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

Author
item Starks, Patrick
item Garbrecht, Jurgen
item SCHIEBE, FRANK - SST DEVELOPMENT
item SALISBURY, JANE - OSU
item WAITS, DAVID - SST DEVELOPMENT

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2001
Publication Date: 4/1/2003
Citation: STARKS, P.J., GARBRECHT, J.D., SCHIEBE, F.R., SALISBURY, J.M., WAITS, D.A. SELECTION, DEVELOPMENT, AND USE OF GIS COVERAGES FOR THE LITTLE WASHITA RIVER RESEARCH WATERSHED. LYON, JOHN G., EDITOR. NEW YORK, NY: TAYLOR & FRANCIS; CHAPTER 7. 2003. p. 69-75. GIS FOR WATER RESOURCES AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT.

Interpretive Summary: The Little Washita River Experimental Watershed, located 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 land use. The objective 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 dfrom the soils coverage and county soil survey data; and 3) land use identification from LANDSAT satellite remotely sensed data.

Technical Abstract: A series of Geographical Information System (GIS) coverages (data layers) was developed for the Little Washita River Experimental Watershed to support water resources investigations, grazinglands research, and watershed modeling efforts. The three basic categories of GIS coverages for this project are topography, soils, and land use from which related GIS Scoverages were 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 land use 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.