Water Stewardship Information Sources

Resource Name Desktop watershed characterization methods for British Columbia
Unique File Number 84
Information Type Decision Support Tool
Surface Water A
Aquatic Ecosystem A
Groundwater A
Groundwater & Surface Water A
Management for Natural & Industrial Hazards A
Strengths provides links to digital data sources and references relevant to hydrology and watershed management questions
Limitations limited coverage of some digital data sources in some areas, may not be effective at some scales
Challenges
Outstanding Research Questions
Outstanding Research Questions
Information Subtype watershed mgmt
Organization BC Ministry of Environment; BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
Resource Name Pike, R.G. and D.J. Wilford. 203. Desktop watershed characterization methods for British Columbia. Prov. B.C., Victoria, B.C. Tech. Rep. 079. www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/Tr/Tr079.htm
Resource Purpose "In recent years, the accessibility of online mapping tools and GIS information has dramatically increased. As a result, it is now possible to remotely gather information about a watershed’s potential disturbance, hydrologic, and climatic characteristics. Watershed characterizations are often used when developing plans for monitoring, research projects, water quality objectives, industrial use, and other end uses, such as fisheries restoration or small-scale power projects. A watershed characterization is distinctly different from a watershed assessment that develops specific disturbance indicators and then ranks them accordingly. Desktop characterization of a watershed in advance of fieldwork allows for improved planning of field activities and/or monitoring projects, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing costs. The purpose of this report is to highlight current sources of online tools and watershed information, provide a template of potential disturbance drivers to consider, and ultimately create a list of questions that can be used to characterize a watershed’s hydrologic regime. This document does not specify the development of watershed analysis style indicators for the purposes of watershed assessment. This technical report was developed to aid in the descriptive, hydrologic characterization of watersheds in British Columbia."
Type of Information report
How does this help decision making?
Program Status complete
NE Coverage provincial
Drinking Water Y
Ecosystem Y
Fish Y
Groundwater Y
Public Safety Y
SW Quality Y
SW Quantity Y
Link http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/Tr/TR079.pdf
Text Query
Google Earth
iMap Path Link
Spatial Metadata
Map
Contact Email [email protected]