Provided by: grass-doc_6.4.3-3_all 
NAME
r.watershed - Watershed basin analysis program.
KEYWORDS
raster, hydrology
SYNOPSIS
r.watershed
r.watershed help
r.watershed [-f4ma] elevation=name [depression=name] [flow=name] [disturbed.land=string]
[blocking=name] [accumulation=name] [drainage=name] [basin=name] [stream=name]
[half.basin=name] [visual=name] [length.slope=name] [slope.steepness=name] [threshold=integer]
[max.slope.length=float] [convergence=integer] [memory=integer] [--overwrite] [--verbose]
[--quiet]
Flags:
-f
Enable MFD flow (default is SFD (D8))
SFD: single flow direction, MFD: multiple flow direction
-4
Allow only horizontal and vertical flow of water
-m
Enable disk swap memory option: Operation is slow
Only needed if memory requirements exceed available RAM; see manual on how to calculate memory
requirements
-a
Use positive flow accumulation even for likely underestimates
See manual for a detailed description of flow accumulation output
--overwrite
Allow output files to overwrite existing files
--verbose
Verbose module output
--quiet
Quiet module output
Parameters:
elevation=name
Input map: elevation on which entire analysis is based
depression=name
Input map: locations of real depressions
flow=name
Input map: amount of overland flow per cell
disturbed.land=string
Input map or value: percent of disturbed land, for USLE
blocking=name
Input map: terrain blocking overland surface flow, for USLE
accumulation=name
Output map: number of cells that drain through each cell
drainage=name
Output map: drainage direction
basin=name
Output map: unique label for each watershed basin
stream=name
Output map: stream segments
half.basin=name
Output map: each half-basin is given a unique value
visual=name
Output map: useful for visual display of results
length.slope=name
Output map: slope length and steepness (LS) factor for USLE
slope.steepness=name
Output map: slope steepness (S) factor for USLE
threshold=integer
Input value: minimum size of exterior watershed basin
max.slope.length=float
Input value: maximum length of surface flow, for USLE
convergence=integer
Convergence factor for MFD (1-10)
1 = most diverging flow, 10 = most converging flow. Recommended: 5
Default: 5
memory=integer
Maximum memory to be used with -m flag (in MB)
Default: 300
DESCRIPTION
r.watershed generates a set of maps indicating: 1) flow accumulation, drainage direction, the location of
streams and watershed basins, and 2) the LS and S factors of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation
(RUSLE).
OPTIONS
-m
Without this flag set, the entire analysis is run in memory maintained by the operating system.
This can be limiting, but is very fast. Setting the flag causes the program to manage memory on
disk which allows larger maps to be processed but is considerably slower.
-f
Use multiple flow direction (MFD) instead of single flow direction (SFD, D8). SFD is enabled by
default.
-4
Allow only horizontal and vertical flow of water. Stream and slope lengths are approximately the
same as outputs from default surface flow (allows horizontal, vertical, and diagonal flow of
water). This flag will also make the drainage basins look more homogeneous.
-a
Use positive flow accumulation even for likely underestimates. When this flag is not set, cells
with a flow accumulation value that is likely to be an underestimate are converted to the
negative. See below for a detailed description of flow accumulation output.
memory
Maximum amount of memory in MB to be used with -m set. More memory speeds up the processes.
convergence
Convergence factor for MFD. Lower values result in higher divergence, flow is more widely
distributed. Higher values result in higher convergence, flow is less widely distributed, becoming
more similar to SFD.
elevation
Input map: Elevation on which entire analysis is based. NULL (nodata) cells are ignored, zero and
negative values are valid elevation data. Gaps in the elevation map that are located within the
area of interest must be filled beforehand, e.g. with r.fillnulls, to avoid distortions.
depression
Input map: Map layer of actual depressions or sinkholes in the landscape that are large enough to
slow and store surface runoff from a storm event. All cells that are not NULL and not zero
indicate depressions. Water will flow into but not out of depressions.
flow
Input map: amount of overland flow per cell. This map indicates the amount of overland flow units
that each cell will contribute to the watershed basin model. Overland flow units represent the
amount of overland flow each cell contributes to surface flow. If omitted, a value of one (1) is
assumed.
disturbed.land
Raster map input layer or value containing the percent of disturbed land (i.e., croplands, and
construction sites) where the raster or input value of 17 equals 17%. If no map or value is
given, r.watershed assumes no disturbed land. This input is used for the RUSLE calculations.
blocking
Input map: terrain that will block overland surface flow. Terrain that will block overland
surface flow and restart the slope length for the RUSLE. All cells that are not NULL and not zero
indicate blocking terrain.
threshold
The minimum size of an exterior watershed basin in cells, if no flow map is input, or overland
flow units when a flow map is given. Warning: low threshold values will dramactically increase
run time and generate difficult to read basin and half_basin results. This parameter also
controls the level of detail in the stream segments map.
max.slope.length
Input value indicating the maximum length of overland surface flow in meters. If overland flow
travels greater than the maximum length, the program assumes the maximum length (it assumes that
landscape characteristics not discernible in the digital elevation model exist that maximize the
slope length). This input is used for the RUSLE calculations and is a sensitive parameter.
accumulation
Output map: The absolute value of each cell in this output map layer is the amount of overland
flow that traverses the cell. This value will be the number of upland cells plus one if no
overland flow map is given. If the overland flow map is given, the value will be in overland flow
units. Negative numbers indicate that those cells possibly have surface runoff from outside of
the current geographic region. Thus, any cells with negative values cannot have their surface
runoff and sedimentation yields calculated accurately.
drainage
Output map: drainage direction. Provides the "aspect" for each cell measured CCW from East.
Multiplying positive values by 45 will give the direction in degrees that the surface runoff will
travel from that cell. The value 0 (zero) indicates that the cell is a depression area (defined
by the depression input map). Negative values indicate that surface runoff is leaving the
boundaries of the current geographic region. The absolute value of these negative cells indicates
the direction of flow.
basin
Output map: Unique label for each watershed basin. Each basin will be given a unique positive
even integer. Areas along edges may not be large enough to create an exterior watershed basin. 0
values indicate that the cell is not part of a complete watershed basin in the current geographic
region.
stream
Output map: stream segments. Values correspond to the watershed basin values. Can be vectorized
after thinning (r.thin) with r.to.vect.
half.basin
Output map: each half-basin is given a unique value. Watershed basins are divided into left and
right sides. The right-hand side cell of the watershed basin (looking upstream) are given even
values corresponding to the values in basin. The left-hand side cells of the watershed basin are
given odd values which are one less than the value of the watershed basin.
visual
DEPRECATED A colortable is generated by default for the accumulation output for easy visual
inspection.
length.slope
Output map: slope length and steepness (LS) factor for the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation
(RUSLE). Equations taken from Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation for Western Rangelands (Weltz
et al. 1987). Since the LS factor is a small number (usually less than one), it is multiplied by
100.
slope.steepness
Output map: slope steepness (S) factor for the Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). Equations
taken from article entitled Revised Slope Steepness Factor for the Universal Soil Loss Equation
(McCool et al. 1987). Since the S factor is a small number (usually less than one), it is
multiplied by 100.
NOTES
AT least-cost search algorithm
r.watershed uses an AT least-cost search algorithm (see REFERENCES section) designed to minimize the
impact of DEM data errors. Compared to r.terraflow, this algorithm provides more accurate results in
areas of low slope as well as DEMs constructed with techniques that mistake canopy tops as the ground
elevation. Kinner et al. (2005), for example, used SRTM and IFSAR DEMs to compare r.watershed against
r.terraflow results in Panama. r.terraflow was unable to replicate stream locations in the larger valleys
while r.watershed performed much better. Thus, if forest canopy exists in valleys, SRTM, IFSAR, and
similar data products will cause major errors in r.terraflow stream output. Under similar conditions,
r.watershed will generate better stream and half_basin results. If watershed divides contain flat to low
slope, r.watershed will generate better basin results than r.terraflow. (r.terraflow uses the same type
of algorithm as ESRI's ArcGIS watershed software which fails under these conditions.) Also, if watershed
divides contain forest canopy mixed with uncanopied areas using SRTM, IFSAR, and similar data products,
r.watershed will generate better basin results than r.terraflow. The algorithm produces results similar
to those obtained when running r.cost and r.drain on every cell on the map.
Multiple flow direction (MFD)
r.watershed offers two methods to calculate surface flow: single flow direction (SFD, D8) and multiple
flow direction (MFD). With MFD, water flow is distributed to all neighbouring cells with lower elevation,
using slope towards neighbouring cells as a weighing factor for proportional distribution. The AT least-
cost path is always included. As a result, depressions and obstacles are traversed with a gracefull flow
convergence before the overflow. The convergence factor causes flow accumulation to converge more
strongly with higher values. The supported range is 1 to 10, recommended is a convergence factor of 5
(Holmgren, 1994). If many small sliver basins are created with MFD, setting the convergence factor to a
higher value can reduce the amount of small sliver basins.
In-memory mode and disk swap mode
There are two versions of this program: ram and seg. ram is used by default, seg can be used by setting
the -m flag.
The ram version requires a maximum of 31 MB of RAM for 1 million cells. Together with the amount of
system memory (RAM) available, this value can be used to estimate whether the current region can be
processed with the ram version.
The ram version uses virtual memory managed by the operating system to store all the data structures and
is faster than the seg version; seg uses the GRASS segmentation library which manages data in disk files.
seg uses only as much system memory (RAM) as specified with the memory option, allowing other processes
to operate on the same system, even when the current geographic region is huge.
Due to memory requirements of both programs, it is quite easy to run out of memory when working with huge
map regions. If the ram version runs out of memory and the resolution size of the current geographic
region cannot be increased, either more memory needs to be added to the computer, or the swap space size
needs to be increased. If seg runs out of memory, additional disk space needs to be freed up for the
program to run. The r.terraflow module was specifically designed with huge regions in mind and may be
useful here as an alternative.
Large regions with many cells
In some situations, the region size (number of cells) may be too large for the amount of time or memory
available. Running r.watershed may then require use of a coarser resolution. To make the results more
closely resemble the finer terrain data, create a map layer containing the lowest elevation values at the
coarser resolution. This is done by: 1) Setting the current geographic region equal to the elevation map
layer with g.region, and 2) Use the r.neighbors or r.resamp.stats command to find the lowest value for an
area equal in size to the desired resolution. For example, if the resolution of the elevation data is 30
meters and the resolution of the geographic region for r.watershed will be 90 meters: use the minimum
function for a 3 by 3 neighborhood. After changing to the resolution at which r.watershed will be run,
r.watershed should be run using the values from the neighborhood output map layer that represents the
minimum elevation within the region of the coarser cell.
Basin threshold
The minimum size of drainage basins, defined by the threshold parameter, is only relevant for those
watersheds with a single stream having at least the threshold of cells flowing into it. (These
watersheds are called exterior basins.) Interior drainage basins contain stream segments below multiple
tributaries. Interior drainage basins can be of any size because the length of an interior stream
segment is determined by the distance between the tributaries flowing into it.
MASK and no data
The r.watershed program does not require the user to have the current geographic region filled with
elevation values. Areas without elevation data (masked or NULL cells) are ignored. It is NOT necessary
to create a raster map (or raster reclassification) named MASK for NULL cells. Areas without elevation
data will be treated as if they are off the edge of the region. Such areas will reduce the memory
necessary to run the program. Masking out unimportant areas can significantly reduce processing time if
the watersheds of interest occupy a small percentage of the overall area.
Gaps (NULL cells) in the elevation map that are located within the area of interest will heavily
influence the analysis: water will flow into but not out of these gaps. These gaps must be filled
beforehand, e.g. with r.fillnulls.
Zero (0) and negative values will be treated as elevation data (not no_data).
Further processing of output layers
To isolate an individual river network using the output of this module, a number of approaches may be
considered.
1 Use a resample of the basins catchment raster map as a MASK.
The equivalent vector map method is similar using v.select or v.overlay.
2 Use the r.cost module with a point in the river as a starting point.
3 Use the v.net.iso module with a node in the river as a starting point.
All individual river networks in the stream segments output can be identified through their ultimate
outlet points. These points are all cells in the stream segments output with negative drainage direction.
These points can be used as start points for r.water.outlet or v.net.iso.
To create river mile segmentation from a vectorized streams map, try the v.net.iso or v.lrs.segment
modules.
The stream segments output can be easily vectorized after thinning with r.thin. Each stream segment in
the vector map will have the value of the associated basin. To isolate subbasins and streams for a larger
basin, a MASK for the larger basin can be created with r.water.outlet. The stream segments output serves
as a guide where to place the outlet point used as input to r.water.outlet. The basin threshold must
have been sufficiently small to isolate a stream network and subbasins within the larger basin.
EXAMPLES
These examples use the Spearfish sample dataset.
Convert r.watershed streams map output to a vector layer.
If you want a detailed stream network, set the threshold option small to create lots of catchment basins,
as only one stream is presented per catchment. The r.to.vect -v flag preserves the catchment ID as the
vector category number.
r.watershed elev=elevation.dem stream=rwater.stream
r.to.vect -v in=rwater.stream out=rwater_stream
Set a different color table for the accumulation map:
MAP=rwater.accum
r.watershed elev=elevation.dem accum=$MAP
eval `r.univar -g "$MAP"`
stddev_x_2=`echo $stddev | awk '{print $1 * 2}'`
stddev_div_2=`echo $stddev | awk '{print $1 / 2}'`
r.colors $MAP col=rules << EOF
0% red
-$stddev_x_2 red
-$stddev yellow
-$stddev_div_2 cyan
-$mean_of_abs blue
0 white
$mean_of_abs blue
$stddev_div_2 cyan
$stddev yellow
$stddev_x_2 red
100% red
EOF
Create a more detailed stream map using the accumulation map and convert it to a vector output map. The
accumulation cut-off, and therefore fractal dimension, is arbitrary; in this example we use the map's
mean number of upstream catchment cells (calculated in the above example by r.univar) as the cut-off
value. This only works with SFD, not with MFD.
r.watershed elev=elevation.dem accum=rwater.accum
r.mapcalc 'MASK = if(!isnull(elevation.dem))'
r.mapcalc "rwater.course = \
if( abs(rwater.accum) > $mean_of_abs, \
abs(rwater.accum), \
null() )"
r.colors -g rwater.course col=bcyr
g.remove MASK
# Thinning is required before converting raster lines to vector
r.thin in=rwater.course out=rwater.course.Thin
r.colors -gn rwater.course.Thin color=grey
r.to.vect in=rwater.course.Thin out=rwater_course feature=line
v.db.dropcol map=rwater_course column=label
Create watershed basins map and convert to a vector polygon map
r.watershed elev=elevation.dem basin=rwater.basin thresh=15000
r.to.vect -s in=rwater.basin out=rwater_basins feature=area
v.db.dropcol map=rwater_basins column=label
v.db.renamecol map=rwater_basins column=value,catchment
Display output in a nice way
r.shaded.relief map=elevation.dem
d.shadedmap rel=elevation.dem.shade drape=rwater.basin bright=40
d.vect rwater_course color=orange
REFERENCES
Ehlschlaeger, C. (1989). Using the AT Search Algorithm to Develop Hydrologic Models from Digital
Elevation Data, Proceedings of International Geographic Information Systems (IGIS) Symposium '89, pp
275-281 (Baltimore, MD, 18-19 March 1989).
URL: http://chuck.ehlschlaeger.info/older/IGIS/paper.html
Holmgren, P. (1994). Multiple flow direction algorithms for runoff modelling in grid based elevation
models: An empirical evaluation. Hydrological Processes Vol 8(4), p.327-334.
DOI: 10.1002/hyp.3360080405
Kinner D., H. Mitasova, R. Harmon, L. Toma, R., Stallard. (2005). GIS-based Stream Network Analysis for
The Chagres River Basin, Republic of Panama. The Rio Chagres: A Multidisciplinary Profile of a Tropical
Watershed, R. Harmon (Ed.), Springer/Kluwer, p.83-95.
URL: http://skagit.meas.ncsu.edu/~helena/measwork/panama/panama.html
McCool et al. (1987). Revised Slope Steepness Factor for the Universal Soil Loss Equation, Transactions
of the ASAE Vol 30(5).
Weltz M. A., K. G. Renard, J. R. Simanton (1987). Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation for Western
Rangelands, U.S.A./Mexico Symposium of Strategies for Classification and Management of Native Vegetation
for Food Production In Arid Zones (Tucson, AZ, 12-16 Oct. 1987).
SEE ALSO
g.region, r.cost, r.drain, r.fillnulls, r.flow, r.mask, r.neighbors, r.param.scale, r.resamp.interp,
r.terraflow, r.topidx, r.water.outlet
AUTHORS
Original version: Charles Ehlschlaeger, U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory
Faster sorting algorithm and MFD support: Markus Metz
Last changed: $Date: 2010-09-16 00:25:59 -0700 (Thu, 16 Sep 2010) $
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GRASS 6.4.3 r.watershed(1grass)