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Open-File Report 2012–1077

Prepared in cooperation with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Automated Delineation and Characterization of Watersheds for more than 3,000 Surface-Water-Quality Monitoring Stations Active in 2010 in Texas

By Christy-Ann M. Archuleta, Sophia L. Gonzales, and David R. Maltby II

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (3.33 MB)Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, developed computer scripts and applications to automate the delineation of watershed boundaries and compute watershed characteristics for more than 3,000 surface-water-quality monitoring stations in Texas that were active during 2010. Microsoft Visual Basic applications were developed using ArcGIS ArcObjects to format the source input data required to delineate watershed boundaries. Several automated scripts and tools were developed or used to calculate watershed characteristics using Python, Microsoft Visual Basic, and the RivEX tool. Automated methods were augmented by the use of manual methods, including those done using ArcMap software. Watershed boundaries delineated for the monitoring stations are limited to the extent of the Subbasin boundaries in the USGS Watershed Boundary Dataset, which may not include the total watershed boundary from the monitoring station to the headwaters.

First posted May 22, 2012

For additional information contact:
Director, Texas Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
1505 Ferguson Lane
Austin, Texas 78754-4501
http://tx.usgs.gov/

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Suggested citation:

Archuleta, C.M., Gonzales, S.L., and Maltby, D.R., II, 2012, Automated delineation and characterization of watersheds for more than 3,000 surface-water-quality monitoring stations active in 2010 in Texas: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012–1077, 33 p.


Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Summary

References Cited

Glossary

Appendix 1. Watershed and Characteristics Scripts and Programs

Appendix 2. Watershed and Characteristics, Methods or Processes


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