International Geospatial Harmonization of Sister Datasets Hydrography and Watershed Boundaries between Canada and the U.S.A

Transcription

1 International Geospatial Harmonization of Sister Datasets Hydrography and Watershed Boundaries between Canada and the U.S.A by Judy Kwan and Pete Steeves Environment Canada and US Geological Survey in partnership with International Joint Commission Presentation for 2016 AWRA GIS & Water Resources IX Conference Judy Kwan, Peter A. Steeves, Kimberly Jones, Michael T. Laitta

2 PRESENTATION OUTLINE 1. Background IJC and Transboundary Hydro Data Harmonization Initiative 2. Task Force Who and Role (Data, Communication, Oversight) 3. Harmonization Data and Processes Dataset #1: Binational Swath Basins Dataset #2: Binational Hydrography Dataset #3: Binational Watersheds 4. Status & Conclusions

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4 Introduction The U.S. and Canada share 3,146 miles of land boundary and 2,379 miles of water boundary (300 shared lakes and rivers) The 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty: Formation of the International Joint Commission The 1997 International Watersheds Initiative (IWI) - Governments of the U.S. and Canada asked the International Joint Commission (IJC) to promote a watershed approach to the study and management of shared water resources along the U.S./Canadian Border - Giving local, regional and Federal governments the tools to address current and emerging issues in their areas of interest By 1998, the IJC oversees numerous River Boards along the International Border (i.e. the Souris, Red, and Rainy) The lack of harmonized fundamental hydrographic datasets across the international border impeded a true watershed approach. In 2008 the IJC formed a Hydrographic Data Harmonization Task Force.

5 Transboundary Hydrographic Data Harmonization Task Force Michael Laitta Pierre-Yves Caux Pete Steeves Kim Jones Thomas Dabolt Mike Major Lucie Mathieu Judy Kwan Tommy Diep

6 Role of Task Force - Data The harmonization of water-related, geospatial datasets Drainage areas Hydrography Derivative datasets Provide data at a resolution suitable for local water resource planning and management Flood forecasting Water quality changes Land use modifications Water and land management practices Ensure data products allow stakeholders to look at transboundary basins and hydrography together for real world applications and analysis, offering a common base structure The incorporation of the harmonized data into the participating agencies geospatial programs

7 Role of Task Force - Communication-Stewardship Raise awareness in both governments that consistent institutional support is critical for the long term evolution and sustainability of this relationship Strengthen and formalize federal, regional and local stakeholder participation Reduce redundancy in the reporting and tracking of legal and policy issues The generation of technical guidance and documentation for ongoing and future data harmonization activities Long-term goal of building a shared and sustainable dissemination plan for all of the harmonized products

8 Role of Task Force Oversight/Coordination Provides oversight to the Hydro and Drainage Area Harmonization technical groups Continual communication, interaction, coordination and feedback from the hydro and drainage area groups helps to continually refine the approach, and recognize and measure success Bi-annual face-to-face meetings Teleconferences/web meetings/ftp Monthly status tracking reporting

9 Canada-U.S.A Hydro Data Harmonization Initiative Implementing a new paradigm for Transboundary Basins First steps towards seamless geospatial hydro data between Canada and U.S.A. The SWATH 232 Basins >1574 Watersheds >8793 Subwatersheds

10 Canada-U.S.A Hydro Data Harmonization Initiative Establishing harmonization data and processes The overall HARMONIZATION includes two separate yet interdependent efforts: Complex Coordination DRAINAGE AREAS aka basins, watersheds, subwatersheds HYDRO NETWORK aka rivers, streams, lakes SSDA 4th level FDA 5 th level + 6 th level + 7 th level HARMONIZATION includes: Geometry Coding Naming In synchronization NHN + Provincial Data WBD HUC 8 + HUC 10 + HUC 12 Harmonization also includes different levels of the hierarchy Harmonization also includes using best available data + Elevation Data NHD

11 Canada-U.S.A Hydro Data Harmonization Initiative Target Dataset #1: Establishing the Binational Swath US8-CAN4 Swath Hydrologic Unit is established as the reconciled binational 8-4 container US8 is 8-digit HU, CAN4 is 4 th level SSDA (and 5 th level FDA if available in Canada) This first harmonization step starts the first pass binational connection of flow for Hydrography Note - In the beginning harmonization was federal-to-federal government but this evolves later for Task Force

12 Target Dataset #2 Binational Hydrography, Hydrographic Network Harmonizing Hydrographic Datasets United States National Hydrography Dataset (NHD): US Geological Survey (hi-res) State and Federal partners participate in a Stewardship Program coordinated by USGS Canada National Hydro Network- (NHN): Natural Resources Canada (1:50K) ** 1:20K for some Provinces, e.g. Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec NRCan coordinates routinely with Provincial partners Phase II Connecting, Synchronizing and Cross-stepping Hydrography (U.S. NHD, Canada s NHN)

13 Target Dataset #2 Binational Hydrography, Hydrographic Network

14 Target Dataset #2 Hydrography, Hydrographic Network PRE-HARMONIZATION Multiple Stream Network Layers- NHN,NHD,SK,MB No way to trace flow International boundary is a data fault line Drainage Areas do not match NHN First pass Hydro Harmonization reduced boundary-fault NHD 8/8/2016

15 Target Dataset #2 Binational Hydrography, Hydrographic Network Networks are topographically identical but attributes will differ according to which bi-national dataset is used. FME software used to do the cross-walking.

16 Canada-U.S.A Hydro Data Harmonization Initiative Expanding and evolving role of Harmonization & Task Force A broadening out of new levels of international coordination and partnerships, including the need to incorporate regional/local input IJC Task Force organizes local and regional harmonization workshops where local expertise is used; extending beyond federal-to-federal governments The first pass Hydrography is in active Maintenance Stewardship (did you know this?) The 8-4 Hydrologic Unit containers though finalized, immediately moves into a watershed boundaries review and development mode Canada endorses and utilizes the WBD Federal Standards for Watershed-Subwatershed development in the Transboundary Basins Example U.S. Name Hydrologic Unit Average size (square miles) Canada Sub-Drainage Area (approx. best match) 2 digit Region 177,560 Major Drainage Area 4 digit Subregion 16,800 Sub-Drainage Area 6 digit Basin 10,596 8 digit Subbasin 700 Sub-Sub-Drainage Area 10 digit Watershed 227 (40, ,000 acres) (new)wsc* 6 th level 12 digit Subwatershed 40 (10,000 40,000 acres) (new)wsc* 7 th level Example 05 05P 05PB

17 Target Dataset #3 Binational Watersheds & Subwatersheds Task Force encourages input from local agencies like Provinces and States in the harmonization process Task Force targets best available geospatial data for each binational basin, including local data from both sides of the border in the harmonization process Finalizing harmonized hydro data in any of the Binational Basins requires flexibility, adaptability, creativity. But not without order; it is always guided by principles and guidelines already in use by both countries. Best available usually means: 8-4 Swath + First pass Hydrography + Elevation + Hydro Conditioning + Batch points to derive Concepts

18 Canada-U.S.A Hydro Data Harmonization Initiative What does binational harmonization look like? Beyond the Data, Binational Harmonization requires Humans

19 Conclusions Where can I download data? *Harmonized* data available for free download from: (scroll down page to GeoBase National Hydro Network(NHN), then click on the NHN-FTP Site link) (See Go to NRCS Geospatial Gateway link and follow links)

20 Actively in progress: Conclusions Understanding Status Delineating harmonized WATERSHEDS and SUBWATERSHEDS at higher level and higher resolution (U.S. 10 and 12-digit Hydrologic Units, Canada s *new* 6 th and 7 th levels) IN PROGRESS Specific status depends on each binational basin January 2011 Souris River June Columbia River Puget Coastal Drainages February 2012 Rainy River February 2013 Red River May 2014 Lake Champlain St. Lawrence corridor June 2014 St. John River St. Croix River/Bay of Fundy August 2014 St. Marys River/Milk River/Missouri-Poplar March 2015 Yukon River/Alaska June 2015 S. Alaska/Coastal BC May 2016 St. Lawrence Corridor August 2016 Great Lakes interconnecting channels November 2016 St John basins March 2016 Lake Champlain/Richelieu

21 Actively in progress: First Binational STREAMSTATS International RAINY RIVER BASIN One Common Hydro Data Model pilot underway Creating and designing USA- Canada Hydro Data Harmonization(HDH) shared space (Confluence) in progress(sneak peak) And Many Other Activities Leveraging off Harmonization HSPF SPARROW NHDPlus HiRes Conclusions On the Harmonization Horizon

22 THANK YOU Trans-boundary Hydrographic Data Harmonization Task Force Michael Laitta, International Joint Commission Judy Kwan, Environment Canada Tommy Diep, Environment Canada Peter Steeves, US Geologic Survey, MA Kimberly Jones, US Geologic Survey, UT Michael Major, Natural Resources Canada Lucie Mathieu, Natural Resources Canada

23 Canada-U.S.A Hydro Data Harmonization Initiative Our Users It has always surprised me when I have inquired about GIS data for a watershed like the Stikine River that someone could just pass me the delineation to the U.S./Canada border, thereby missing about 80% of the watershed on the Canadian side without even a note because its out of their jurisdiction -Kathy Smikrud, GIS Analyst and Steering Committee of SEAK GIS Library, Sport Fish Divisionof the AK Dept. of Fish and Game

24 Canada-U.S.A Hydro Data Harmonization Initiative Our Partners, Over the Years