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Data

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

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 Riparain 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 substracted from the codes in the BPS raster, resulting in unique conversion ID values.

D8 Flow Directions

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.

RCAT IGOs

RCAT Reaches

RCAT DGOs

RCAT Output DGOs

Output Attributes

Channel Network Outputs (vwReaches)

  • ReachID: Unique identifier for each reach
  • FCode: NHD FCode for each reach
  • ReachCode: A unique identifier for each reach from the NHD attributes
  • NDHPlusID: Unique identifier for each reach in the NHDPlus dataset
  • StreamName: The name of the stream
  • level_path: A unique identifier for each individual stream from the NHD attributes
  • TotDASqKm: Total drainage area in square kilometers from NHD attributes
  • DivDASqMi: Total drainage area in square kilometers partioned among diversions, side channels, etc. from NHD attributes
  • WatershedID: Unique identifier for each watershed (the hydrologic unit code) from the NHD attributes
  • ownership: Dominant ownership of the reach (e.g. private, public, tribal)
  • divergence: An integer code from NHD attributes indicating channel divergence and type of divergence
  • stream_order: Strahler stream stream order from NHD attributes
  • us_state: The state in which the reach is located
  • ecoregion_iii: Level III ecoregion from the EPA
  • ecoregion_iv: Level IV ecoregion from the EPA
  • iPC_LU: The land use itensity within the valley bottom adjacent to the reach ranging from 0 (natural land cover) to 100 (urban land cover)
  • FloodplainAccess: The proportion of the floodplain associated with the reach that is accessible to the stream (0-1)
  • FromConifer: The proportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that changed from conifer historically to riparian vegetation (0-1)
  • FromDevegetated: The proportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that changed from bare or unvegetated cover historically to riparian vegetation (0-1)
  • FromGrassShrubland: The proportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that changed from grass or shrubland historically to riparian vegetation (0-1)
  • NoChange: The proportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that has was riparian historically and remains riparian (0-1)
  • GrassShrubland: The proportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to grass or shrubland (0-1)
  • Devegetation: The proportion 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)
  • Conifer: The proportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to conifer (0-1)
  • Invasive: The proportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to invasive species (0-1)
  • Development: The proportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to developed land (0-1)
  • Agriculture: The proportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to agriculture (0-1)
  • NonRiparian: The proportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that has experienced non-riparian conversion (i.e., from one upland community to another) (0-1)
  • ExistingRiparianMean: The proportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that currently has riparian cover (0-1)
  • HistoricRiparianMean: The proportion of the riverscape associated with the reach that had riparian cover historically (0-1)
  • RiparianDeparture: The difference in riparian cover between the current and historic conditions (1 - (ExistingRiparianMean / HistoricRiparianMean)). In small, headwater streams where vegetation can't be meaningfully sampled, this is overridden to be 0 if there is no detectable land use change.
  • Condition: The overall condition of the reach based on the three lines of evidence (land use intensity, riparian vegetation departure, and floodplain accessibility) (0-1)
  • ConversionType: The dominant type of riparian conversion in the riverscape associated with the reach
  • Departure: Categorical classification of riparian departure

Riverscape Network Outputs (vwDgos/vwIgos)

  • IGODID/DGOID: Unique identifier for each riverscape polygon or point
  • FCode: NHD FCode for each riverscape polygon or point
  • level_path: A unique identifier for each individual stream from the NHD attributes associated with the riverscape polygon or point
  • seg_distance: A distance along a given level_path. In combination with level_path, this provides a unique identifier for each riverscape polygon or point
  • stream_size: A categorical classification of stream size from 0 (small, headwater streams) to 4 (large continental rivers)
  • centerline_length: (DGOs) The length of the centerline (m) of the riverscape polygon (riverscape network length)
  • LUI: The land use intensity averaged across the DGO or moving window, ranging from 0 (natural land cover) to 100 (urban land cover)
  • FloodplainAccess: The proportion of the DGO or moving window that is accessible to the stream (0-1)
  • FromConifer: The proportion of the DGO or moving window that changed from conifer historically to riparian vegetation (0-1)
  • FromDevegetated: The proportion of the DGO or moving window that changed from bare or unvegetated cover historically to riparian vegetation (0-1)
  • FromGrassShrubland: The proportion of the DGO or moving window that changed from grass or shrubland historically to riparian vegetation (0-1)
  • NoChange: The proportion of the DGO or moving window that has was riparian historically and remains riparian (0-1)
  • GrassShrubland: The proportion of the DGO or moving window that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to grass or shrubland (0-1)
  • Devegetation: The proportion of the DGO or moving window that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to bare or unvegetated cover (0-1)
  • Conifer: The proportion of the DGO or moving window that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to conifer (0-1)
  • Invasive: The proportion of the DGO or moving window that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to invasive species (0-1)
  • Development: The proportion of the DGO or moving window that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to developed land (0-1)
  • Agriculture: The proportion of the DGO or moving window that was riparian vegetation historically that has been converted from riparian to agriculture (0-1)
  • NonRiparian: The proportion of the DGO or moving window that has experienced non-riparian conversion (i.e., from one upland community to another) (0-1)
  • ExistingRiparianMean: The proportion of the DGO or moving window that currently has riparian cover (0-1)
  • HistoricRiparianMean: The proportion of the DGO or moving window that had riparian cover historically (0-1)
  • RiparianDeparture: The difference in riparian cover between the current and historic conditions (1 - (ExistingRiparianMean / HistoricRiparianMean)). In small, headwater streams where vegetation can't be meaningfully sampled, this is overridden to be 0 if there is no detectable land use change.
  • Condition: The overall condition of the reach based on the three lines of evidence (land use intensity, riparian vegetation departure, and floodplain accessibility) (0-1)
  • ConversionType: The dominant type of riparian conversion in the DGO or moving window
  • Departure: Categorical classification of riparian departure