Application of GIS Techniques in

Regional Hydrology and

Watershed Planning
Chris Propp, P.Eng
CWRA March, 2011

March 9th, 2011

PRESENTATION THESIS
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools facilitate the
collection, management, display and analysis of
geographic information useful in regional hydrologic
analysis and watershed planning
Benefits include:
Increased Efficiency of Hydrologic Analysis
More Comprehensive Watershed Planning Capacity

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

March 2, 2011

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OUTLINE
Hydrologic Analysis

Watershed Delineation
Watershed Characteristics
Hydrologic Analysis Example
Benefits of GIS-Based Hydrologic Analysis

Watershed Planning Project Examples

Impact of Watershed Development
Flood Zone Analysis

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

March 2, 2011

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GIS IN HYDROLOGY AND WATERSHED PLANNING

Hydrologic Analysis is most commonly required to estimate
design flow
GIS analysis can aid in identifying hydrologic parameters
affecting runoff and design flows

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

March 2, 2011

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BENEFITS OF GIS-BASED HYDROLOGIC ANALYSIS

Multiple Site Studies
Increased Efficiency for:
Catchment data collection
Spatial analysis
Digital image distribution & communication with regional
representatives

Better Understanding of Hydrologic System

Cost savings + more product for $$

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

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DETAILED LAND USE DATA AVAILABLE ONLINE (MLI)

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

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DETAILED SOIL CLASSIFICATION DATA AVAILABLE

ONLINE (MLI)

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

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ANALYSIS EXAMPLE

Example Site
#948

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

March 2, 2011

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EXAMPLE AREA

Culvert site

Catchment #

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

March 2, 2011

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CATCHMENT TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOMETRY

L:W ratio

Catchment
Slope = 0.22%

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

March 2, 2011

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CATCHMENT ANALYSIS LAND USE

Agriculture

Forage
Wet lands

Woody
Vegetation

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

March 2, 2011

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CATCHMENT ANALYSIS STORAGE %

27% Wetland Storage at

Mid Catchment

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

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ANALYSIS EXAMPLE

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

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ANALYSIS EXAMPLE

0.8
0.9
1.0
1.1
1.2
GIS in Hydrology and Watershed
Planning

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WATERSHED
DELINEATION BY
HEC-GEOHMS &
LIDAR

Lake
Winnipeg

Demonstration
region

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

March 2, 2011

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WATERSHED DELINEATION BY HEC-GEOHMS & LIDAR

Level 1 text 24pt Arial
Level
2 bullet
20pt Arial
Initial
Grid
Pixelized

Level 1 text
24pt Arial
elevation data
Streams
Level 2 bullet
20pt Arial
added for
clarity

Presentation Title

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WATERSHED DELINEATION BY HEC-GEOHMS & LIDAR

Fill Grid
Stream is
burned into
elevation
model

Presentation Title

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WATERSHED DELINEATION BY HEC-GEOHMS & LIDAR

Flow Grid
Shows
direction of
raindrop flow

Presentation Title

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WATERSHED DELINEATION BY HEC-GEOHMS & LIDAR

Sub-catchments
Dark shades
are higher
elevation than
light

Presentation Title

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WATERSHED DELINEATION BY HEC-GEOHMS & LIDAR

West Fisher
Sub-catchments
Manual
delineation of
watersheds
shown for
comparison

Presentation Title

March 2, 2011

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FISHER RIVER STUDY AREA GIS DATA & FIELD SURVEY

Lake
Wpg

348 crossings
312 culverts
34 bridges
22 fords

Fisher River
Koostatak
Dallas
Hodgson

Peguis
PR325

Fisher Branch

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

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FISHER RIVER BASIN

Total Area 2300 km2

North 37%
Ineffective

Gross vs. Effective

Area

West 49%
Ineffective

East 11%
Ineffective
GIS in Hydrology and Watershed
Planning

March 2, 2011

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WATERSHED PLANNING PROJECT EXAMPLE LAND USE

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

March 2, 2011

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IMPACT OF WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT

Land Use Data -1966 5 classes

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

March 2, 2011

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IMPACT OF WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT

Land
Land
Use
Use
Data
Data
-1966
2002
5 classes
16 classes

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

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IMPACT OF WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT

Land Use Data 2002 16 classes merged to 5

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed
Planning

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IMPACT OF WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT

AECOM Analysis

AECOM

Land Use as Five Classes

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

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DRAINAGE NETWORK CHANGE

1966 Network Red

6
2006 Network Blue

4
5

1
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Planning

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1966 - No main
stem network
defined

IMPACTS OF LAND USE AND DRAINAGE CHANGE

FLOW & LEVEL INCREASE
Q: 3%
WL: 0.03m (1 in)
Q: 6%
WL: 0.05m (2 in)

Q: 1%
WL: 0.0m
Q: 5%
WL: 0.03m (1 in)

Q: 27%
WL: 0.08m (3 in)
Q: 595%
WL: 0.6m (22 in)

Q: 7%
WL: 0.08m (3 in)

Q: 12%
WL: 0.5m (19 in)

Q: 8%
WL: 0.09m (4 in)

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

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GIS IN WATERSHED PLANNING FLOOD ZONE ANALYSIS

100yr Flood
Map with 2006
Flood
Modelled water
levels overlain
with detailed
LiDAR
topography

100 Yr Flood
2006 Flood

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

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GIS IN WATERSHED PLANNING FLOOD ZONE ANALYSIS

MIKE11 Fisher River 100Year
Flooded Area Map

Fisher River 1979 (123cms)

Flood Damage Claims Map

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

March 2, 2011

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GIS IN WATERSHED PLANNING FLOOD ZONE ANALYSIS

Fisher River Dike Option GIS used to identify affected homes

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

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GIS IN WATERSHED PLANNING FLOOD ZONE ANALYSIS

Alternative
Diversion
Routes

Eagle Nest Drain

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Planning

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GIS IN WATERSHED PLANNING FLOOD ZONE ANALYSIS

Alternate Diversion Route

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

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LiDAR Section cut

through the Eagle
Nest Drain surface

GIS IN WATERSHED PLANNING FLOOD ZONE ANALYSIS

100yr Flood Map with Diversion Option

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

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HYDRAULIC LEVEL OF SERVICE ANALYSIS

Culvert & Bridge Level of
Service Analysis - 2 Yr flow

Culverts Green dots

Bridge Blue Triangles

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

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HYDRAULIC LEVEL OF SERVICE ANALYSIS

Culvert & Bridge Level of
Service Analysis - 5 Yr flow
Culverts Green dots
Bridge Blue Triangles
Culverts HL > 0.21m
Yellow dots

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

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HYDRAULIC LEVEL OF SERVICE ANALYSIS

Culvert & Bridge Level of
Service Analysis - 10Yr flow
Culverts Green dots
Bridge Blue Triangles
Culverts HL > 0.21m
Yellow dots

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

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FLOOD ZONE ANALYSIS EXAMPLE 2

Local
Flood
History

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

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FLOOD ZONE ANALYSIS EXAMPLE 2

Existing Condition 10 Year Flooded Area

Blue shows 10 Year

Flooding under
existing conditions

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

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FLOOD ZONE ANALYSIS EXAMPLE 2

10 Year Flooded Area with Fourth Creek Diversion

Green shows flooded

area after diversion

Blue shows reduction

in 10 Yr Flooding, or
the benefit of
mitigation
GIS in Hydrology and Watershed
Planning

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WATERSHED PLANNING DFO STREAM CLASSIFICATION

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

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CONCLUSION
GIS-Based Hydrology and Watershed Planning
Multiple site studies
Aids catchment data collection and spatial analysis
Provides empirical justification of hydrologic analysis assumptions
Infrastructure inventory management
Birds eye view of watershed system
Impact of development
Analysis of flood zone mitigation

Graphical representation provides for effective communication with

clients and stakeholders

GIS in Hydrology and Watershed

Planning

March 2, 2011

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Thank You

Questions?