Simplified Method for Creating a Watershed Layer from a DEM

Using ArcMap and Spatial Analyst

Preparation:
a) In ArcMap, be sure the Spatial Analyst Extension is loaded and the Spatial Analyst
toolbar is visible.
b) Add in your DEM layer.
c) Add in vector layers for rivers and shoreline. These will be used for visually locatin a
eneral area to place the pour point.
d) Set your eoprocessin environ!ent to use the sa!e spatial reference syste! and cell
si"e as your DEM layer.
e) #ou now need to set your processin extents in the eoprocessn environ!ent. $ere is
si!ple %and si!plistic) way for doin this&
'sin the river layer overlayin your DEM, "oo! in to an area so!ewhat larer
than the watershed of interest.
Set your raster processin extents to (sa!e as display) settin.
Step 1: Create the Flow Direction and Flow Accumulation hydrology layers from your DEM
a) *un the +ill tool
Input& %your DEM layer)
,utput& DEM+ill-
-
b) *un the +low Direction Tool
Input& DEM+ill-
,utput& +lowDir-
c) *un the +low Accu!ulation Tool
Input& +lowDir-
,utput& +lowAcc-
d) 'sin the Spatial Analyst raster calculator, deter!ine the actual river lines fro! the flow
accu!ulation layer&
Ma.e sure that +lowAcc- is showin in the Spatial Analyst toolbar (layer) field.
'se raster calculator to evaluate (+lowAcc- / 0111). %2ote the value of 0,111 is
an arbitrarily hih nu!ber representin lare flows in the river bed. Dependin on
the si"e of your watershed, you !ay have to ad3ust this nu!ber.
In the resultin (4alculation) layer, resy!boli"e the (1) values to be (2o 4olor)
%i.e., transparent). #ou now have a raster layer showin the river course.
-
The file na!es used in this docu!ent are only suestions. #ou !ay use your own file na!es. Do not use any
blan. spaces in your file na!es 5 !any ES*I tools will enerate errors if you use file na!es with spaces, with
special characters, or that are loner than 6 characters.
You now have a flow direction and a flow accumulation raster for your watershed area,
as well a raster layer showing the river course.
Step : Create a Pour Point Layer !shapefile"
%These instructions are based on the docu!ent
http&77courses.washinton.edu7eo8917readins7ArcMA:7Ma.e;<1a;<1shapefile7 )
a) ,pen Arc4atalo and naviate to your own wor.in directory.
b) 4reate a new shape file usin the +ile=2ew !enu.
c) 4hoose a file na!e %e.., :our:oint-), and choose (point) as the +eature Type.
d) Sets shapefile>s coordinate syste! to be the sa!e as the DEM>s by pressin the Edit...
button, then I!port, then naviatin to your DEM.
e) 4lic. ,?. #ou have now created an e!pty shapefile %i.e., it has no features in it yet).
Step #: Specify a pour point in the PourPoint1 shapefile
The most critical stage in generating a watershed from your DEM is specifying the
correct pour point(s). This technique is a simplified way of choosing a single pout point
at a river mouth using visual inspection. ther, more automated and more rigorous
methods e!ist, "ut are "eyond the scope of this document.
a) Ad3ust your !ap&
:lace the new shapefile, :our:oint-, (on top) in the !ap>s table of contents.
The river and coastline vector layers !ust be visible 3ust under :our:oint-.
The (4alculate) layer %the results of the raster calculator operation that shows the
river course) should be visible under the river vector layer.
The DEM should be under all.
All other layers should be (unchec.ed) %not visible)
4hane the sy!boloy of your DEM to turn the (display bac.round value)
option on %with the value set to 1) and chane the bac.round to so!e contrastin
color %e.., red).
b) @ith your DEM layer in the bac.round and usin the river and coastline vector layers as
visual uides, "oo! in to the river !outh %at the coastline) until the individual pixels
%cells) in the DEM raster layer are lare %-78 inch or so) on the screen.
c) Aocate the cell location in the (4alculate) layer that see!s to best represent the actual
river !outh&
This !ay be the first cell where the (4alculate) layer !eets the a "ero=value %red)
cell in the DEMB or
This !ay be a cell in the (4alculate) layer that is closer to the shoreline.
#our choice of cell will deter!ine the (end) of your watershed.
2,TE& 'se the raster river course layer and the DEM to deter!ine your pour
point, 2,T the river and shoreline vector layers %these vector layers are for
reference, but they are not consistent with the raster=based layers).

d) 2ow that you have chosen the (river !outh) cell, you will place your pour point over
that cell&
Turn on the (Editor) toolbar.
In the Editor !enu, choose (Start Editin.)
At the (Start Editin) dialo, choose the folder in which you have saved
:our:oint-. ,n the Editor toolbar, !a.e sure :our:oint- is visible in the (Taret)
field.
The (Tas.) field should be set to (4reate 2ew +eature.) 4hoose the (S.etch) tool
%loo.s li.e a pencil).
:lace the crosshairs in the center of the cell that you have identified as the river
!outh. 4lic. the !ouse once.
In the Editor toolbar, choose (Save Edits), the (Stop Editin)
You have #ust put a point feature in the $our$oint% shapefile that corresponds with the
mouth of the river. This point will "e the &pour point' used in the (atershed tool in the
ne!t (and final) step.
Step $: %un the Watershed &ool
Input raster& +lowDir-
Input :our :oint& :our:oint-
,utput& @atershed-
2ote that all of the cells inside the watershed have the value of 1 %"ero). Those outside the
watershed have the value of 2oData.
Drafted )ovem"er *++,, -ary .imonson. Deri/ 0ndreoli, and 1oe 2annah