Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)
The Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) from The National Map (TNM) defines the perimeter of drainage areas formed by the terrain and other landscape characteristics. The drainage areas are nested within each other so that a large drainage area, such as the Sacramento River, will be composed of multiple smaller drainage areas, such as the Feather River. Each of these smaller areas can further be subdivided into smaller and smaller drainage areas. The WBD uses six different levels in this hierarchy, with the smallest averaging about 30,000 acres. The WBD is made up of polygons nested into six levels of data respectively defined by Regions, Subregions, Basins, Subbasins, Watersheds, and Subwatersheds. For additional information on the WBD, go to https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/ngp/national-hydrography/watershed-boundary-dataset. DWR is the steward for NHD and WBD in California. We work with other organizations to edit and improve NHD and WBD, using the business rules for California. California's WBD improvements are sent to USGS for certification and incorporation to the national geodatabase. The certified WBD is included within the National Hydrography Dataset downloadable file geodatabase, and is also available in shapefile format and as web map services accessible from the USGS website. (https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/ngp/national-hydrography/access-national-hydrography-products)
Data files
Supporting files
| Data title and description | Access data | File details | Last updated |
|---|---|---|---|
USGS - WBD Direct Download USGS amazon cloud server directory - use this if you know which HU2 (2-digit hydrologic region) you wish to download. California covers primarily Hydrologic Region 18 (HU2) but also includes parts | Download | FILE GEODATABASE OR SHAPEFILE | 08/11/23 |
National Hydrography Overlay Map Service (ArcGIS)Esri REST An ArcGIS overlay map mervice for visualizing hydrographic features. | Download | ARCGIS GEOSERVICES REST API | 08/11/23 |
California WBD Stewardship Website DWR is the steward for NHD and Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD ) in California. We work with other organizations to edit and improve NHD and WBD, using the business rules for California. This is a process that takes time with a State as large and diverse as California. California's NHD improvements are sent to USGS, and accessible from their website. | Download | WEBSITE | 08/11/23 |
USGS WBD Website | Download | WEBSITE | 08/11/23 |
WBD_HUC8_CA Feature Service The 140 Hydrologic Unit Code 8 subbasins of the Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) were clipped to the California State Boundary in this dataset. The area calculations were performed in the California Teale Albers Projection. This is for use by DWR programs that require this modification of the HUC8 subbasins for analysis and mapping. Several attribute fields were deleted from the original USGS dataset in order to simplify this new dataset. The Name and HUC8 fields have not been altered. The original metadata for the WBD may be obtained at https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Hydrography/WBD/HU2/GDB/WBD_18_HU2_GDB.xml The source of the California boundary data is https://gis.data.ca.gov/datasets/CALFIRE-Forestry::california-county-boundaries. Source Credits: USGS, Calfire Department of Water Resources (DWR) makes no warranties or guarantees - either expressed or implied - as to the completeness, accuracy, or correctness of the data herein (subject data). DWR neither accepts nor assumes liability arising from or for any incorrect, incomplete, or misleading subject data or reproductions of the subject data. Users are prohibited from any commercial, non-free resale, or redistribution without explicit written permission from DWR. Users should acknowledge DWR as the source used in the creation of any reports, publications, new data sets, derived products, or services resulting from the use of the subject data. DWR expressly disclaims any responsibility to defend or indemnify users against claims of others based on users’ copying, reliance, distribution, or other use of any of the subject data. The subject data may include data from National Hydrography Dataset. Any data from U.S. Government sources is subject to any conditions, disclaimers, or other restrictions specified by the sources. | Download | 08/11/23 | |
California WBD Fact Sheet, updated 2019 A two-pager that describes the efforts to create and certify the Watershed Boundary Dataset for California. It also contains a table of naming conventions for the WBD and Calwater datasets. | Download | PDF | 08/11/23 |
Final Letter to MOU Signatories Regarding the California Watershed Map The Calwater dataset was created under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between many government agencies in 1998 and then updated in 2004. When version 2 of CalWater was released; responsibility for maintenance of Calwater was shifted to the Department of Water Resources (DWR.) In a letter signed August 3, 2017, and mailed to the signatory agencies, DWR establishes that version 3 of Calwater is the Watershed Boundary Dataset as it appears in The National Map, and no further updates to Calwater 2.2.1 will be made. Contact: jane.schafer-kramer@water.ca.gov or NHD_stewardship@water.ca.gov | Download | PDF | 08/11/23 |