DEM Hydro-modification Subgroup

A Subgroup of the 3DGeo Hydrogeomorphology Workgroup

Mission and Work Plan

Mission: The DEM Hydro-modification Subgroup is dedicated to developing the foundation for single, authoritative, digital dam breachline and hDEM datasets for Minnesota utilizing standards and methodology developed through collaboration with breachline subject matter experts.

The subgroup has extensive knowledge gained in building their own individual digital dam breachline datasets and hydro-modified digital elevation model (hDEM) raster datasets. Collectively, these datasets have hundreds of thousands of breachlines. The long term goal is to publish these features into one authoritative dataset for use in developing hDEMs that serve public and private business needs associated with hydro-terrain analysis tools (e.g., PTMApp and ACPF), hydrology, and hydraulic modeling of the landscape.
Factsheet: Summary of the subgroup's mission and work (coming soon)

Design one-page handout that describes the Subgroup and highlights the successes and future efforts of this collaborative group
Look for opportunities to connect with hydrography-related committees and workgroups within Minnesota agencies and other states
Continue collaboration between technical staff and decision makers on hydro-modification and breachline creation

Finalize and publish standardized breachline attributes
- Develop a standards document for breachlines
- Develop and finalize a breachline attribute geodatabase template
Develop a methodology and protocol document for hydro-modification
- Methodology and protocol will be based on members' knowledge and experience
Establish a Digital Dam Breachline QA/QC Project
- Strategize ways to fund the Digital Dam Breachline QA/QC Project
- Develop protocol document to guide QA/QC and assembly of the database for the existing breachlines
- Ensure the subgroup's authoritative database attributes are incorporated into the project
- Serve or provide a spot review of draft data from the project
- Publish the data for public consumption
- Goal Statement: All breachlines will be populated with authoritative database attributes
- Ultimate Goal Statement: A final product capable of producing a Level 3 hydro-modified DEM
Update and refine the draft centralized authoritative map of current breachline datasets

Identify documents and other best practices
- Establish an archive in SharePoint of literature that pertains to breachlines and hydro-modification and move products to a public-facing site
- Identify what other states are doing in terms of hydro-modification and breachlines

Sean Vaughn, Lidar Data Steward, MNIT DNR, 763-284-7223, sean.vaughn@state.mn.us

Name	Organization	Email
Andrea Bergman	MNIT Department of Natural Resources	andrea.bergman@state.mn.us
Matt Drewitz	Board of Water and Soil Resources	matt.drewitz@state.mn.us
Chuck Fritz	International Water Institute	charles@iwinst.org
Tyler Grupa	Water Resource Center, MN State University, Mankato	tyler.grupa@mnsu.edu
Thomas Hollenhorst	US Environmental Protection Agency	hollenhorst.tom@epa.gov
Grit May	International Water Institute	grit@iwinst.org
Rick Moore	MNIT Department of Natural Resources	rick.moore@state.mn.us
Joel Nelson	University of Minnesota	nels1945@umn.edu
Sarah Porter	USDA - Agricultural Research Service	sarah.porter@usda.gov
Mark Reineke	Widseth Smith and Nolting	mark.reineke@wsn.us.com
Christiane Roy	USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service	christiane.roy@mn.usda.gov
Kiah Sagami	Houston Engineering, Inc.	ksagami@houstoneng.com
Jamie Schulz	MNIT Department of Natural Resources	jamie.schulz@state.mn.us
Sean Vaughn	MNIT Department of Natural Resources	sean.vaughn@state.mn.us

Culvert Inventory Application Suite: The DNR Culvert Inventory Application Suite is comprised of 4 related components for the collection, storage, edit/review and distribution of stream crossings, culverts, bridges, and breach line data. It was developed by the MNDNR GeoSpatial Water Resources Team (GeoWRT) in partnership with DNR MNIT professional services staff. This application is available to DNR staff and external partners (free registration required).

Hydromodified DEM status map: A story map created by Houston Engineering, Inc. to show the status of DEM hydroconditioning and product development for the PTMApp application (a tool to prioritize, target and measure best management and conservation practices to improve water quality).