The Stream Mapping Advisory Committee works to implement a coordinated approach to mapping surface waters and watersheds across the State of North Carolina. The committee functions as the stakeholder platform for stewardship of the integrated National Hydrography and Watershed Boundary Datasets, and serves to provide input on technical and policy issues for the implementation of the North Carolina Stream Mapping Project. At the February 2009 Statewide Mapping Advisory Committee (SMAC), the Stream Mapping Advisory Committee was formally recognized as a working group of the SMAC. For more information about the National Hydrography Dataset, see here.
The North Carolina Stream Mapping Project
The North Carolina Stream Mapping Project follows a stakeholder developed implementation plan created at the direction of the General Assembly to improve the mapping and digital representation of surface waters for North Carolina. The project utilizes the National Hydrography Dataset data model, and data produced by the project will be available through the national dataset as well as through the NC OneMap Geospatial Portal. The project will benefit business processes and decision making by state agencies, local governments, stakeholders in the private sector, and general public. The project leverages the State’s investments in statewide elevation data (using LIDAR technology) and the digital aerial imagery resources of counties and the state.
Stewardship of the National Hydrography and the Watershed Boundary Datasets
The Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) is jointly maintained nationally by the US Geological Survey (USGS) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Beginning in the fall of 2008, USGS and NRCS began the technical integration of WBD into the NHD. The National Hydrography (NHD) contains detailed geospatial information about the Nation's surface water. Making these data accurate will be an ongoing task as the landscape changes and users demand greater accuracy.
The co-chairs of the committee are Matt Duvall (919-873-2119) and Tiffany Smith (828-254-0916) of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Joe Sewash, CGIA (919-754-6590) is the lead facilitator.