HIFLD Open 16-digit HU

Principal Investigator(s):  View help for Principal Investigator(s) U.S. Geological Survey, National Geospatial Technical Operations Center

Version:  View help for Version V1

Name File Type Size Last Modified
16-digit-hu-geojson.zip application/zip 239 MB 11/26/2025 11:09:AM
16-digit-hu-geopackage.zip application/zip 171.8 MB 10/22/2025 05:06:PM
16-digit-hu-shapefile.zip application/zip 164.6 MB 10/22/2025 05:13:PM
metadata.html text/html 147.1 KB 10/22/2025 05:13:PM
metadata.xml application/xml 147.5 KB 11/26/2025 11:11:AM

Project Citation: 

U.S. Geological Survey, National Geospatial Technical Operations Center. HIFLD Open 16-digit HU. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2025-11-26. https://doi.org/10.3886/E240696V1

Project Description

Project Title:  View help for Project Title HIFLD Open 16-digit HU
Summary:  View help for Summary The Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) is a comprehensive aggregated collection of hydrologic unit 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 (WBD)" (https://pubs.usgs.gov/tm/11/a3/). Watershed boundaries are determined solely upon science-based hydrologic principles, not favoring any administrative boundaries or special projects, nor particular program or agency. This dataset represents the hydrologic unit boundaries to the 12-digit for the entire United States. Some areas may also include additional subdivisions representing the 14- and 16-digit hydrologic unit (HU). At a minimum, the HUs are delineated at 1:24,000-scale in the conterminous United States, 1:25,000-scale in Hawaii, Pacific basin and the Caribbean, and 1:63,360-scale in Alaska, meeting the National Map Accuracy Standards (NMAS). Higher resolution boundaries were developed where partners and data existed and were incorporated back into the WBD. WBD data are delivered as a dataset of polygons and corresponding lines that define the boundary of the polygon. WBD polygon attributes include hydrologic unit codes (HUC), size (in the form of acres and square kilometers), name, downstream hydrologic unit code, type of watershed, non-contributing areas, and flow modifications. The HUC describes where the unit is in the country and the level of the unit. WBD line attributes contain the highest level of hydrologic unit for each boundary, line source information and flow modifications. For additional information on NHD, go to https://www.usgs.gov/national-hydrography.

Original Distribution URL:  View help for Original Distribution URL https://hifld-geoplatform.hub.arcgis.com

Scope of Project

Subject Terms:  View help for Subject Terms Watersheds; Basins; HIFLD; GIS; Hydrology
Geographic Coverage:  View help for Geographic Coverage United States
Time Period(s):  View help for Time Period(s) 1/3/2025 – 1/3/2025
Data Type(s):  View help for Data Type(s) geographic information system (GIS) data
Collection Notes:  View help for Collection Notes Archived from the HIFLD Open GIS data repository, which was deactivated on August 26, 2025.



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V1 [2025-11-26]

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