dataset · USA

HUC12: USGS Watershed Boundary Dataset of Subwatersheds

The Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) is a comprehensive aggregated collection of hydrologic unit (HU) data consistent with the national criteria for delineation and resolution. It defines the areal extent of surface water drainage to a point except in coastal or lake front areas where there could be multiple outlets as stated by the [Federal Standards and Procedures for the National Watershed Boundary Dataset](https://pubs.usgs.gov/tm/11/a3). Watershed boundaries are determined solely upon scien

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Source details

Licence: proprietary

Evidence quality: 27.3

Listed in gee public catalogue API on 2026-10-16; relevance/value screened (haiku).

Metadata checked: 2026-10-14T13:20:00.000Z

What's in it

Data offered docs-verified: HUC polygons (hydrologic unit boundaries, HUC 2 to 12 digits) · polygon attributes: HUCs, size, name, downstream HUC, watershed type, non-contributing areas, flow modifications
Coverage docs-verified: USA: conterminous United States, Hawaii, Caribbean, Alaska · 2017-04-22 to 2017-04-23 (single snapshot)
Resolution docs-verified: Map scale 1:24,000 (conterminous US), 1:25,000 (Hawaii and Caribbean), 1:63,360 (Alaska); no pixel or vertex resolution stated
Formats docs-verified: Earth Engine FeatureCollection · Earth Engine FeatureView
Access docs-verified: Earth Engine account required; docs state free use for research, education and nonprofit use (commercial terms not stated). USGS information generally public domain per docs. ENTRY licence field says 'proprietary'

Useful for

Use cases llm-inferred: Drainage area and catchment boundary lookup for US project sites · Downstream HUC routing to identify the receiving watershed for discharge assessments · Non-contributing area screening when setting hydrological modelling extents
Audience llm-inferred: hydrologists · GIS analysts · water resources engineers

Limitations

Constraints llm-inferred: Coverage is US only (conterminous US, Hawaii, Caribbean, Alaska); no UK coverage · Single 2017 snapshot with no update frequency stated; may be outdated · Earth Engine access required; stated free terms exclude commercial consultancy use · ENTRY licence 'proprietary' conflicts with docs saying USGS information is generally public domain · Several fields are always empty (gnis_id, sourcedata, sourcefeat, sourceorig, noncontr00, noncontrib) · Only Earth Engine formats documented; no GeoJSON or Shapefile export stated

Evidence

Check upstream coverage, uncertainty and licence before use. Station observations are not forecasts or design levels.