Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #84734

Title: THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF GIS COVERAGES FOR THE LITTLE WASHITA RIVER WATERSHED

Author
item Starks, Patrick
item Garbrecht, Jurgen
item SCHIEBE, FRANK - SST DEVELOPMENT
item SALISBURY, JAYNE - OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
item WAITS, DAVID - SST DEVELOPMENT

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The Little Washita River Watershed in southwestern Oklahoma is the largest and one of the longest-studied research watersheds operated by the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service. A series of Geographical Information System coverages (data layers) were developed to support hydrologic and grazinglands research and to complement the historical and current data bases. Selection of the GIS coverages was guided by research needs and to support modeling efforts. The GIS coverages are grouped into three categories: topography, soils, and landuse. The object of this book chapter is to present topics relating to the development and use of the three categories of GIS coverages. Selected topics address: 1) the development of hydrographic data layers from a digital elevation model of the Little Washita River watershed; 2) reliability of the soil property data extracted from the soils coverage and county soil survey data; and 3) landuse identification from LANDSAT satellite remotely sensed data.

Technical Abstract: A Geographical Information System (GIS) data base for the Little Washita River Watershed was developed to support water resources investigation, grazinglands research, and watershed modeling efforts. Three basic categories of GIS coverages for this project are topography, soils, and land use from which related GIS coverages are derived. This book chapter presents selected topics that address the selection, development and use of these coverages. Topics include the development of hydrographic data layers from the basic digital elevation model of the watershed, the reliability of soil property data extracted from county soil surveys, and landuse identification and dynamics derived from LANDSAT satellite remotely sensed data. Problems that were encountered during the development of these coverages were resolved and a comprehensive GIS data base for the watershed was produced.