use Zone Type|dump site; Operational Status|abandoned |
45403 | SPECIAL USE ZONE | NONE | Special Use Zone Type|spoil area; Operational Status|operational |
45404 | SPECIAL USE ZONE | NONE | Special Use Zone Type|spoil area; Operational Status|abandoned |
45500 | SPILLWAY | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
45800 | SPRING/SEEP | natural=spring | feature type only: no attributes |
46000 | STREAM/RIVER | waterway=stream | feature type only: no attributes |
46003 | STREAM/RIVER | waterway=stream intermittent=yes | Hydrographic Category|intermittent |
46006 | STREAM/RIVER | waterway=stream | Hydrographic Category|perennial |
46007 | STREAM/RIVER | waterway=stream intermittent=yes | Hydrographic Category|ephemeral |
46100 | SUBMERGED STREAM | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
46600 | SWAMP/MARSH | natural=wetland | feature type only: no attributes |
46601 | SWAMP/MARSH | natural=wetland intermittent=yes | Hydrological category|intermittent |
46602 | SWAMP/MARSH | natural=wetland | Hydrological category|perennial |
47800 | TUNNEL | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
48300 | WALL | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
48400 | WASH | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
48500 | WATER INTAKE/OUTFLOW | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
48700 | WATERFALL | waterway=waterfall | feature type only: no attributes |
48800 | WELL | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
49300 | ESTUARY | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
50300 | SOUNDING DATUM LINE | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
50301 | SOUNDING DATUM LINE | NONE | Positional Accuracy|approximate |
50302 | SOUNDING DATUM LINE | NONE | Positional Accuracy|definite |
53300 | SPECIAL USE ZONE LIMIT | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
53301 | SPECIAL USE ZONE LIMIT | NONE | Positional Accuracy|definite |
53302 | SPECIAL USE ZONE LIMIT | NONE | Positional Accuracy|indefinite |
53700 | AREA OF COMPLEX CHANNELS | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
55800 | ARTIFICIAL PATH | NONE | feature type only: no attributes |
56600 | COASTLINE | natural=coastline | feature type only: no attributes |
56800 | Levee | man_made=dyke | feature type only: no attributes |
Mapping 3: NHD Rules
NHD Rules contains a more recent mapping (from May 2011).
Feature codes observed in the NHD
Frequency count of FCodes observed in a distributed sample set
Basins and per-basin sign-ups
The following tables list the 347 basins in the lower-48, with links to the approximate center of the basins on The Map, and a column to sign up on a per-basin basis. Todo: how to handle partial-basin signups.
Interested
( Please consider using the new per-basin signups above )
- Alexrudd
- crschmidt
- Working in MA, intersecting subbasins are:
01090003 Blackstone; state(s): MA, RI 01090002 Cape Cod; state(s): MA, RI 01090001 Charles; state(s): MA 01080204 Chicopee; state(s): MA 01070005 Concord; state(s): MA 01080203 Deerfield; state(s): MA, VT 01080207 Farmington; state(s): CT, MA 01100005 Housatonic; state(s): CT, MA, NY 02020003 Hudson-Hoosic; state(s): MA, NY, VT 01080205 Lower Connecticut; state(s): CT, MA 01070002 Merrimack; state(s): MA, NH 01080201 Middle Connecticut; state(s): MA, NH, VT 02020006 Middle Hudson; state(s): MA, NY 01080202 Miller; state(s): MA, NH 01090004 Narragansett; state(s): MA, RI 01070004 Nashua; state(s): MA, NH 01060003 Piscataqua-Salmon Falls; state(s): MA, ME, NH 01100001 Quinebaug; state(s): CT, MA, RI 01100002 Shetucket; state(s): CT, MA 01080206 Westfield; state(s): CT, MA
- Karl Newman
- M. Schneider
- Liber
- Adam Schreiber
- Jeff Ollie
- Working in IA
07100004 Middle Des Moines; state(s): IA 07080105 South Skunk; state(s): IA (changesets 3853342, 3853348, 3853379, 3853398, 3853418, 3853482, 3853484, 3853485) 07100008 Lake Red Rock; state(s): IA
- Working in MN
09020103 Otter Tail, MN (changesets 3856738) 09020104 Upper Red. Minnesota, North Dakota (changesets 3845547, 3845566, 3845606, 3845671, 3845715) 09020106 Buffalo, MN
- Jared Campbell
- Working in DC Metro Area and Ohio
- jumbanho
- Working in North Carolina (Note the import in NC is largely done Details are on the East Basins Page)
- abgandar
- Working in Michigan
- L Wotton
- Working in Washington
17100106 Willapa Bay; state(s): WA
- aub
- Working in Connecticut
01100006 01100005
- Srmixter
- Working with central California. Added all water bodies and areas in Arizona. Nothing else there.
- rjhale1971
- Working with Tennessee River At Chattanooga
0602001
- kepardue
- Working in Central and North Louisiana:
08040301 (Finished) 08040304 (Finished) 11140207 08080102 08080203 08080204 12010005 08080205 12010004 11140209 11140206 11140208 08040303
Completed Basins
The following (sub)basins have been uploaded:
- 01020007
- 01020008
- 01100005
- 01100006
- 02040201
- 03020101
- 03020102
- 03020103
- 03020104
- 03020105
- 03020106
- 03020201
- 03020202
- 03020203
- 03020204
- 03030001
- 03030002
- 03030003
- 03030004
- 03030005
- 03030006
- 03030007
- 03050105
- 03050107
- 03050108
- 03050109
- 03060101
- 03060102
- 03060103
- 03060104
- 03060105
- 03070101
- 03070102
- 03070103
- 03070104
- 03070105
- 03130001
- 03130002
- 03130003
- 03130004
- 03150101
- 03150102
- 03150103
- 03150104
- 03150105
- 03150108
- 07120004
- 08040301
- 08040304
- 08080102
- 08080203
- 08080204
- 10070001
- 10070002
- 11140207
- 14010002 (Blue River)
- 14070007,14070006,15010010,15010003,15010009,15010001,15020018,15010006,15010002,15020016 - water bodies and areas only
- 16040203
- 16040204
- 17120007
- 17100309
- 17100311
- 18080002
- 18080003
- 18010101
- 18010102
- 18010105
- 18010106
- 18010107
- 18010204
- 18010206
- 18010207
- 18010208
- 18010209
- 18010210
- 18010211
- 18010212
- 18020001
- 18020002
- 18020003
- 18020004
- 18020005
- 18020121
- 18020122
- 18020123
- 18020125
- 18020129 area only
- 18020151
- 18020152
- 18020153
- 18020154
- 18020155
- 18020156
- 18020157
- 18020158
- 18020163
- 18030001
- 18030002
- 18030003
- 18030004
- 18030005
- 18030006
- 18030007
- 18030009
- 18030012
- 18030014
- 18040001
- 18040002
- 18040003
- 18040007
- 18040011
- 18040013
- 18040051
- 18060001 - not needed? Done through Santa Cruz county import
- 18060002
- 18060003
- 18060004
- 18060005
- 18060006
- 18060007
- 18060008
- 18060009
- 18060010
- 18060011
- 18060012
- 18060013
- 18080001
- 18070101
- 18070102
- 18070107
- 18090205
- 18090206
See also
- NHD Rules - a newer proposed mapping (May 2011)