Abstract

Watershed Boundary Dataset - US/Canadian Data Harmonization: Great Lakes Basin
Track: Water Resources
Authors: Kimberly Jones, Conrad Wyrzykowski

The International Joint Commission in coordination with the U.S. Geological Survey, Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and Agriculture Agri-Foods Canada, along with many provincial/state partners and other Federal agencies has undertaken an initiative to harmonize shared fundamental hydrographic datasets along the Canadian-U.S. international border. This includes harmonizing the U.S. Watershed boundary Dataset (WBD) and the Canadian National Hydrography Network Work Units at the 8-digit level, and the creation of 10- and 12- digit hydrologic units (HUs) within the cross border 8-digit HUs. Complimentary to this and in conjunction with this effort, the stream networks and waterbodies within the U.S. National Hydrography Dataset and the Canadian National Hydrography Network are being harmonized and flow networks are being built.

This presentation will focus on enhancements to the WBD within the Great Lakes Basin in order to accommodate and complement other national datasets and increase their functionality for integrated National and International applications.