Watersheds and stream networks in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico.

Hydrological mapping in the Luquillo Experimental Forest: Opportunities and challenges to improve watershed ecological knowledge

The streams and rivers of the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico, have been the subject of extensive watershed and aquatic and research since the 1980’s. This research includes understanding stream export of nutrients, physicochemical constituents, coarse particulate organic matter export dynamics, and aquatic fauna populations. However, many of these studied streams and watersheds do not show up in standard hydrological maps. We document the recent collaborative work delineating long-term research watersheds and identifying gaps in hydrological network information. We describe the trade-offs and caveats of achieving appropriate stream densification to represent sites of on-going research. The methods used to delimit and densify stream networks include incorporation of updated new vertical datum for Puerto Rico, LIDAR derived elevation, and a combination of visual-manual and automated digitalization processes. The outcomes of this collaborative effort have resulted in improved watershed delineation, densification of hydrologic networks to reflect the scale of on-going studies, and the identification of constraining factors such as unmapped roadways, culverts, and other features of the built environment that interrupt water flow and obstruct runoff identification. This work contributes to enhance knowledge for watershed management, including riparian areas, road and channel intersections, and ridge to reef initiatives with broad application to other watersheds.

This dataset contains watershed delineations, and stream networks for El Verde Research Area and the Bisley Experimental Watershed (BEW)
This data can also be viewed via this story map:
https://arcg.is/1S5qSX

在波多黎各的卢基洛实验林中进行的流域制图：提升流域生态知识的机会与挑战

自1980年代以来，波多黎各卢基洛实验林中的溪流和河流一直是广泛的水文、水体以及生态研究的对象。这些研究涉及对溪流输出营养物质、物理化学成分、粗颗粒有机物输出动力学以及水生动物种群的理解。然而，许多这些研究过的溪流和流域并未出现在标准的水文地图上。我们记录了近期的一项协作工作，该工作明确了长期研究流域的界限，并确定了水文网络信息中的空白。我们描述了实现适当的溪流密集度以代表正在进行的研究地点的权衡和注意事项。用于界定和密集化溪流网络的方法包括纳入波多黎各更新的垂直基准面、激光雷达获取的高程数据，以及视觉-手动和自动化数字化过程的结合。这一协作努力的成果包括改善了流域界定、水文网络的密集化以反映正在进行的研究的规模，以及识别了限制因素，如未绘制的道路、涵洞以及其他构建环境特征，这些特征中断水流并阻碍径流识别。这项工作有助于提升流域管理的知识，包括河岸地区、道路与河道的交汇处，以及从山脊到礁石的倡议，其应用范围广泛，可适用于其他流域。

本数据集包含流域界定和溪流网络，涉及埃尔·维尔德研究区和比斯利实验流域（BEW）。

此数据也可通过以下故事地图查看：
https://arcg.is/1S5qSX