A stream classification system for the conterminous United States

Mcmanamay, Ryan A.; DeRolph, Christopher R.

doi:10.1038/sdata.2019.17

Title: A stream classification system for the conterminous United States

Abstract

Stream classifications are important for understanding stream ecosystem diversity while also serving as tools for aquatic conservation and management. With current rates of land and riverscape modification within the United States (US), a comprehensive inventory and evaluation of naturally occurring stream habitats is needed, as this provides a physical template upon which stream biodiversity is organized and maintained. To adequately represent the heterogeneity of stream ecosystems, such a classification needs to be spatially extensive where multiple stream habitat components are represented at the highest resolution possible. Herein, we present a multi-layered empirically-driven stream classification system for the conterminous US, constructed from over 2.6 million stream reaches within the NHDPlus V2 stream network. The classification is based on emergent natural variation in six habitat layers meaningful at the stream-reach resolution: size, gradient, hydrology, temperature, network bifurcation, and valley confinement. To support flexibility of use, we provide multiple alternative approaches to developing classes and report uncertainty in classes assigned to stream reaches. The stream classification and underlying data provide valuable resources for stream conservation and research.

Authors:

^[1];

^[1]

Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Publication Date:: Tue Feb 12 00:00:00 EST 2019

Research Org.:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Water Power Technologies Office

OSTI Identifier:: 1502525

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: Scientific Data

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 2052-4463

Publisher:: Nature Publishing Group

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Citation Formats


                    Mcmanamay, Ryan A., and DeRolph, Christopher R. A stream classification system for the conterminous United States.  United States: N. p., 2019. 
Web.  doi:10.1038/sdata.2019.17.

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                    Mcmanamay, Ryan A., & DeRolph, Christopher R. A stream classification system for the conterminous United States.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2019.17

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                    Mcmanamay, Ryan A., and DeRolph, Christopher R. Tue .  
"A stream classification system for the conterminous United States".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2019.17.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1502525.

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@article{osti_1502525,

  title        = {A stream classification system for the conterminous United States},

  author       = {Mcmanamay, Ryan A. and DeRolph, Christopher R.},

  abstractNote = {Stream classifications are important for understanding stream ecosystem diversity while also serving as tools for aquatic conservation and management. With current rates of land and riverscape modification within the United States (US), a comprehensive inventory and evaluation of naturally occurring stream habitats is needed, as this provides a physical template upon which stream biodiversity is organized and maintained. To adequately represent the heterogeneity of stream ecosystems, such a classification needs to be spatially extensive where multiple stream habitat components are represented at the highest resolution possible. Herein, we present a multi-layered empirically-driven stream classification system for the conterminous US, constructed from over 2.6 million stream reaches within the NHDPlus V2 stream network. The classification is based on emergent natural variation in six habitat layers meaningful at the stream-reach resolution: size, gradient, hydrology, temperature, network bifurcation, and valley confinement. To support flexibility of use, we provide multiple alternative approaches to developing classes and report uncertainty in classes assigned to stream reaches. The stream classification and underlying data provide valuable resources for stream conservation and research.},

  doi          = {10.1038/sdata.2019.17},

  journal      = {Scientific Data},

  number       = ,

  volume       = 6,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Tue Feb 12 00:00:00 EST 2019},

  month        = {Tue Feb 12 00:00:00 EST 2019}

}

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https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2019.17

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