The Water Resources Atlas is an iMapBC application with enhanced query functionality to enable the display of detailed water related data, including watersheds, water quantity and quality monitoring sites, aquifers, water wells and flood protection works.

All double line river polygons for the province

All fundamental watershed polygons generated from watershed boundary lines, bank edges, delimiter edges, coastline edges, and administrative boundary edges

This dataset is derived from the Freshwater Atlas Watersheds and the BC Water Management Precincts. It provides conservation levels for the Kootenay Boundary regional watersheds. These data are updated as required by the Kootenay Boundary Region, Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.Local water restriction stages may not match provincial drought levels for a given area. Water restrictions implemented by water suppliers are based on variable local drought conditions and available local storage. Provincial drought levels apply generally across large areas and may not reflect local stream or aquifer conditions.Visit for more information on the Freshwater Atlas Watershed data: https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/freshwater-atlas-watershedsVisit for more information on the Water Management Precinct data: https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/water-management-precinctsVisit the B.C. Drought Information Portal or the drought information webpage for the latest drought information in British Columbia.© Province of British Columbia COPYRIGHT | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY

Water Regions within the RDN are the watershed groups used for water budget analysis and administrative purposes. Water Regions combine all named and unnamed subwatersheds within an identified region into a grouping useful for water management purposes. For example, the French Creek Water Region comprises the named watersheds of French Creek, Grandon Creek, Morningstar Creek, Carey Creek, Romney Creek, as well as several small, unnamed watersheds at the coast.Geoprocessing: Water Regions represent a Spatial Merge of the BC Freshwater Atlas Named Watersheds polygons. Source Metadata available here:https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/geometadata/metadataDetail.do?recordUID=50644&recordSet=ISO19115To view the Water Regions web mapping application: https://rdn.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=5ec9bd56b5374ef7814c0281db9b70f9

Flow network arcs (observed, inferred and constructed). Contains no banks, coast or watershed bourdary arcs. Directionalized and connected. Contains heirarchial key and route identifier

Water temperature is a key feature of freshwater ecosystems but comprehensive datasets are severely lacking, a limiting factor in research and management of freshwater species and habitats. An existing statistical stream temperature model developed for British Columbia (BC), Canada, was refit to predict August mean stream temperatures, a common index of stream thermal regime also used in thermalscapes developed for the western United States (US). Thermalscapes of predicted August mean stream temperature were produced for 680,000 km of stream network at approximately 400 m intervals. Temperature predictions were averaged for 20-year periods from 1981–2100 to produce 86 scenarios: one for each historical period (i.e., 1981–2000, 2001–2020), and 21 for each future period (i.e., six global climate models and an ensemble average under three representative concentration pathways). The final model performance was consistent with other published regional-scale statistical models (R2 = 0.79, RMS..., Please see Weller et al. (2023) for full methods. Weller, J.D., R.D. Moore & J.C. Iacarella (2023) Stream thermalscape scenarios for British Columbia, Canada, Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue canadienne des ressources hydriques, DOI: 10.1080/07011784.2023.2267028, Zipped files (.zip) are stored in an ESRI geodatabase (.gdb) and can be accessed through open-souce GIS software (e.g., QGIS), Data from: Stream Thermalscape Scenarios for British Columbia, Canada, Dryad, Dataset, https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.bzkh189fk

All thermalscapes (i.e., stream temperature layers) are stored as linear feature classes in 'bc_stream_thermalscapes.gdb'. The geodatabase contains a linear feature class for each major drainage region in British Columbia (BC), Canada, as defined by the BC Freshwater Atlas (FWA). All feature classes share the same set of attribute fields.

Full details on the development of the stream temperature model ('BC AugTw model') and associated thermalscapes can be found in 'Stream Thermalscape Scenarios for British Columbia, Canada' (Weller et al. 2023). The thermalscape network is a subset of linear stream network layers from the British Columbia Freshwater Atlas (FWA; information licensed under the Open Government Licence British Columbia): the network includes only 'main' flow paths, and excludes lakes and reaches draining less than 1km^2. Linear features and key ...

The polygons in this layer delineate headwater-to-saltwater drainage basins of the Southeast Alaska Drainage Basin (SEAKDB) which includes the Alaska portion of the perhumid coastal temperate rainforest (PCTR). All geoprocessing was performed using ESRI ArcGIS version 9.3.1 or 10.x. This data set was derived from 4 main sources:1) The United States Geological Survey's (USGS) digital Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD). The boundaries in the WBD were mapped at the subwatershed (12-digit) 6th level ("HUC12"). Citation for this data source: Coordinated effort between the United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) was created from a variety of sources from each state and aggregated into a standard national layer for use in strategic planning and accountability. Watershed Boundary Dataset for Alaska. Available URL: "http://datagateway.nrcs.usda.gov" [Accessed March 9, 2012]. 2)British Columbia's Corporate Watershed Base (CWB) Freshwater Atlas Watershed Groups digital dataset (FWWTRSHDGR), downloaded from GeoBC on 3/14/2012. This site has since been replaced by DataBC. Freshwater Atlas documentation can be downloaded from ftp://ftp.geobc.gov.bc.ca/pub/outgoing/FreshWaterAtlasDocuments/FWAv1.3-SDE.WarehouseModelSpecification.rev3.doc. Metadata details can be found at https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/geometadata/metadataDetail.do. 3) At the USGS HUC8 (8-digit) and Canada NHN 4-digit drainage levels (CAN4), trans US-Canada watershed boundaries are consistent with the US-Canada hydrographic data harmonization revisions made as of 11/29/2012 (http://datagateway.nrcs.usda.gov). See nhd.usgs.gov/Canada-US_Hydro_Harmonization.pdf for more information on this project. 4) At drainage levels finer than HUC8/CAN4, screen digitizing was used to match up watershed boundaries crossing the Canada-US boundary. The best of availble source material was used for digitizing, including contours generated from USGS 2-arc second (~50 meter) NED DEMS, SPOT 20-meter DEMs, Environment Yukon 30-meter DEMs, and BC TRIM 25-meter DEMs; Tongass National Forest color and black and white orthophotography, satellite imagery obtained from the US Forest Service, Google Earth satillite imagery, and 1:63,360 USGS topographic maps. After a seamless watershed coverage was created using the above 4 sources, subbasins were "aggregated up" (i.e., merged) to depict entire headwater to saltwater drainages. Watersheds were clipped using an Identity operation to an approximate mean high water (MHW) shoreline where NOAA National Shoreline data (through 2011) existed. Where NOAA MHW data was absent, the high water line is represented using other shoreline digital data sources from the US Forest Service (feature class "Intertidal_PL", description=LND) and the US National Park Service (shapefile "HHTide"), and the US National Hydrography Dataset (NHD). In addition, heads up digitizing was necessary where shore recources were absent, of poor quality, or where the previously listed sources needed to be edge-matched. Data sources for digitizing include the US DEMs and orthophotos listed above under #4, 30-meter ASTER DEMs, Google Earth imagery, and US Forest Service 1:15,840 aerial photography stereo-pairs, All multi-part features were converted to single-part. Island polygons less than 10 hectares were deleted. All islands less than 100 hectares are considered a single watershed. If islands less than 100 hectares were mapped in the WBD as more than one watershed, the boundaries were merged.UPDATE, 5/11/2017: Portions of the Alsek drainage boundary were edited using updated digital boundaries obtained from Janet Curran at the USGS. The updates were a part of a flood frequency report (USGS SIR 2016-5024) and StreamStats project.

Purpose: Resource inventory mapping, regional land use mappingNotes: One of the spatial views of the BC WATERSHED ATLAS 50K, which is the digital basemap representation of the aquatic Man-made waterbodies, Wetlands and Double-line Rivers based on the 1:50,000 scale Canadian National Topographic Series of Maps.Suggested Filters:Major Rivers - Outlined (50K): TYPE = 'S'Major Rivers - Colour Themed (50K): TYPE = 'S'Lakes, Man-Made Waterbodies and Wetlands - Outlined (50K): WDIC_SPFTP_CODE <> 'R'Lakes, Man-Made Waterbodies and Wetlands - Colour Themed (50K): WDIC_SPFTP_CODE <> 'R'See how to apply filters.WMS GetCapabilities URL: DataBC also offers access to this data in OGC WMS format. WMS is useful when the map author does not require custom popups, styling, or analytic capabilities for the layer. ArcGIS Online authors may want to use WMS, instead of this ArcGIS Server layer, in the following scenarios: Where they want to use existing Data Custodian approved styling, and/or They only need simple identify and map rendering functionality.Copy the: WMS GetCapabilities URL to add this web item to an ArcGIS Online Map or Scene Viewer. In some cases, multiple Styles are listed in the GetCapabilities and can be added as WMS Custom parameters. For more information on how to use a WMS layer see - ESRI's OGC ArcGIS Online HelpBC Data Catalogue Metadata URL: https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/414be2d6-f4d9-4f32-b960-caa074c6d36b

Purpose: Spatial view intended to show location and other attributes of wells which have been drilled, dug or driven in the province, to assist in the management and protection of the groundwater resource.Notes: Point features showing the location of groundwater wells in BC joined with attributes and information from the Groundwater Wells and Aquifers (GWELLS) application. NOTE: Artesian wells are flowing wells at the time of drilling.
Suggested Filters:Groundwater Supply Wells - Intended Water Use: WELL_CLASS = 'Water Supply'Provincial Observation Wells: OBSERVATION_WELL_STATUS = 'Active' OR OBSERVATION_WELL_STATUS = 'Inactive'See how to apply filters.WMS GetCapabilities URL: DataBC also offers access to this data in OGC WMS format. WMS is useful when the map author does not require custom popups, styling, or analytic capabilities for the layer. ArcGIS Online authors may want to use WMS, instead of this ArcGIS Server layer, in the following scenarios: Where they want to use existing Data Custodian approved styling, and/or They only need simple identify and map rendering functionality.Copy the: WMS GetCapabilities URL to add this web item to an ArcGIS Online Map or Scene Viewer. In some cases, multiple Styles are listed in the GetCapabilities and can be added as WMS Custom parameters. For more information on how to use a WMS layer see - ESRI's OGC ArcGIS Online HelpBC Data Catalogue Metadata URL: https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/e4731a85-ffca-4112-8caf-cb0a96905778

Water obstacles (rapids, falls, etc)

Province-wide SDE layer showing licensed water sources (streams and lakes), under the Water Act, (current and historical), not captured (displayed) on TRIM base mapping (or Freshwater Atlas base mapping). Includes an attribute for the internal Source Code number, which is associated with the (E-Licensing) stream name.

The BCER NEBC Annual Status datasets are updated and published annually by the BC Energy Regulator to evaluate the level of disturbance in designated areas in northeast BC. This information is useful in operational planning and decision making to support consideration of land use and material adverse effect. The Riparian Reserve Zones dataset provides a spatial representation of riparian areas and reports riparian disturbance at the water management basin level for consideration under Environmental Protection and Management Regulation. The riparian data is sourced from the Fresh Water Atlas. Field validation of this data is encouraged in development planning. Data Properties

Attributes / Column Name

Field Alias

Data Type

Data Precision

Comments

OBJECTID

Object ID

Object ID

Unique row number auto generated by database

SHAPE

Shape

Geometry (Polygon)

WMB_NAME

Water Management Basin

Text

BCER Water Management Basins in Northeast BC

STATUS

Level of Disturbance

Short

Low, medium (<5% disturbance) or high (<10% disturbance)

SLU_DATE

Surface Land Use Date

Date

Vintage of disturbance data used in calculations.

RIP_BASIN_ID

Riparian Basin ID

Short

WMB Identifier

BASIN_HA

Water Management Basin (Ha)

Double

Hectares in Water Management Basin

DISTURBANCE_RANK

Disturbance Rank

Text

6

Disturbance Classification (Rank)

CURRENT_COND_HA

Current Condition Area (Ha)

Double

Current Condition in Hectares

INTACTNESS

Intactness (%)

Double

Percentage Intact

TRIGGER_MEDIUM_HA

Medium Rank Trigger (Ha)

Double

Trigger for Medium Risk Class (hectares)

TRIGGER_HIGH_HA

High Rank Trigger (Ha)

Double

Trigger for High Risk Class (hectares)

SLU_DATE

Surface Land Use Date

Text

10

Surface Land Use Date

SHAPE.AREA

Double

Area auto calculated by database (m2)

SHAPE.LEN

Double

Polygon perimeter auto calculated by database (m)

Renewal Triggers and Service Levels Annual updatesContact Information: For further information please contact Jacqueline HowardEnvironmental Management SpecialistResponsible Development & Stewardshipjacqueline.howard@bc-er.ca

102,855 (Number) in 2019.

Efforts to locate and map deep-water coral and sponge habitats are essential for the effective management and conservation of these vulnerable marine ecosystems. Here we test the applicability of a simple multibeam sonar classification method developed for fjord environments to map the distribution of shelf-depth substrates and gorgonian coral- and sponge-dominated biotopes. The studied area is a shelf-depth feature Learmonth Bank, northern British Columbia, Canada and the method was applied aiming to map primarily non-reef forming coral and sponge biotopes. Aside from producing high-resolution maps (5 m2 raster grid), biotope-substrate associations were also investigated. A multibeam sonar survey yielded bathymetry, acoustic backscatter strength and slope. From benthic video transects recorded by remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) six primary substrate types and twelve biotope categories were identified, defined by the primary sediment and dominant biological structure, respectively. Substrate and biotope maps were produced using a supervised classification mostly based on the inter-quartile range of the acoustic variables for each substrate type and biotope. Twenty-five percent of the video observations were randomly reserved for testing the classification accuracy. The dominant biotope-defining corals were red tree coral Primnoa pacifica and small styasterids, of which Stylaster parageus was common. Demosponges and hexactinellid sponges were frequently observed but no sponge reefs were observed. The substrate classification readily distinguished fine sediment, Sand and Bedrock from the other substrate types, but had greater difficulty distinguishing Bedrock from Boulders and Cobble. The biotope classification accurately identified Gardens (dense aggregations of sponges and corals) and Primnoa-dominated biotopes (67% accuracy), but most other biotopes had lower accuracies. There was a significant correspondence between Learmonth's biotopes and substrate types, with many biotopes strongly associated with only a single substrate type. This strong correspondence allowed substrate types to function as a surrogate for helping to map biotope distributions. Our results add new information on the distribution of corals and sponges at Learmonth Bank, which can be used to guide management at this location.

The map represents the mean value (in millimetres) of the annual loss of water through the evaporation process from the surfaces of open water bodies, such as ponds and shallow lakes and reservoirs based on the 10-year period 1957 to 1966. The greatest mean annual lake evaporation (more than 900 millimetres) occurs in southwest Saskatchewan and southeast Alberta. The smaller means (less than 100 millimetres) appear in the Arctic Islands. The mean annual lake evaporation across Canada generally decreases from south to north. The map also shows the location of the stations, which are part of the "Class A pan evaporation network" used for the analysis and additional stations operating in 1974.The rate at which water evaporates from a lake depends primarily on two factors: first, the rate at which energy is supplied to the evaporating surface to effect the change of state of water to water vapour (requires 2.47 joules per kilogram) and secondly, the rate of diffusion of water vapour away from the surface. The main energy supply for evaporation is generally through the heating of the upper part of the lake by the sun, although in some cases the net energy advected into the water body, by streams for example, may also be important. For a specific lake surface temperature, the rate of diffusion of water vapour is determined in a complex manner by atmospheric temperature, humidity, and wind speed. For small, shallow water bodies evaporation is greater for sunny days during the summer when the water temperature is high, the humidity is low, and winds are brisk. For deeper lakes, heat storage becomes an important consideration and evaporation is not as closely associated with the daily energy input by the sun's radiation. For example, large amounts of water evaporate from deep lakes during the autumn when their surface temperatures are much higher than air temperatures, while the smaller lakes, because of lack of energy storage, evaporate very little. The converse takes place during late spring and early summer when the large deep lakes evaporate very little because of their relatively low surface temperatures.