Hydrologic Terrain Analysis
This activity will guide you through the initial hydrologic terrain analysis steps of Fill Pits, calculate Flow
Direction, and calculate Flow Accumulation (steps 1 to 3). The resulting flow accumulation raster then
allows you to identify the contributing area at each grid cell in the domain, a very useful quantity
fundamental to much hydrologic analysis. Next an outlet point will be used to define a watershed as all
points upstream of the outlet (step 4). Focusing on this watershed streams will be defined using a flow
accumulation threshold within this watershed (step 5). Hydrology functions will be used to define
separate links (stream segments) and the catchments that drain to them (steps 6 and 7). Next the
streams will be converted into a vector representation (step 8) and more Hydrology toolbox
functionality used to evaluate stream order (step 9) and the subwatersheds draining directly to each of
the eight stream gauges in the example dataset (step 10). The result is quite a comprehensive set of
information about the hydrology of this watershed, all derived from the DEM.
1. Fill
This function fills the sinks in a grid. If cells with higher elevation surround a cell, the water is trapped in
that cell and cannot flow. The Fill function modifies the elevation value to eliminate these problems.
Select Spatial Analyst Tools Hydrology Fill. Set the input surface raster as dem and output surface
raster as fil in Ex4_project.gdb.
Press Run. Upon successful completion of the process, the “fil” layer is added to the map.
33
Let's examine the impact of Fill on the DEM. Select Spatial Analyst Tools Map Algebra Raster
Calculator and evaluate fil - dem.
Select Spatial Analyst Tools Surface Contour. Set the inputs as follows to determine 20 m
contours of the original DEM, dem.
34
Symbolize the fil - dem and contour layers similar to:
Zoom in on the deepest Sink; you should see something similar to the image below.
This is Peter Sink. It is a real topographic feature, not an artifact, so it is a bit erroneous to fill it.
Nevertheless for the sake of a complete watershed we fill it. The website
http://twdef.usu.edu/Peter_Sinks/Sinks.html gives details on the record low temperatures that have
been recorded here.
35
To turn in. A layout showing the deepest sink in the Logan River basin. Report the depth of the deepest
sink as determined by fil-dem.
2. 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.
Select Spatial Analyst Tools Hydrology Flow Direction.
Set the inputs as follows, with output "fdr" and "drp".
Press Run. Upon successful completion of the process, the flow direction grid "fdr" and percentage drop
grid "drp" are added to the map.
36
To turn in: Make a screen capture of the attribute table of fdr and give an interpretation for the values in
the Value field using a sketch.
3. 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.
Select Spatial Analyst Tools Hydrology Flow Accumulation.
Set the inputs as follows. Note that I selected an Integer output type because we are not using a weight
raster input and the result is a count (integer) of the number of upstream grid cells that drain into each
grid cell.
Press Run.
37
Upon successful completion of the process, the flow accumulation grid “fac” is added to the map. This
process may take several minutes for a large grid, so take a break while it runs!
Adjust the symbology of the Flow Accumulation layer "fac" to a classified scale with multiplicatively
increasing breaks that you type in, to illustrate the increase of flow accumulation as one descends into
the grid flow network. Use the “Classify” Button to enable you to select “Manual Interval” method and
to type in your class breaks into the Upper value window in the Class breaks section.
After applying this layer symbology you may right click on the "fac" layer and Save As Layer File
38
The saved Layer File may be imported to retrieve the symbology definition and apply it to other data.
Pan and zoom to the outlet where the river leaves the watershed. Turn off unnecessary layers and
arrange layer order so that you can see the Basin feature class on top of the fac layer. Use the identify
tool to determine the value of "fac" at the point where the main stream exits the area defined by the
Basin polygon. This location is indicated in the following figure.
The value obtained represents the drainage area in number of 30.92 x 30.92 m grid cells. Calculate the
drainage area in km2. Compare this drainage area to the drainage area reported by the USGS at the
Logan River stream site (214 mi2) and to the area of the Basin feature class obtained from the online
service watershed delineation.
To turn in: Report the drainage area of the Logan River basin in both number of 30.92 m grid cells and
km2 as estimated by flow accumulation. Report the area of the Logan River basin in km2 as calculated by
the arcgis.com watershed function. Report the area of the Logan River basin in km2 as reported by the
USGS for the Logan River stream site. Discuss reasons for any differences.
39
4. Stream Definition
Let's define streams based on a flow accumulation threshold within this watershed.
Select Spatial Analyst Tools Map Algebra Raster Calculator and enter the following expression,
using the name Str for the output raster.
The result is a raster representing the streams delineated over our watershed.
40
This extends across the buffer area at the downstream end. To ensure that our streams are within the
watershed we want let's clip this. Locate the Extract by Mask (Spatial Analyst) tool and set the inputs
as follows:
The result is a stream raster entirely within the Logan River Basin.
41
5. Stream Links
This function creates a grid of stream links (or segments) that have a unique identification. Either a link
may be a head link, or it may be defined as a link between two junctions. All the cells in a particular link
have the same grid code that is specific to that link.
Select Spatial Analyst Tools Hydrology Stream Link. Set the inputs as follows and click OK.
The result is a grid with unique values for each stream segment or link. Symbolize strlink with unique
values so you can see how each link has a separate value.
42
6. Catchments
The Watershed function provides the capability to delineate catchments upstream of discrete links in
the stream network.
Select Spatial Analyst Tools Hydrology Watershed. Set the inputs as follows. Notice that the
Input raster or feature pour point data is the strlink grid. This results in the identification of catchments
draining to each stream link. Click OK.
The result is a catchment grid where the grid cells in the area draining directly to each link are assigned
a unique value the same as the link it drains to. This allows a relational association between lines in the
strlink grid and area's in the catchment grid. Symbolize the catchment grid with unique values so you
can see how each catchment has a separate value.
43
7. Conversion to Vector
Let's convert this raster representation of streams derived from the DEM to a vector representation.
Select Spatial Analyst Tools Hydrology Stream to Feature. Set the inputs as follows. Note that I
named the output drainageline in the Ex4_project.gdb\BaseMap feature class.
Note here that we uncheck the Simplify polylines option. The simplification can cause streams to "cut
corners" that can result in errors.
The result is a linear feature class "drainageline" that has a unique identifier associated with each link.
Select Conversion Tools From Raster Raster to Polygon. Set the inputs as follows again avoiding
simplification of polygons
The result is a Polygon Feature Class of the catchments draining to each link.
Due to the geometry of grid cells in catchment, you may get multiple polygons for a single catchment
grid code value. Locate the Dissolve (Data Management) tool (in the geoprocessing toolbox) and set
the following inputs.
44
This merges all polygons with the same gridcode value and results in a one to one association between
DrainageLine features and CatchPolyDissolve features.
The feature classes drainageline and catchpolydissolve represent the connectivity of flow in this
watershed in vector form and will be used later for Network Analysis, enabled by having this data in
vector form.
45
To turn in: Describe (with simple illustrations) the relationship between strlink, drainageline, catchment
and catchpoly attribute and grid values. What is the unique identifier in each that allows them to be
relationally associated?
To turn in. Prepare a layout showing the stream network and catchments delineated directly from the
DEM.
To turn in. Report the total stream length, basin area and drainage density for the Logan River Basin as
determined from the DEM delineated streams. Comment on the differences between this drainage
density and the NHD/NHDPlus drainage densities.
OK. You are done!
Summary of Items to turn in.
1. The number of columns and rows, grid cell size, minimum and maximum elevation values in the
Logan River Basin DEM
2. Prepare a layout showing the topography, Basin Outline, NHDPlusV2 streams, and Logan River Main
stem stream for the Logan River Basin. Include a scale bar and North arrow and appropriate title,
labeling and legend so that the map is self-describing.
3. Report the main stream length, total stream length, basin area and drainage density for the Logan
River Basin as determined from NHDPlus flowlines. Report the total stream length and drainage
density for the Logan River Basin as determined from NHD_HighRes flowlines. Comment on the
differences. For each drainage density value calculate the average overland flow distance water
originating on a hillslope has to travel before reaching a stream. Comment on the differences.
4. A layout showing the deepest sink in the Logan River basin. Report the depth of the deepest sink as
determined by fil-dem.
5. Make a screen capture of the attribute table of fdr and give an interpretation for the values in the
Value field using a sketch.
6. Report the drainage area of the Logan River basin in both number of 30.92 m grid cells and km2 as
estimated by flow accumulation. Report the area of the Logan River basin in km2 as calculated by
the arcgis.com watershed function. Report the area of the Logan River basin in km2 as reported by
the USGS for the Logan River stream site. Discuss reasons for any differences.
7. Describe (with simple illustrations) the relationship between StrLnk, DrainageLine, Catchment and
CatchPoly attribute and grid values. What is the unique identifier in each that allows them to be
relationally associated?
8. Prepare a layout showing the stream network and catchments delineated directly from the DEM.
9. Report the total stream length, basin area and drainage density for the Logan River Basin as
determined from the DEM delineated streams. Comment on the differences between this drainage
density and the NHD/NHDPlus drainage densities.
46
