Dam Metrics Representing Stream Fragmentation and Flow Alteration for the Conterminous United States Linked to the NHDPLUSV1
Dates
Publication Date
2017-02-16
Start Date
2013
End Date
2017
Citation
Cooper, A.R, and Infante, D.M, 2017, Dam Metrics Representing Stream Fragmentation and Flow Alteration for the Conterminous United States Linked to the NHDPLUSV1: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7FN14C5.
Summary
This CSV file contains 21 dam metrics representing stream fragmentation and flow alteration for nearly 2.3 million stream reaches in the conterminous USA. Dam metrics fall into four main categories: segment-based, count and density, distance-based, and cumulative reservoir storage (described below). These data were developed using spatially verified large dam locations (n=49,468) primarily from the National Anthropogenic Barrier Dataset (NABD) that were spatially linked to the National Hydrography Dataset Plus version 1 (NHDPlusV1). These dam metrics have been summarized using the unique identifier field native to the NHDPlusV1 (COMID) which can be used to join this table to spatial layers and data tables of the NHDPlusV1. Non-fluvial [...]
Summary
This CSV file contains 21 dam metrics representing stream fragmentation and flow alteration for nearly 2.3 million stream reaches in the conterminous USA. Dam metrics fall into four main categories: segment-based, count and density, distance-based, and cumulative reservoir storage (described below). These data were developed using spatially verified large dam locations (n=49,468) primarily from the National Anthropogenic Barrier Dataset (NABD) that were spatially linked to the National Hydrography Dataset Plus version 1 (NHDPlusV1). These dam metrics have been summarized using the unique identifier field native to the NHDPlusV1 (COMID) which can be used to join this table to spatial layers and data tables of the NHDPlusV1. Non-fluvial features in the NHDPlusV1 (lake and reservoir flow paths, coastlines, etc.) are excluded (see NFHP metadata). Please contact Arthur Cooper (coopera@msu.edu) for a copy of the publication associated with this data: Cooper, A.R., Infante, D.M., Daniel, W.M., Wehrly, K.E., Wang, L., Brenden, T.O. 2017. Assessment of dam effects for streams and fish assemblages of the conterminous USA. Science of the Total Environment doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.02.067
These metrics were developed for multiple reasons. First, they were developed to improve dam-related measures in support of conducting the 2015 condition assessment of fish habitat in fluvial waterbodies throughout the conterminous United States in support of the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP). Second, these metrics can be used to characterize regional variation in dam influences on stream habitats and fish assemblages. Lastly, these data have broad utility beyond the study of fishes, as habitat alteration by dams is known to affect many additional groups of organisms reliant upon riverine environments, including macroinvertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals, and plants.
