Task 5 — Data Integration

Hydrologic Data

Existing and new hydrologic data compiled or collected in each task will be quality assured and stored in the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS). Hydrologic data appropriate for storage in NWIS include continual or periodic measurements of water levels, springflow or streamflow discharge, precipitation, ground-water withdrawals, chemistry (ground-water, surface-water, or precipitation), and standard descriptions of site location, construction, and measurements.

Spatial Data

A data base will be developed to store existing and new spatial data sets developed during the study. In addition to data storage, spatial data sets will be reviewed using uniform standards and procedure guidelines to ensure data, particularly base layers to be used by all work packages, are quality assured prior to storage in the data base. Spatial data sets appropriate for storage in the data base include base layers, such as digital elevation models and derivatives (for example, hillshades, slope, or aspect), satellite imagery, state and county boundaries, watershed boundaries, or National hydrography data sets. Interpretive data sets also will be included in the spatial data base, such as isohyets, surface geology, hydrogeologic cross sections, potentiometric surfaces, distribution of recharge and discharge areas, or location of geologic faults. Spatial data sets entered into the data base will be maintained, updated as needed, and fully documented to ensure Federal metadata compliance.

Web Site

Hydrologic and spatial data will be available to project team members, interested agencies, and the general public through a USGS Nevada Water Science Center web site
<http://nevada.usgs.gov/barcass/index.htm>. Spatial data will be served in a format similar to the National Atlas with data organized by layer, including a brief descriptive page and sample map but will not be available until reviewed, quality assured, and documented. In addition to data dissemination, the web page will provide project background information, project member contact information, study plans, status reports, and information on project meetings.