Hydrologically Consistent Dams Database (version 2.0)

To accurately represent the routing and storage of water through terrestrial river networks, macro-scale hydrologic models require accurate representations of impounded water-bodies throughout the model domain. The Hydrologically-Consistent Dams (HydroConDams) dataset provides a critical compilation and correction of available datasets for the Conterminous United States (CONUS). HydroConDams provides locations for the single major point of outflow of reservoirs, maximum capacity information, inundated surface area, upstream catchment area, dam construction year, and primary dam purpose. These data are considered appropriate for representing the routing and storage effects of impounded waterbodies along river networks for meso- to macro-scale models of terrestrial hydrology and the land-surface (pixel-sizes from 100’s m to 100’s km). These data are not considered suitable for fine-scale characterization of individual impounded water-bodies, the integrity of impoundment structures, flood risk up or down-stream of these structures, or any other purpose where risks to life or property are under evaluation. No guarantee of accuracy is stated or implied in the dissemination of this dataset. V2 update: Minor database fixes. Include global data, including 27 large global lakes from the Global Lake and Wetland Database.