Training in Use of the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) and NHDPlus
Mapped information on rivers, lakes, and streams (hydrography) is necessary for any watershed management activity. In the current digital age, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data on rivers and streams is just as essential. More than just a map, a GIS dataset allows volumes of additional information about streams and rivers to be linked to specific river and stream locations. The result is a powerful ability to analyze, display, and manage watershed/water body relationships and possible impacts rapidly and accurately.
NHD Training
Transforming large-scale maps of millions of stream and river miles into a consistent national dataset, the NHD, was an enormous task that, after many years, was completed in 2000. The US EPA and the US Geological Survey were the two primary agencies leading this effort, integrating EPA's Reach File Version 3.0 (RF3) and the USGS' Digital Line Graph hydrography data (DLG) to create the initial NHD (1:100,000-scale). Since then, efforts led by the USGS, USFS, and state cooperators have focused on developing a high-resolution version of the NHD (1:24,000-scale or better). These agencies are increasing NHD publicity, outreach, and training to stimulate widespread use. Visit the National Geospatial Program Training page to find instructional videos on the NHD.
NHDPlus Training
In addition, the US EPA and USGS have further collaborated to extend the functionality of the NHD by producing a suite of geospatial products known as NHDPlus. NHDPlus is an integrated suite of application-ready geospatial data sets that incorporate many of the best features of the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD), the National Elevation Dataset (NED), the National Land Cover Dataset (NLDC), and the Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD).