Talk to Me About Water
Talk to Me About Water
Water Data Round-Up
A curated list of cool water data resources (free)
Talk to Me About Water is an indigenous artist-led collective dedicated to promoting and advancing conversations about water! As part of this project, we have been collecting many data sets that are free and available to the public, with a special focus on sets that could be interesting or useful to artists. These datasets are managed by the United States Geological Survey (and my sister and founding TTMAW member Martha Bearskin!)
Here are a few of my favorites:
https://www.usgs.gov/national-hydrography
First up we have a trio of datasets about hydrography. These include the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD), which maps the surfaces of rivers, streams, canals, lakes, ponds, glaciers, coastlines, dams, stream gages, and related features all across the nation, the Watershed Boundary Dataset(WBD), which deals with drainage areas, and the NHDPlus High Resolution (NHDPlus HR), which is “a nationwide, integrated hydrography and elevation geospatial dataset that includes the NHD stream network, WBD hydrologic units, local drainage areas or “catchments”, flow direction and flow accumulation rasters, and Value-Added Attributes (VAAs).” This last dataset is still in the process of being assembled but contains some cool info nonetheless.
https://maps.waterdata.usgs.gov/mapper/index.html
The NWIS Mapper is an interactive tool that allows you to search for and view information about the water quality at any location in the United States.
https://txpub.usgs.gov/DSS/streamer/web/
The USGS Streamer is another really cool interactive tool. It traces water upstream and downstream so that you can easily see where any given stream has its origin and where it spills out. You can use this information to trace pollutants in water and map the areas they travel to and affect, or any number of other interesting applications.
https://www.usgs.gov/programs/national-geospatial-program/topobuilder
The TopoBuilder allows you to create your own custom topographic maps on demand. It also provides access to a backlog of historical topo maps from all around the country. Fascinating!
https://apps.nationalmap.gov/datasets/
Still not enough maps for you? Check out this list of National Map Datasets, assembled by the USGS. If you can’t find the map you’re looking for in here, you probably aren’t trying hard enough.
https://www.usgs.gov/ngp-standards-and-specifications/national-map-content
One of the coolest maps on this list is the National Map Data Contents List. This shows the types of content approved by the National Geospatial Program for inclusion in The National Map, including boundaries, geographic names, structures, transportation, elevation, hydrography, land cover, and orthoimagery.
https://dashboard.waterdata.usgs.gov/app/nwd/?region=lower48&aoi=default
Last, but certainly not least, is this excellent real-time water data map tool, which provides access to over 13,000 USGS stations providing up-to-the-minute info about the streams, lakes, reservoirs, and groundwater sources of this land, along with current weather and hazard conditions.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg (ha!) Spend some time exploring these datasets, and let your imagination run wild.
More water data resources:
“Scientists have grown plants in soil from the Moon, a first in human history and a milestone in lunar and space exploration…
Even in the early days of lunar exploration, plants played an important role, said Anna-Lisa Paul, also one of the study’s authors and a research professor of horticultural sciences in UF/IFAS.
“Plants helped establish that the soil samples brought back from the moon did not harbor pathogens or other unknown components that would harm terrestrial life, but those plants were only dusted with the lunar regolith and were never actually grown in it,” Paul said.”
v\https://biotech.ufl.edu/a-first-scientists-grow-plants-in-soil-from-the-moon/
some from the USGS, some are from conference papers, presentations, cool social media accounts to follow etc:
Stacy Myers, Heritage and Environment Resources Office, Seminole Tribe of Florida &
Joe Frank, Resident of Big Cypress Reservation, Seminole Tribe of Florida, Water Issues Affecting Big Cypress Reservation and the Seminole Tribe of Florida
Steven Chischilly & Abhishek Roy Chowdhury, Navajo Technical University,Water Quality on the Navajo Nation and How it has Contributed to the Spread of Covid-19
https://www.usgs.gov/national-hydrography
National Hydrography Dataset (NHD), Watershed Boundary Dataset(WBD) NHDPlus High Resolution (NHDPlus HR)
3D Hydrography Program - Dataset is still being built but cool info
https://maps.waterdata.usgs.gov/mapper/index.html
Tool-Water data (water quality) map viewer
https://txpub.usgs.gov/DSS/streamer/web/
Tool-Trace water upstream and down and where they spill out. Could trace pollutants in water and areas they travel and effect
https://streamstats.usgs.gov/ss/
Tool- Steam Stats
https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/ngp/tnm-corpshttps://www.usgs.gov/programs/national-geospatial-program/national-map
The National Map Main Site
https://www.usgs.gov/programs/national-geospatial-program/topobuilder
Tool-TopoBuilder- create your own topo map, download historical topo maps
https://www.epa.gov/waterdata/waters-watershed-assessment-tracking-environmental-results-system
EPA water data background and tools (EPS uses NDHPlus dataset)
https://apps.nationalmap.gov/datasets/
List of National Map Datasets
water rights map - from Asha
https://rebhallphd.org/a-call-for-climate-justice/
a Call for Climate Justice from Rebecca Hall, JD. PhD
Water rights map - from Asha
Dr. Martin-Hill leads Ohneganos, a community-driven water research program supported by Global Water Futures & McMaster University
https://www.usgs.gov/ngp-standards-and-specifications/national-map-content
All National Map Data contents list
https://dashboard.waterdata.usgs.gov/app/nwd/?region=lower48&aoi=default
Real-time water data map tool
One of Amelia’s Favorite Lidar Point Cloud USGS National Map for use in GAME ENGINES like Unity or Unreal Engine.
https://www.watercalculator.org/
The Water Footprint Calculator, estimates your daily personal water footprint. Through a series of simple questions about daily routines, this innovative and interactive tool accounts for not only the “direct” water you use from the tap, but also the “virtual” water it takes to produce the food you eat, the energy you use and the products you buy. The calculator’s engaging design functions seamlessly on mobile, tablets and desktop computers. The calculator is also the only online Spanish-language version focused on the United States.
https://msha.ke/coachingresiliency?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Caroline suggests this climate grief worker and somatic coach.
Social Media to Follow
NDN Collective, Jade Begay, Crypto Naturalist, Design Justice, Slow Factory,
Children’s Water Resources
Illustrated Seneca Language Thanksgiving address with images (booklet) Ganö:nyök Thanksgiving Address created by Sandra Jimerson-Dowdy Illustrations by Bill Crouse - in the Seneca Language, Seneca Nation, Haudenosaunee Iroquois, Six Nations, Indigenous people of Turtle Island.
USGS Water Data School, The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Water Science School. Offers information on many aspects of water, along with pictures, data, maps, and an interactive center where one can give opinions and test their water knowledge.