Watershed Data Collection and AnalysisWatershed Data Collection and Analysis

Chris KeithleyDepartment of Forestry and Fire Protection

October, 2006

Why Collect Data for a Watershed Why Collect Data for a Watershed Assessment?Assessment?

Environmental data is needed to both evaluate the Environmental data is needed to both evaluate the condition of your watershed and to examine the condition of your watershed and to examine the environmental issues that the watershed group is most environmental issues that the watershed group is most concerned with. concerned with.

Data collection is often done by citizen groups, Data collection is often done by citizen groups, consultants, and government agencies depending on the consultants, and government agencies depending on the complexity of the topic and the technical background complexity of the topic and the technical background of the watershed group members. of the watershed group members.

Data ConsiderationsData Considerations

The type and method of data collection will ultimately The type and method of data collection will ultimately determine the data analysis methods that are possible.determine the data analysis methods that are possible.

Data collection can include the following: qualitative, Data collection can include the following: qualitative, quantitative, spatial, and nonquantitative, spatial, and non--spatial.spatial.

The temporal and spatial scales of the environmental The temporal and spatial scales of the environmental processes under investigation should be considered processes under investigation should be considered when considering the design of a data collection effort when considering the design of a data collection effort or the limitations of existing databases. or the limitations of existing databases.

Sources of Data and Information for Sources of Data and Information for Watershed AssessmentsWatershed Assessments

Most watershed assessments will need to review the Most watershed assessments will need to review the availability of existing environmental data as the first availability of existing environmental data as the first step in the data collection effort.step in the data collection effort.

See handout for a listing of useful web sites for watershed dataSee handout for a listing of useful web sites for watershed data..

Watershed Data CatalogsWatershed Data Catalogs

Purpose Purpose : : Provide broad access to reports, maps, photos, and Provide broad access to reports, maps, photos, and environmental data that are specific to your watershed. environmental data that are specific to your watershed. A data catalog supports:A data catalog supports:

•• Education of watershed issuesEducation of watershed issues•• Enhances understanding of watershed conditionEnhances understanding of watershed condition•• Supports planning and decision makingSupports planning and decision making•• Centralized source for data distributionCentralized source for data distribution

Watershed Watershed Information ModelInformation Model

http://http://wim.shastacollege.eduwim.shastacollege.edu//

The mission of WIM is to allow anyone with an interest in watershed management Access to the best science education on local natural resources.

Napa Watershed Information Web SiteNapa Watershed Information Web Sitehttp://www.napawatersheds.org/

Klamath Resources Information SystemKlamath Resources Information Systemhttp://www.krisweb.comhttp://www.krisweb.com

Data Display and AnalysisData Display and Analysis

Stream Temperature ExampleStream Temperature Example

Data Table For Air and Stream TemperatureData Table For Air and Stream Temperature

YEAR MONTH DAY AMIN AMAX AAVG WMIN WMAX WAVG

2002 8 1 12.31 16.76 15.84 13.74 14.48 15.15

2002 8 2 11.22 14.67 12.86 13.3 13.73 13.52

2002 8 3 10.51 14.24 12.56 13.05 13.38 13.23

2002 8 4 7.88 18.43 12.02 12.2 13.46 12.81

2002 8 5 7.39 18.26 12.29 11.82 13.65 12.64

2002 8 6 7.91 18.21 12.51 11.91 13.6 12.67

2002 8 7 7.61 23.97 13.76 11.8 13.74 12.7

2002 8 8 8.87 26.96 15.87 12.1 14.08 13.06

2002 8 9 11.23 30.91 17.87 12.84 14.82 13.73

2002 8 10 11.81 26.71 17.35 13.23 15.05 14.07

2002 8 11 9.54 22.36 14.47 13.08 14.76 13.85

2002 8 12 8.65 21.57 13.85 12.63 14.43 13.48

2002 8 13 9.4 19.01 13.58 12.7 14.22 13.4

2002 8 14 11.76 19.36 14.72 13.17 14.51 13.73

2002 8 15 10.56 18.05 13.55 13.12 14.19 13.59

Maximum Stream Temperature (MWAT) in Noyo Maximum Stream Temperature (MWAT) in Noyo and Big Riverand Big River

MWAT Thresholds and StandardsTemperature ( C ) Descriptions Temperature (F)

26 Upper end of range of acute thresholds (considered lethal to salmonids)

78.8

25 77.024 Lower end of range of acute thresholds (considered lethal to

salmonids)75.2

23 73.422 71.621 69.8

20 68.019 Steelhead growth reduced 20% from maximum (Sullivan and

others, 2000).MWAT metricUSEPA (1977) growth MWAT for rainbow troutCoho growth reduced 20% from maximum (Sullivan and others, 2000), MWAT metric

66.2

18 USEPA (1977) growth MWAT for coho 64.417 Steelhead growth reduced 10% from maximum. 62.6

16.8 NMFS MWAT threshold. 62.216.7 Welsh and others (2001) MWAT threshold for coho

presence/absence in the Mattole62.1

16 Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality Standard for salmonids(equivalent MWAT calculated from 7-day max.)

60.8

15 EPA Region 10 Recommended MWAT. Threshold for Coldwater Salmonid Rearing

59.0

14.8 Coho growth reduced 10% from maximum (Sullivan and others, 2000), MWAT metric

58.6

14.6 Upper end of preferred rearing range of coho 58.314.3 Washington Dept. of Ecology standard (equivalent MWAT

calculated from annual max.)57.7

14 57.213 Upper end of preferred rearing range for steelhead. 55.4

Graph of Maximum Daily Stream Graph of Maximum Daily Stream TemperaturesTemperatures

Stream Temperature NF Casper CkJune, 2003

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Days of the month

Wat

er T

empe

ratu

re

(cel

cius

)

HistogramHistogram

Caspar Creek Stream TemperatureJune - September, 2002

02468

1012141618

10.5 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Water Temperature in Celcius

Freq

uenc

y

Stream Temperature Data on James CreekStream Temperature Data on James Creek

789

101112131415161718192021

1-Jun-0511-Jun-0521-Jun-051-Jul-0511-Jul-0521-Jul-0531-Jul-0510-Aug-0520-Aug-0530-Aug-059-Sep-0519-Sep-0529-Sep-059-Oct-05

Tem

pera

ture

( °C

)

Maximum Instantaneous Temperature19.20 °C 07/17/2005 15:00

Water Temperature MetricsWater Temperature Metrics

7-Day Moving Average of Daily Maxima forJames Creek tributary to NF Big River, 2005

89

1011121314151617181920

1-Jun-0511-Jun-0521-Jun-051-Jul-0511-Jul-0521-Jul-0531-Jul-0510-Aug-0520-Aug-0530-Aug-059-Sep-0519-Sep-0529-Sep-059-Oct-05

Tem

pera

ture

(°C

)

MWAT 17.23 °C 7/17/2005 13:00

Plotting Stream Temperature Against Air Plotting Stream Temperature Against Air TemperatureTemperature

(Correlation = 0.88129 )(Correlation = 0.88129 )

1011121314151617181920

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34

Daily Air Temperature

Dai

ly S

tream

Tem

pera

ture

Characteristics of Correlation CoefficientsCharacteristics of Correlation Coefficients

Correlation coefficients measure the strength of associationBetween two continuous variables.

+ 1.0- 1.0 0

No Correlation PositiveNegative

Correlation Can Take on Many Different Correlation Can Take on Many Different Forms.Forms.

Source: Statistical MethodsIn Water Resources (2002).

GIS and Map Making BasicsGIS and Map Making Basics

GIS combines the spatial features that exist on a map GIS combines the spatial features that exist on a map with a relational database that stores the data that with a relational database that stores the data that describes each feature.describes each feature.The spatial features can be represented in either a raster The spatial features can be represented in either a raster or a vector format.or a vector format.A basic understanding of cartography can greatly A basic understanding of cartography can greatly improve the usefulness of maps that are made with GIS improve the usefulness of maps that are made with GIS software.software.

See handout for a listing of useful web sites for watershed dataSee handout for a listing of useful web sites for watershed data..

GIS and Spatial Data AnalysisGIS and Spatial Data Analysis

GIS also provides data analysis tools that can be used to GIS also provides data analysis tools that can be used to describe watershed characteristics. The types of describe watershed characteristics. The types of analysis range from descriptive techniques (i.e. data analysis range from descriptive techniques (i.e. data summaries) to highly quantitative models of summaries) to highly quantitative models of environmental processes.environmental processes.

The following section provides examples of GIS data and The following section provides examples of GIS data and analysis for assessing: vegetation, channel gradient, peak analysis for assessing: vegetation, channel gradient, peak flow, and fire.flow, and fire.

Vegetation Map for Ten Mile, Noyo, Big River and Albion Watersheds

Vegetation Data Summary by Planning Vegetation Data Summary by Planning WatershedsWatersheds

Using GIS to Calculate Stream OrderUsing GIS to Calculate Stream Order

Box and Whiskers Plot of Channel GradientBox and Whiskers Plot of Channel Gradient

0.0000

0.1000

0.2000

0.3000

0.4000

0.5000

0.6000

0.7000

0.8000

1 2 3 4 5 6

Stream Order

Cha

nnel

Gra

dien

t

QUART_1MinQUART_2MaxQUART_3

Relationship of Stream Order to Channel Relationship of Stream Order to Channel CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Stream Order

Average Width (m)

Average Depth (m)

Average Cross-Sectional Area (m2)

1 3 0.2632 0.8022 4 0.3457 1.473 6 0.401 2.544 10 0.5494 5.635 20 0.74 10.586 33 1.3 26.21

Tools for GIS and Watershed AnalysisTools for GIS and Watershed Analysis

There are many different types of models evaluate There are many different types of models evaluate watershed conditions and environmental processes. watershed conditions and environmental processes. Many of these have some type of GIS component to Many of these have some type of GIS component to them. The following slides provide a few examples. them. The following slides provide a few examples. Visit the CWAM web site for a more comprehensive Visit the CWAM web site for a more comprehensive listing of watershed models (listing of watershed models (www.cwam.ucdavis.eduwww.cwam.ucdavis.edu).).

Examples include:Examples include:Delta Q Delta Q –– Peak flow modelPeak flow modelEPA Basins EPA Basins –– Water qualityWater quality--based modelsbased modelsUSGS USGS StreamStatsStreamStats –– Hydrologic flowHydrologic flow

Peak Flow Model Peak Flow Model –– Delta QDelta Q

Delta Q is a GIS based model that can be used to estimate changeDelta Q is a GIS based model that can be used to estimate changes s in peak flow that result from timber harvesting.in peak flow that result from timber harvesting.

Peak flow recovery was calculated using the following equation:

Where:

D(Q) = total change in flow in the watershed being modeledd(q) = change in runoff in absolute or percentage terms for each activity typei = polygon identification numberm = total number of affected polygonsx(i)= years since harvesting activity in area in = number of years to full hydrologic recovery

Results of Peak Flow Analysis Results of Peak Flow Analysis

Predicted Changes in Peak Flow Along the Predicted Changes in Peak Flow Along the South Fork Noyo RiverSouth Fork Noyo River

See CDF-FRAP web site for vegetation, fire, and fuels data: http://frap.cdf.ca.gov/

Little understory to provide ladder to main canopy

Canopy height

Crown base height

Dense understory provides ladder to main canopy. Effective CBH is the CBHof the understory.

Canopy height

Crown base height