Chapter 6

Arc-Hydro for Hydrological Analysis

6.1 Terrain Preprocessing

Terrain Preprocessing uses DEM (digital elevation model) to identify the surface drainage
pattern. Once preprocessed, the DEM and its derivatives can be used for efficient watershed
delineation and stream network generation. The steps in the Terrain Preprocessing menu should
be performed in sequential order, from top to bottom. The processes to use depend on the type
and quality of the initial DEM. Processing must be completed before Watershed Processing
functions can be used.

DEM Manipulation
The DEM Manipulation menu contains functions that allow editing the original DEM:

 Level DEM: assign constant elevations under lake polygons

 DEM Reconditioning: burn in existing streams
 Assign Stream Slope/Burn Stream Slope: burn in stream slopes
 Build Walls: burn in existing boundaries
 Deranged (non-dendritic) Terrain Evaluation functions: define real sinks in the DEM (for
non-dendritic terrains)
 Sink Prescreening
 Sink Evaluation
  Depression Evaluation
 Sink Selection
 Fill Sinks
These functions may be skipped if your original DEM has already been edited and is ready for
processing.

Steps through function in the DEM Manipulation menu follow.

1. Level DEM
This function modifies a DEM by setting the cells within the selected Polygon features to the
associated FillElev value. The function works on a selected set of polygon features or on all
features if there is no selected set.

2. DEM Reconditioning
This function modifies a DEM by imposing linear features onto it (burning/fencing). It is an
implementation of the AGREE method developed at the University of Texas at Austin in 1997.
For a full reference to the procedure refer to the web link
[Link]
function needs as input a raw DEM (or LevelDEM) and a linear feature class (e.g. river to burn
in) that both have to be present in the map document.

3. Assign Stream Slope

This function allows assigning relative stream slopes to the input Stream feature class that will
be used by the function Burn Stream Slope to burn in slopes in the DEM. The function Assign
Stream Slope requires the fields from Node and To_Node to be populated first. You can create
and populate these fields by using first the function Attributes Tools>Generate From/To Node
for Lines for example. Assign Stream Slope will populate the FromElev and ToElev fields for
each stream feature with relative elevations.

4. Burn Stream Slope

This function allows burning streams with slopes built based on FromElev and ToElev values in
the input Stream feature class. This function may be used on top of DEM Reconditioning since it
burns only the cells located under the Stream features (no buffering). It ensures that the water
flows in the digitized stream direction once it reaches a stream which may not have been the case
for flat (for example for flat DEMs).

5. Build Walls
This function allows “building” walls in the input grid. Two types of walls may be created: -
Outer walls – based on an input polygon feature class (Outer Wall Polygon) - Inner walls – based
on an input polygon, line or point feature class (Inner Wall Feature) Both types may be built at
the same time, but at least one must be selected. In addition, a Breach Line feature class may be
provided as input, to ensure that they are “breaches” in the walls allowing the water to flow out.
 6. Sink Prescreening
This function allows prescreening the potential sinks in the input non filled DEM by filling the
pits with a drainage area smaller than the specified area threshold defining a potential sink. Sink
Prescreening is useful to reduce the number of potential sinks processed by the function Sink
Evaluation.

7. Sink Evaluation
This function allows generating the Sink Polygon and Sink Drainage Area feature classes for the
input DEM as well as characterizing the sink features. Note Running the function Sink
Prescreening to prescreen the input DEM to keep only the potential sinks of interest
(PreFillDem).

The function generates and characterizes the output Sink Polygon and Sink Drainage area feature
classes and adds them into the map.

The function performs the following steps:

 Generate the Flow Direction Grid associated to the input DEM and uses
this grid to define the Sink Polygon features.
 Generate the drainage areas associated to the sinks.
 Characterize the sinks.
8. Depression Evaluation
This function allows generating the Depression and Depression Drainage Area feature classes for
the input DEM as well as characterizing the depression features.

9. Sink Selection
This function allows selecting the Deranged Polygon features (e.g. sinks, depression) that should
be considered as sinks. The function works on a selected set of features or on all features if there
is no selected set.
The function checks that the selected input contains the required fields.
Deranged Polygon required fields (populated by function Sink Evaluation)
 FillDepth
 FillArea
 FillVolume
 DrainArea
Field created
 IsSink

The function updates the attribute IsSink and sets it to 1 for the features that meet the criteria
specified. If “Overwrite Selection" is unchecked, the function will not reset to 0 the features not
meeting the criteria that have IsSink set to 1.
 10. Fill Sinks
This function fills the sinks in a grid. If a cell is surrounded by higher elevation cells, the water is
trapped in that cell and cannot flow. The Fill Sinks function modifies the elevation value to
eliminate these problems. You have the option to fill all the sinks in the input DEM, all the sinks
with a depth lower than the specified threshold, or all sinks except those defined as real sinks in
the Deranged Polygon feature class (for non-dendritic terrain). You are going to run the function
twice. The first time, you fill all the sinks to create a filled grid called FillAll. The second time,
you will not fill the SinkPoly features having IsSink set to 1 (i.e. those defined as sinks).

Terrain Processing
Once you are satisfied with the resulting edited DEM, you can proceed to the functions that will
create the data supporting the delineation process: Flow Direction Grid, Stream Grid, Catchment
and AdjointCatchment.

1. Flow Direction
This function computes the flow direction for a given grid. The values in the cells of the flow
direction grid indicate the direction of the steepest descent from that cell. The function Flow
Direction with Sinks may be used instead to process a DEM with known sinks.

FdrFilled has 8 distinct values, each indicating the direction in which the water is flowing (255
would indicate sinks – they are none since the grid has been entirely filled).

2. Flow Direction with Sinks

This function computes the flow direction for a grid with sinks to ensure that all cells within a
sink watershed flows into this watershed‟s sink point. The values in the cells of the flow
direction grid indicate the direction of the steepest descent from that cell. The function Flow
Direction may be used instead to process a DEM with no sinks.

The function creates a Sink Point for each processed sink and generates the Flow Direction grid
so that each cell in a sink flows toward its sink point. The Sink Link grid may be used as the link
grid input in Catchment Grid Delineation to generate catchment grids for an entirely “deranged”
terrain (i.e. with sinks), or it can be combined with a stream link to generate that input link grid
(for a combined dendritic/deranged terrain). The Sink Watershed Grid is a grid representing the
area draining into each sink. Both the Sink Watershed grid and the Sink Link grid may be used to
mask these areas when generating stream links with the function Stream Segmentation so that no
stream links are generated within the sink watersheds or sinks.
Note: You can use the Flow Path Tracing tool to view the paths based
on the new flow direction grid by clicking the tool and then clicking on
the map to start the trace. All traces in a given sink watershed will end at
that watershed’s sink point. You can delete the traces by selecting the
graphics and pressing the Delete key.
Flow paths within a sink watershed flowing into the sink point
3. Adjust Flow Direction
This function modifies the input Flow Direction Grid within the selected Polygon features so that
each cell within a lake flows toward the closest stream in that polygon.

4. Flow Accumulation
This function computes the flow accumulation grid that contains the accumulated number of
cells upstream of a cell, for each cell in the input grid. You are going to use the totally filled
DEM to generate the flow accumulation as the area being processed in the tutorial is dendritic
and does not have sinks.

5. Stream Definition
This function computes a stream grid based on a flow accumulation grid and a user specified
threshold. The cells in the input flow accumulation grid that have a value greater than the
threshold are assigned a value of 1 in the stream grid. All other cells are assigned no data.

A default value is displayed for the river threshold. This value represents 1% of the maximum
flow accumulation: it is the recommended threshold for stream determination. Note that these
streams are used to prepare preprocessed data that will help speed up point delineation. These
streams do not need to be meaningful or representative of existing streams. Any other value of
threshold can be selected. Smaller threshold will result in denser stream network and usually in a
greater number of delineated catchments, which may hinder delineation performance. If the
ground units have been set (otherwise Area will be grayed out), the threshold may also be set
using the area in square kilometer. Check the online help (How to… Define ground unit and z-
unit for more information on how to set the ground units).

6. Stream Segmentation
This function creates a grid of stream segments that have a unique identification. A segment may
either be a head segment, or it may be defined as a segment between two segment junctions. All
the cells in a particular segment have the same grid code that is specific to that segment. The
input Sink Watershed Grid and Sink Link Grid are optional and may be used to mask the input
stream grid so that no stream links are created in those areas.

7. Flow Direction with Streams

This function generates the Drainage Line feature class from an existing stream layer using first
the input Flow Direction grid. It subsequently uses again the stream layer to add the flow splits.
This function may be used instead of the Stream Definition function to match as closely as
possible the input stream (i.e. length, flow splits). The function edits the input flow direction grid
to generate an output Stream Sloped Flow Direction grid that ensures that the water remains
within a given stream and does not jump between streams near the confluences.

The function also generates the output Stream Link grid required to generate the catchments. The
output Edit Points and HydroRiverPoints are created and used during the grid editing process.
The input DEM used to generate the Flow Direction grid should have gone through the DEM
Reconditioning step using the same Stream layer as the one used to burn in the streams. However
it is not required to burn in stream slopes into that DEM as the function will be performing this
step. This function is calling the geoprocessing tool with the same name in the Arc Hydro tools
toolbox. You may need to close ArcCatalog before running this function otherwise you may get
a lock error. The input Stream feature class must contain a populated HydroID field. You are
first going to assign HydroIDs to that feature class. The function creates the field HydroID and
populates it with unique identifies in that Geodatabase.

8. Combine Stream Link and Sink Link

This function creates a link grid combining the stream link grid representing dendritic areas and
the sink link grid representing deranged areas (i.e. areas with sinks). The Link grid is used to
generate catchments – one catchment will be created for each link and will represent the area
draining into that link.

The function generates the output Link Grid by first retrieving the maximum value from the
input Stream Link and adding this value to the Sink Link grid and then merging the resulting grid
with the Stream Link Grid. This ensures that each link has a unique value in the resulting Link
Grid and that the stream link ids (and the associated relationships between catchments and
drainage lines) are maintained in the resulting Link Grid.

Note: If a sinklink is connected to a streamlink, the sinklink is assigned the values of the
connectivited streamlink to support the connectivity. This works however only when there is
no more than one streamlink connected to any given sinklink. The case where multiple
streamlinks connect to a given sinklink is not supported at this time
9. Catchment Grid Delineation
This function creates a grid in which each cell carries a value (grid code) indicating to which
catchment the cell belongs. The value corresponds to the value carried by the stream segment or
sink link that drains that area, defined in the input stream segment link grid (Stream
Segmentation) or sink link grid (Sink Segmentation). You are going to use the Stream Link
generated using the Stream Segmentation function.

10. Catchment Polygon Processing

This function converts a catchment grid it into a catchment polygon feature class.

11. Drainage Line Processing

This function converts the input Stream Link grid usually created with the Stream Segmentation
function into a Drainage Line feature class. Each line in the feature class carries the identifier of
the catchment in which it resides. Note that the function Flow Direction with Streams also
generates the Drainage Line feature class based on the input Stream feature class.
12. Adjoint Catchment Processing
This function generates the aggregated upstream catchments from the "Catchment" feature class.
For each catchment that is not a head catchment, a polygon representing the whole upstream area
draining to its inlet point is constructed and stored in a feature class that has an "Adjoint
Catchment" tag. This feature class is used to speed up the point delineation process.

The input Drainage Line and Catchment feature classes must contain the field GridID – a
catchment and its associated drainage line shares the same GridID that is the ID of the
corresponding link used to generate those features (from the stream link or link grid). If using a
link grid that combines stream links and sink links (for a combined terrain with both dendritic
and deranged terrains with sinks), the combined link grid must use the same id as the stream link
for those links. Those stream link ids are preserved when using the function Combine Stream
Link and Sink Link to create a combined sink link.

13. Drainage Point Processing

This function allows generating the drainage points associated to the catchments.

14. Longest Flow Path for Catchments

This function allows generating the longest flow paths associated to the catchments. This is
required to speed up the generation of Longest Flow Paths. If you do not plan to generate these
types of features, you may skip this step as well as the next one.

Note: This function may be time-consuming.

15. Longest Flow Path for Adjoint Catchments

This function allows generating the longest flow paths associated to the adjoint catchments

Other Functions
1. Slope
This function allows generating a slope grid in percent or degree for a given DEM.

Note: The tool computes the zfactor based on the Z unit set for the input DEM. If the Z unit is not
set, the tool assumes that the Z unit is the same as the linear unit and uses a z factor of 1.

6.2. Watershed Processing

The steps in Terrain Preprocessing need to be performed before the watershed delineation
functions may be used. The preprocessing functions partition terrain into manageable units to
allow fast delineation operations.
Delineation Functions

1. Batch Watershed Delineation

This function performs batch watershed delineation for points in an input Batch Point feature
class. This point feature class must contain four required fields:
 Name
 Descript
 BatchDone
 SnapOn

The Arc Hydro tool Batch Point Generation may be used to interactively create the Batch
Point feature class.

2. Batch Sub watershed Delineation

This function allows delineating subwatersheds for all the points in a selected Point Feature
Class. Input to the batch subwatershed delineation function is a point feature class with point
locations of interest. The Batch Point Generation function can be used to interactively create
such a file.

3. Batch Watershed Delineation for Polygons

This function performs batch watershed delineation for selected polygons in an input Batch
Polygon feature class. The polygons will usually belong to an existing layer and represents an
area of interest (e.g. Political boundaries, lakes, study area, etc.). The function delineates the
watersheds associated to each input polygon feature and stores the resulting features in the output
WatershedPoly feature class.

4. Delineate from Multiple Inlets and Outlets

This function delineates one watershed at a time based on selected inlet and outlet point in an
input Point Source feature class. In this tutorial, you will create a new point source feature class
using the BatchPoint tool.

Watershed Characterization Functions

1. Drainage Area Centroid

This function generates the centroid of drainage areas as centers of gravity. However, if the
center of gravity is not located within the polygon, the function will use as centroid the
projection of the center of gravity on the polygon‟s boundary (i.e. the nearest point on the
boundary). The function operates on a selected set of drainage areas in the input Drainage Area
feature class. If no drainage area has been selected, the function operates on all the drainage
areas.

2. Longest Flow Path

This function identifies and computes the length of the longest flow path in a selected set of
drainage areas (e.g. any polygon feature class). If no drainage area has been selected, the
function processes all the drainage areas.

3. Longest Flow Path for Watersheds

This function generates the longest flow paths for input watersheds more efficiently than the
previous function because it relies on preprocessed data to speed up the process.

4. Longest Flow Path for Subwatersheds

This function generates the longest flow paths for input subwatersheds more efficiently than the
Longest Flow Path function because it relies on preprocessed data to speed up the process.

5. Main Flow Path

This function allows generating the Main Flow Path features for the selected watersheds. The
function Attribute Tools > Populate DrainArea in Drainage Line must be used before running
this function to populate the area draining into each drainage line.

This function creates the field DrainArea in the attributes table of DrainageLine and populates it
with the total area draining into the drainage line, computed by summing up the areas of its
associated catchment and adjoint catchment. The area is in data units.

Note: The results will vary depending on the threshold used to generate the Drainage Line
feature class and the small threshold specified. It will also vary depending on the watershed
boundary as a point is placed on the boundary of the original watershed.
6. Construct 3D Line
This function allows building the 3D (z-aware) lines corresponding to a selected set of 2D lines
by extracting elevations from an input DEM. Elevations are stored in the X/Y unit of the input
DEM

7. Smooth 3D Line
This function smooth a 3D line oriented in the downstream direction. Smoothing is performed
linearly along each line feature.

8. Flow Path Parameters from 2D Line

This function computes the longest flow path length, the slope, the 10-85 slope and the 10-85
points associated to the longest flow paths features. The slopes values are stored in the Longest
Flow Path feature class. This function works on the selected longest flow paths features or on all
the features if none are selected. Elevations are extracted from the input raw dem.

9. Flow Path Parameters from 3D Line

This function computes the same parameters as the previous function by reading elevations from
the 3D lines instead of from the input DEM.

10. Basin Length Points

This function allows generating inlet and outlet points associated to an input line (e.g. longest
flow path for a watershed) that will be used by the function Basin Length to generate the basin
length line between these 2 points for a given drainage area.

The function generates the Basin Length Point feature class that stores the from point and to
point associated to each input Longest Flow Path line. The DrainID field is populated with the
DrainID of the input Longest Flow Path feature. HydroID is the unique identifier of the new
point features in the geodatabase. SrcType defined whether the point is a from point (1-Inlet) or a
to point (0-Outlet). The input Basin Length grid is used to ensure spatial consistency – it should
be the same as the one used when computing the basin length.

11. Basin Length

The Basin Length function allows generating a cost path line from the inlet point to the outlet
point of a basin traveling through a cost surface that has minimum values toward the center and
maximum values at the boundary. Unlike longest flow path, this function does not use the flow
direction for the cost path. It uses the geometry to travel through the approximated centroid of
the basin. This function works on a selected set of a drainage area having associated basin length
points (inlet and outlet points). The function generates the Basin Length line feature for each
selected drainage area. The DrainID field is populated with the HydroID of the associated
Drainage Area feature. HydroID is the unique identifier of the feature in the geodatabase.
LengthMi stores the length of the Basin Length line in miles.
 Basin Length (purple) vs. Longest Flow Path (brown)

6.3. Network Tools

If the dataset already has the geometric network with Hydro Edges and Hydro Junctions layers
defined, you can directly use all the Attribute Tools. However, if you are coming from a raster
environment as we are in this example, you will need to use the Network Tools to generate the
geometric network before you can use some of the Attribute Tools. The functions required at
least an Arc Editor license.

1. Hydro Network Generation

This function allows converting drainage features into network features, and creating the
associated geometric network. It also creates a relationship class (HydroJunctionHasCatchment)
between the new Hydro Junction feature class (HydroJunction) and the Catchment feature class
that will be used subsequently
The network generated, named “ArcHydro”, is added to the Utility Network Analyst as shown
below (the Utility Network Analyst toolbar needs to be loaded manually, if not present in the
ArcMap document).
Sometimes even after the successful completion of the operation, the HydroEdge and
HydroJunction layer may not show in the map, and the network may not be added to the Utility
Network Analyst. In such cases, you need to manually add these layers.

Note: You may need to close and reopen the map document to see the domains’ description in
the attributes tables instead of the domains’ codes.

2. Node/Link Schema Generation

This function allows generating a node-link schema. The nodes are defined by the centers of the
polygons representing basins and by points that represent locations of interest in the model. The
points include basin outlets, river junctions, water intakes and other facilities.

The function requires that the relationship between the Watershed Polygons and their outlet be
established through the JunctionID field, and the relationship between the Junctions and their
next downstream junction be established through the NextDownID field.

3. Store Flow Direction

This function reads the flow direction for a set of edges from the network and writes the value of
the flow direction to the FlowDir field in the Edge Feature Class.

4. Set Flow Direction

This function sets the flow direction for selected edges in a network edge feature class. If no
features are selected, the tool sets the flow direction for all the edges in the feature class.

6.4. Attribute Tools

If your dataset already has the geometric network with
HydroEdge and HydroJunction layers defined, you do not
need to use the “Hydro Network Generation” tool. You
can directly use the Attribute Tools.

Time Series Functions

1. Display Time Series

This function allows displaying the values of a parameter
associated with a feature in a target feature class over
time. For example, this function may be used to display
the variation of one parameter (e.g. rainfall) over the Nexrad cells linked to the measurements.
 2. Transfer ID
This function allows establishing a relationship between a source feature class having an existing
Time Series table and a target feature class that needs to be linked to time series data. For
example, you may be interested in creating time series linked to each Catchment based on the
time series associated to the cells. This function requires first the creation of an intersect layer
that is built by intersecting the source and the target feature class.

3. Transfer Value
This function allows generating a Time Series table for a polygon feature class based on an
existing polygon feature and its associated Time Series table.
6.5. Buttons and Tools

1. Flow Path Tracing

This tool allows creating a flow path as graphics showing the path of a drop of water on the
terrain based on the Flow Direction grid.

2. Interactive Flow Path Tracing

This tool allows defining the flow path as graphics first and then as a line feature from the point
the user clicks on the map. The flow path ends at the outlet of the Drainage Area feature in which
the start of the path is located.

3. Point Delineation
This tool allows creating a watershed point at the location clicked by the user on the map and
delineating the associated watershed. The function does not prompt for the inputs if they are
already set.

4. Delineate using EPA Web Service

This tool allows creating a watershed point at the location clicked by the user on the map and
delineating the associated watershed using 2 EPA web services. The first service allows
identifying the closest point located on a medium resolution NHDFlowline feature and returning
its COMID and measure. The second service returns the watershed associated to the downstream
end of that NHDFlowline. The function does not prompt for the outputs(Watershed/Watershed
Point) if they are already set.

6.6. Terrain Morphology

The Terrain Morphology menu contains 5 functions:

 Data Management Terrain Morphology

 Drainage Area Characterization
 Drainage Boundary Definition
 Drainage Boundary Characterization
 Drainage Connectivity Characterization
The functions allow characterizing drainage areas volumes and drainage areas boundaries profile
by using elevation extracted from a Grid (DEM) or a TIN, as well as creating network
connectivity for non-dendritic drainage areas (i.e. areas with pits).

1. Drainage Area Characterization

The Drainage Area Characterization tool computes the cumulative areas and volumes below a
given elevation (top of slice). The tool works on a selected set or on all features if there is no
selected set. The function characterizes the area and volume for “slices” of the selected drainage
areas. Note that selected areas that have already been processed will be reprocessed if they are
selected or if there is no selected set.

2. Drainage Boundary Definition

The Drainage Boundary Definition function generates 3D boundary lines for selected drainage
areas and stores these lines in the output “Drainage Boundary” 3D polyline feature class. The
function stores in the output „Drainage Connectivity” table the HydroID of each boundary lines
together with the HydroIDs of the 2 drainage areas it separates.

3. Drainage Boundary Characterization

The Drainage Boundary Characterization function computes the width, perimeter and cross
section area associated with slices of the boundaries of the drainage areas. The function tool
works on a selected set of drainage boundary lines, or on all lines if none are selected.

4. Drainage Connectivity Characterization

The Drainage Connectivity Characterization tool generates connectivity links for drainage areas
with internal pits. This function complements the Hydro Network Generation tool that defines
the connectivity for dendritic drainage areas. It generates HydroEdges and HydroJunctions. It
also generates Boundary Drainage Lines that define links from a pitted drainage area with its
neighbors. These lines correspond to the Drainage Lines in a dendritic network.

The function operates on a selected set of Drainage Boundary features or on all features if there
are no selected features. Only drainage boundaries associated with pitted drainage areas and that
have not been already characterized will be processed (i.e. IsIncluded=1 and IsDone=0).
Note: Make sure that Catchment and Drainage Point are synchronized before starting the
process (i.e. the DrainID in the Drainage Point feature class corresponds to the HydroID in the
Drainage Area feature class). For a drainage area with a pit, the Drainage Point represents the
internal pit.

6.7. Global Functions

1. Global Point Delineation
The Global Delineation process uses a combination of geometric network tracing and watershed
delineation. The process applies to projects covering big areas (e.g. States). When performing a
standard delineation, you are relying on underlying preprocessed catchment and adjoint
catchment features, as well as on flow direction and stream grids. The global delineation adds
one more level of complexity with the Catalog Unit polygon features (usually Hydrological Unit
polygons). To set up the data supporting the global delineation, you need to perform first the
terrain preprocessing steps for each individual cataloging unit and to build a geometric network
that defines the upstream/downstream connectivity between the cataloging units. The global
delineation process is performed as follows:

 Find the current catalog unit feature and perform the standard delineation within
that unit using the preprocessed data.
 Trace upstream on the global geometric network to find the upstream catalog
units and merge their shape with the local delineated within the cataloging unit.
2. Batch Global Watershed Delineation
This function allows delineating global watersheds for batch points located in Catalog Units. The
function performs first a local delineation in the point‟s Catalog Unit. It then merges the resulting
local watershed with the Catalog Units polygons located upstream. The function also allows
computing global parameters by performing operations such as average, weighted average, sum
(see list in online help) or by using a custom operator. Parameters for global watersheds may also
be computed with the function Compute Global Parameters.

3. Compute Global Parameters

This function allows computing characteristics for global watersheds. Some of the characteristics
are computed by “merging” characteristics computed on the fly for the local watershed with pre
computed characteristics stored in each upstream cataloging unit. For example, the average
elevation is computed by averaging the elevation in the local watershed with the averaged
elevation in each cataloging unit located upstream of the local watershed. On the other hand,
some of the characteristics are computed the same way whether the watershed is local or global
and do not need any particular preprocessing (e.g. Y coordinate of centroid, elevation at outlet).