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Data

This page documents and explains the new datasets created by the Riparian Condition Assessment Tool (RCAT).

Inputs

LayerData TypeDescriptionSource
existing_vegGeoTiffLandfire Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) rasterRiverscapes Context
historic_vegGeoTiffLandfire BioPhysical Settings (BPS) rasterRiverscapes Context
hillshadeGeoTiffHillshade raster derived from DEMRiverscapes Context
pitfillGeoTiffDigital Elevation Model with TauDEM 'Pit Remove' algorithm applied to itTauDEM
igoGeopackage Feature ClassIntegrated Geographic Object (IGO) points produced by Anthropogenic ContextAnthropogenic Context
dgoGeopackage Feature ClassDiscrete Geographic Object (DGO) polygons produced by Anthropogenic ContextAnthropogenic Context
reachesGeopackage Feature ClassStream netork lines produced by Anthropogenic ContextAnthropogenic Context
canalsGeopackage Feature ClassLines representing canal featuresRiverscapes Context
roadsGeopackage Feature ClassLines representing the road networkRiverscapes Context
railsGeopackage Feature ClassLines representing railroad tracksRiverscapes Context
valley_bottomGeopackage Feature ClassFull valley bottom extentVBET
flowareasGeopackage Feature ClassPolygons representing larger riversRiverscapes Context
waterbodiesGeopackage Feature ClassPolygons representing lakes, ponds, and reservoirsRiverscapes Context

Data Layers Created by RCAT

Intermediates

Existing Riparian Vegetation Cover

This dataset is a binary reclassification of the LandFire EVT raster. Cells in the EVT raster that are classified as "Riparian" in the EVT Physiognomy EVT_PHYS field are assigned a value of 1, and all other cells are assigned a value of 0.

Historic Riparian Vegetation Cover

This dataset is a binary reclassification of the LandFire BPS raster. Cells in the BPS raster that are classified as "Riparian" in the GROUPVEG field, a coarse categorization of vegetation types, are assigned a value of 1, and all other cells are assigned a value of 0.

Existing Vegetation Cover

This dataset is a binary reclassification of the LandFire EVT raster. Cells in the EVT raster that are classified as any sort of vegetation (grass, shrub, woody, etc.) are assigned a value of 1, and all other cells (e.g., developed, barren rock, ice, open water, etc.) are assigned a value of 0.

Historic Vegetation Cover

This dataset is a binary reclassification of the LandFire BPS raster. Cells in the BPS raster that are classified as any type of vegetation (grass, shrub, woody, etc.) are assigned a value of 1, and all other cells (e.g., barren rock, ice, open water, etc.) are assigned a value of 0.

Vegetation Conversion

This is a raster dataset that represents conversion from one vegetation type to another between the BPS and EVT LandFire rasters (i.e., from historic conditions to the present). Broad vegetation types, such as conifer, shrub, riparian, etc. are given a conversion ID in both the EVT and BPS rasters. The codes from the EVT raster are subtracted from the codes in the BPS raster, resulting in unique conversion ID values.

D8 Flow Directions

D8 Flow directions calculated using TauDEM from input pitfilled DEM.

Floodplain Accessibility

This is a raster dataset that attempts to estimate floodplain accessibility using an automated algorithm. A D-8 flow direction raster is first generated from a pit-filled DEM. Then, for each cell that begins within the valley bottom, flow directions are traced downstream. If that tracing reaches the drainage network, all of the associated cells are coded as 1 for connected. If instead, the tracing reaches some sort of infrastructure first, all associated cells are coded as 0 for disconnected.

Outputs

RCAT IGOs

IGOs attributed with values for rcat analyses calculated within a single DGO or an aggregation of DGOs.

RCAT Reaches

NHD Flowlines attributed with values for rcat analyses.

RCAT DGOs

DGOs attributed with values for rcat analyses within the DGO extent.


Output Attributes

Channel Network Outputs (vwReaches)

FieldUnitsDescription
ReachIDNAUnique identifier for each reach
FCodeNANHD FCode for each reach
ReachCodeNAUnique identifier for each reach from the NHD attributes
NDHPlusIDNAUnique identifier for each reach in the NHDPlus dataset used to join value added attributes
StreamNameNAThe name of the stream
level_pathNAUnique identifier for each individual stream from headwater to outlet from the NHD attributes
TotDASqKmkm2Total upstream contributing drainage area
DivDASqKmkm2Total drainage area partitioned among diversions, side channels, etc.
WatershedIDNAUnique identifier for each watershed (the 10-digit hydrologic unit code)
ownershipNADominant ownership of the reach (e.g. private, public, tribal)
divergenceNAAn integer code from NHD attributes indicating channel divergence and type of divergence
stream_orderNAStrahler stream stream order
us_stateNAThe state in which the reach is located
ecoregion_iiiNALevel III ecoregion from the EPA
ecoregion_ivNALevel IV ecoregion from the EPA
iPC_LUNAThe land use intensity within the valley bottom adjacent to the reach ranging from 0 (natural land cover) to 100 (urban land cover)
FloodplainAccessunitlessProportion of the floodplain associated with the reach that is accessible to the stream (0-1)
FromConiferunitlessProportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that changed from conifer historically to riparian vegetation (0-1)
FromDevegetatedunitlessProportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that changed from bare or unvegetated cover historically to riparian vegetation (0-1)
FromGrassShrublandunitlessProportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that changed from grass or shrubland historically to riparian vegetation (0-1)
NoChangeunitlessProportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that was riparian historically and remains riparian (0-1)
GrassShrublandunitlessProportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to grass or shrubland (0-1)
DevegetationunitlessProportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to bare or unvegetated cover (0-1)
ConiferunitlessProportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to conifer (0-1)
InvasiveunitlessProportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to invasive species (0-1)
DevelopmentunitlessProportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to developed land (0-1)
AgricultureunitlessProportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to agriculture (0-1)
NonRiparianunitlessProportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that has experienced non-riparian conversion (i.e., from one upland community to another) (0-1)
ExistingRiparianMeanunitlessProportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that currently has riparian cover (0-1)
HistoricRiparianMeanunitlessProportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that had riparian cover historically (0-1)
RiparianDepartureunitlessFraction of historic riparian cover that exists now (ExistingRiparianMean / HistoricRiparianMean). In small, headwater streams where vegetation can't be meaningfully sampled, this is overridden with a nodata value
ConditionNAThe overall condition of the reach based on the three lines of evidence (land use intensity, riparian vegetation departure, and floodplain accessibility) (0-1)
ConversionTypeNADominant type of riparian conversion in the riverscape associated with the reach
DepartureNACategorical classification of riparian departure

Riverscape Network Outputs (vwDgos/vwIgos)

FieldUnitsDescription
IGODID/DGOIDNAUnique identifier for each riverscape polygon or point
FCodeNANHD FCode of the dominant reach in the riverscape segment
level_pathNAUnique identifier for each individual stream from the NHD attributes associated with the riverscape polygon or point
seg_distancemDistance along a given level_path. In combination with level_path, this provides a unique identifier for each riverscape polygon or point
stream_sizeNACategorical classification of stream size from 0 (small, headwater streams) to 4 (large continental rivers)
centerline_lengthm(DGOs) Length of the centerline (m) of the riverscape polygon (riverscape network length)
LUINALand use intensity averaged across the DGO or moving window, ranging from 0 (natural land cover) to 100 (urban land cover)
FloodplainAccessunitlessProportion of the DGO or moving window that is accessible to the stream (0-1)
FromConiferunitlessProportion of the DGO or moving window that changed from conifer historically to riparian vegetation (0-1)
FromDevegetatedunitlessProportion of the DGO or moving window that changed from bare or unvegetated cover historically to riparian vegetation (0-1)
FromGrassShrublandunitlessProportion of the DGO or moving window that changed from grass or shrubland historically to riparian vegetation (0-1)
NoChangeunitlessProportion of the DGO or moving window that was riparian historically and remains riparian (0-1)
GrassShrublandunitlessProportion of the DGO or moving window that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to grass or shrubland (0-1)
DevegetationunitlessProportion of the DGO or moving window that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to bare or unvegetated cover (0-1)
ConiferunitlessProportion of the DGO or moving window that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to conifer (0-1)
InvasiveunitlessProportion of the DGO or moving window that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to invasive species (0-1)
DevelopmentunitlessProportion of the DGO or moving window that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to developed land (0-1)
AgricultureunitlessProportion of the DGO or moving window that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to agriculture (0-1)
NonRiparianunitlessProportion of the DGO or moving window that has experienced non-riparian conversion (i.e., from one upland community to another) (0-1)
ExistingRiparianMeanunitlessProportion of the DGO or moving window that currently has riparian cover (0-1)
HistoricRiparianMeanunitlessProportion of the DGO or moving window that had riparian cover historically (0-1)
RiparianDepartureunitlessFraction of historic riparian cover that exists now (ExistingRiparianMean / HistoricRiparianMean). In small, headwater streams where vegetation can't be meaningfully sampled, this is overridden with a nodata value
ConditionNAOverall condition of the reach based on the three lines of evidence (land use intensity, riparian vegetation departure, and floodplain accessibility) (0-1)
ConversionTypeNADominant type of riparian conversion in the DGO or moving window
DepartureNACategorical classification of riparian departure