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NHD & WBD Datasets

National Hydrography Dataset (NHD)

The NHD is a GIS Dataset used to portray surface water and represents the drainage network with features such as rivers, streams, canals, lakes, ponds, coastline, dams, and stream gages. The NHD is the surface water hydrography layer of The National Map.

For more information on the NHD, please visit the USGS NHD website and the NHD Feature Catalog.

Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)

IDWR and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), in cooperation with various state and local agencies, produced the statewide WBD for 5th and 6th field watersheds for the State of Idaho. Idaho received a Full Certification status for the WBD effort in Idaho on December 2, 2008. Thank you to all cooperators, data stewards and interested parties who helped in this endeavor!

For more information on the WBD, please visit the USGS WBD website or the NRCS Watershed website.

National Hydrography Dataset High Resolution (NHDPlus HR)

NHDPlus HR is now complete for the Continental US.  The NHDPlus HR consists of vector and raster data layers including NHD, WBD, elevation-based catchments and value-added attributes to enhance analysis and display and stream network navigation.

Please see the NHDPlus HR Factsheet for more information on the NHDPlus HR.

Downloads

The NHD & WBD are integrated into a common data model, and the new WBD boundaries are packaged with the NHD Subbasins as they are checked out and downloaded.

The NHD can be downloaded by Hydrologic Unit using the NHD Viewer, by Pre-Staged Subregion, by State Extract, or with a National Snapshot.

The WBD can be download a standalone dataset by areas of interest both from USGS and NRCS.

The NHDPlus HR is downloadable by the 4-digit Hydrologic Unit (Region) or a National download.

Other Water Data Related Links

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