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Catalog datasets represent a fraction of data in use by active WMA projects. The team is working on including more datasets to provide a complete view of data-in-use. Let us know how your experience is!

Datasets

WBD 2024 Snapshot: Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)

Domain: Hydrology

Variables:
▶ objectid; tnmid; metasourceid; sourcedatadesc; sourceoriginator;
See 24 More Variables...

Spatial Resolution: 1:24,000

Temporal Frequency: NA

Temporal Coverage: NA

Spatial Extent: United States

Source: USGS

Update Type: Static

Update Frequency: NA

Update Detail: NA

Access:

Access Details:

The access link goes to Access National Hydrography Products where the WBD can be accessed under the heading Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) where there are two options; 1. “Download the WBD by 2-digit Hydrologic Unit (HU2)” and 2. “Download the WBD by the Entire Nation”

Description:

WBD 2024 Snapshot
The 2024 version of the WBD includes all of the WBD updates that were ingested into the national dataset between 2012-2024. This snapshot of the WBD is the official version from the USGS WBD program.
What is the Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)
The Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) is a seamless, national, hydrologic unit dataset that provides a standardized base for water-resources organizations to locate, store, retrieve, and exchange hydrologic data; to index and inventory hydrologic data and information; to catalog water-data acquisition activities; and to use in a variety of other applications. Hydrologic unit boundaries in the WBD are determined based on topographic, hydrologic, and other relevant landscape characteristics without regard for administrative, political, or jurisdictional boundaries.
The hydrologic units (HU) in the WBD are arranged in a nested, hierarchical system with each HU in the system identified using a unique hydrologic unit code (HUC). Each HU within a nested level is assigned a two-digit suffix that’s appended to the HUC of the HU in the next coarsest nesting level. Because there are eight nesting levels within WBD, the set of HUCs consists of ranges from two to sixteen digits based on the eight levels of classification in the WBD. The dataset is complete for the United States to the 12-digit hydrologic unit. The 14- and 16-digit hydrologic units have only been published for a subset of the nation. https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/watershed-boundary-dataset-structure-visualization