Watershed Data Collection and Analysis

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Watershed Data Collection and Analysis Watershed Data Collection and Analysis

Chris Keithley

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection October, 2006

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Why Collect Data for a Watershed Why Collect Data for a Watershed

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.

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.

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Data Considerations Data 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 non

quantitative, 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.

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Sources of Data and Information for Sources of Data and Information for

Watershed Assessments Watershed 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.

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

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

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Watershed Data Catalogs Watershed 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.

A data catalog supports:

••

Education of watershed issues Education of watershed issues

••

Enhances understanding of watershed condition Enhances understanding of watershed condition

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Supports planning and decision making Supports planning and decision making

••

Centralized source for data distribution Centralized source for data distribution

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Watershed Watershed

Information Model Information 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.

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Napa Watershed Information Web Site Napa Watershed Information Web Site

http://www.napawatersheds.org/

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Klamath Resources Information System Klamath Resources Information System

http://www.krisweb.com http://www.krisweb.com

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Data Display and Analysis Data Display and Analysis

Stream Temperature Example

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Data Table For Air and Stream Temperature Data 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

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Maximum Stream Temperature (MWAT) in Noyo Maximum Stream Temperature (MWAT) in Noyo

and Big River

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MWAT Thresholds and Standards

Temperature ( C ) Descriptions Temperature (F)

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

78.8

25 77.0

24 Lower end of range of acute thresholds (considered lethal to salmonids)

75.2

23 73.4

22 71.6

21 69.8

20 68.0

19 Steelhead growth reduced 20% from maximum (Sullivan and others, 2000).MWAT metric

USEPA (1977) growth MWAT for rainbow trout

Coho growth reduced 20% from maximum (Sullivan and others, 2000), MWAT metric

66.2

18 USEPA (1977) growth MWAT for coho 64.4

17 Steelhead growth reduced 10% from maximum. 62.6

16.8 NMFS MWAT threshold. 62.2

16.7 Welsh and others (2001) MWAT threshold for coho presence/absence in the Mattole

62.1 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 58.3

14.3 Washington Dept. of Ecology standard (equivalent MWAT calculated from annual max.)

57.7

14 57.2

13 Upper end of preferred rearing range for steelhead. 55.4

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Graph of Maximum Daily Stream Graph of Maximum Daily Stream

Temperatures Temperatures

Stream Temperature NF Casper Ck June, 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

Water Temperature (celcius)

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Histogram Histogram

Caspar Creek Stream Temperature

June - September, 2002

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

10.

5 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Water Temperature in Celcius

Frequency

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Stream Temperature Data on James Creek Stream Temperature Data on James Creek

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

1-Jun- 05

11-J un-05

21-J un-05

1-Jul -05

11-J ul-0

5 21-J

ul-0 5 31-J

ul-0 5 10-A

ug-0 5 20-A

ug-0 5 30-A

ug-0 5 9-Sep-

05 19-S

ep-0 5 29-S

ep-0 5 9-Oct

-05 Temperature (°C)

Maximum Instantaneous Temperature 19.20 °C 07/17/2005 15:00

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Water Temperature Metrics Water Temperature Metrics

7-Day Moving Average of Daily Maxima for

James Creek tributary to NF Big River, 2005

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

1-Jun-0511

-Jun-0521- Jun-05

1-Jul -05

11-Jul -05

21-Jul -05

31-Jul -05

10-Aug -05

20-Aug -05

30-Aug -05

9-Sep -05

19-Sep -05

29-Sep -05

9-Oc t-05

Temperature (°C)

MWAT 17.23 °C 7/17/2005 13:00

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Plotting Stream Temperature Against Air Plotting Stream Temperature Against Air

Temperature Temperature

(Correlation = 0.88129 ) (Correlation = 0.88129 )

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

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

Daily Air Temperature

Daily Stream Temperature

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Characteristics of Correlation Coefficients Characteristics of Correlation Coefficients

Correlation coefficients measure the strength of association Between two continuous variables.

+ 1.0

- 1.0 0

No Correlation Positive Negative

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Correlation Can Take on Many Different Correlation Can Take on Many Different

Forms.

Source: Statistical Methods In Water Resources (2002).

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GIS and Map Making Basics GIS 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.

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

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

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GIS and Spatial Data Analysis GIS 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.

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.

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Vegetation Map for Ten Mile, Noyo,

Big River and Albion Watersheds

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Vegetation Data Summary by Planning Vegetation Data Summary by Planning

Watersheds

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Using GIS to Calculate Stream Order

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Box and Whiskers Plot of Channel Gradient Box 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

Stre am Orde r

Channel Gradient QUART_1

Min QUART_2 Max QUART_3

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

Characteristics Characteristics

Stream Order

Average Width (m)

Average Depth (m)

Average Cross- Sectional Area

(m2)

1 3 0.2632 0.802

2 4 0.3457 1.47

3 6 0.401 2.54

4 10 0.5494 5.63

5 20 0.74 10.58

6 33 1.3 26.21

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Tools for GIS and Watershed Analysis Tools 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.

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.edu www.cwam.ucdavis.edu ). ).

Examples include:

Delta Q

Delta Q – – Peak flow model Peak flow model EPA Basins

EPA Basins – – Water quality Water quality - - based models based models USGS

USGS StreamStats StreamStats – – Hydrologic flow Hydrologic flow

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Peak Flow Model

Peak Flow Model – – Delta Q Delta Q

Delta Q is a GIS based model that can be used to estimate change Delta Q is a GIS based model that can be used to estimate changes s

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 modeled

d(q) = change in runoff in absolute or percentage terms for each activity type i = polygon identification number

m = total number of affected polygons

x(i)= years since harvesting activity in area i n = number of years to full hydrologic recovery

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Results of Peak Flow Analysis

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Predicted Changes in Peak Flow Along the Predicted Changes in Peak Flow Along the

South Fork Noyo River

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

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Little understory to

provide ladder to main canopy

Canopy height Crown base height

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Dense understory provides ladder to main canopy.

Effective CBH is the CBH of the understory.

Canopy height

Crown base height