Appendix A — QA Checklist

This chapter describes the items an analyst needs to check to ensure that the FluvialGeomorph tools have run correctly to produce clean reports. In addition to following the guidance in the previous chapters when preparing the data and running each tool, this chapter will provide a checklist of items you’ll need to verify after each report completes. Reports are the place where all your hard work comes together! Your work is not complete just because the tools run without any errors. A lot of datasets must work together to make these reports come out cleanly. Because these reports integrate so many individual datasets, many issues aren’t discovered until you run the reports. This checklist will help you identify where things might not be exactly right with previous tool runs and what you’ll need to do fix them.

Level 1 Report

Study Area Overview

This report section contains a set of reach overview maps drawn using the 🗺️flowline and the regularly spaced cross section dimensions, 🗺️*_dims_L1, feature classes (fc). Both the aerial photo and elevation are provided by Mapbox Raster Tiles.

Check the stream name

All of the tools depend on consistent reach naming! Ensuring consistent naming begins with deriving the “flowline” fc. The ReachName field must contain the same value for all of the fc’s within a reach geodatabase. This is the single biggest gotcha we find running these tools. If tools aren’t working correctly and you’re sure you’ve done everything else right, consistent stream names is the first thing to check!

Cross section labels at the correct interval

Cross section labels usually cannot be placed on every cross section or the map or graph becomes unreadable due to label crowding. The 📊xs_label_freq parameter can be adjusted to adequately space cross section labels. Typically 📊xs_label_freq = 10 works for regularly spaced cross sections and 📊xs_label_freq = 2 works for riffle cross sections.

Cross sections cover the full extent of the flowine

The 🗺️flowline fc extends from the downstream end of the reach to the upstream end. Cross sections should be spaced regularly across the entire reach, without any gaps at the upper or lower end.

Map basemap displaying correctly

The overview maps should contain an aerial photo or shaded relief elevation basemap.

Longitudinal Profiles

This report section contains two longitudinal profile graphs, one drawn using the 🗺️flowline_points fc, and the second is drawn using the cross section dimensions, 🗺️*_dims_L1 fc.

Elevation values are reasonable

The elevation values displayed on the map or graph should be reasonable. Use the ESRI Explore tool to check the DEM elevation values. By convention in FluvialGeomorph, DEM values must always have vertical units = feet.

Elevation ranges are similar between surveys

Although stream elevations can change over time, the elevation ranges between subsequent survey dates should be roughly similar. If the elevation ranges are drastically different, check the terrain development steps for each survey time period to ensure that the elevation data was processed correctly.

Multiple surveys are labeled correctly

Reports that contain multiple surveys should be entered in the same way to ensure they are labeled and symbolized (e.g., each survey drawn with the same color in each report) the same way across all reports. Follow these guidelines to ensure consistency:

Most recent survey listed at the top, with earlier surveys listed in reverse chronological order.
Survey date indicates the date flown (e.g., not the contract or delivery date).

Multiple surveys are correctly calibrated to the base year

On the longitudinal profile graphs, each survey line should start and end at the same x-axis station value. In other words, one survey line should not end before or after another survey line. Check the far right edge of the longitudinal graph to ensure all survey’s have the same ending value.

If all of the surveys’ last station values do not align, it means that the previous surveys were not correctly calibrated to the base year flowline. Previous year surveys will need to have the Flowline Points tool rerun using the base year survey’s flowline_points for calibration.

Stationing in the correct units

Units can be chosen for the longitudinal profile stationing. Ensure that the correct units are selected.

Stream feature labels display correctly

Longitudinal graphs are labeled using the rows in the 🗺️features fc. Ensure these river features are labeled correctly and are located at the correct longitudinal position.

Cross Section Metrics

This report section contains a Level 1 cross section metrics plot drawn using the cross section dimensions fc, 🗺️*_dims_L1.

Cross section watershed area calculated correctly

The watershed area metric is calculated by the 🛠️XS Watershed Area tool. Given the complexities of automatically calculating watershed area for high resolution stream features, some watershed areas may not have been calculated correctly. Rerunning the Watershed Area tool or manual adjustment of the 📊Watershed_Area_SqMile field may be required.

Watershed values are reasonable.
Watershed area must increase moving downstream.

Elevation smoothing is acceptable

High resolution LiDAR derived stream elevations can be noisy. Smoothing the elevations longitudinally is a way reduce noise. However, too much smoothing can be applied, eliminating any of the relationships we want to observe. By visually comparing the raw elevation and the smoothed elevation graphs, verify that the amount of smoothing sufficiently reduces noise, but does not not go too far and removes substantive variation. Smoothing is controlled in the 🛠️XS Dimension tools using the “📊loess_span” parameter.

Ensure metrics values are smooth

Many reach metrics are calculated using a longitudinal moving window analysis. The size of the moving window is controlled in the 🛠️XS Dimensions tools using the “📊lead_n” parameter. A smaller value applies a narrower moving mindow and a larger value applies a wider moving window. If the moving window is too small, metric values will be highly variable along the stream. As the moving window size gets larger, metric value variation will be reduced.

Slope values are reasonable

Slope values should be greater than zero. If negative slopes are being recorded, it usually means that the moving window size needs to be increased.

Sinuosity values are reasonable

Sinuosity values should be greater than one.

Cross Section Profiles

This report section contains a cross section map and a cross section profile graph for each cross section in the reach. The map is drawn from the cross section dimensions 🗺️*_dims_L1 fc and the 🗺️dem_hydro raster. The cross section profile graph is drawn using the cross section points fc’s for each survey.

Cross section must be digitized from left to right

The graph is being viewed from the perspective of standing in the stream, looking downstream. To ensure this orientation, cross sections must be digitized from the left descending bank to the right descending bank.

Cross section perpenduicular to the channel

The cross section should be drawn perpendicular to the channel centerline. If the cross section is not perpendicular, the cross section profile graph will not accurately represent the stream channel.

Cross section covers the channel extent

Cross section should extend from the left descending bank to the right descending bank. If the cross section does not cover the full channel extent, the cross section profile graph will not accurately represent the stream channel.

Cross section extends onto floodplain

Floodplain areas are important to include in the cross section profile graph. If the cross section does not extend onto the floodplain, the cross section profile graph will not accurately represent the stream channel and its surrounding environment.

Cross section not located on built infrastructure

Built infrastructure, such as bridges, culverts, and dams, can affect the cross section profile graph. If the cross section is located on built infrastructure, the cross section profile graph will not accurately represent the stream channel and its surrounding environment.

Cross section drawn within the DEM extent

Cross sections should be drawn within the extent of the DEM. If the cross section is drawn outside the DEM extent, the cross section profile graph will not accurately represent the stream channel and its surrounding environment.

Cross section y-axis range is not too large

Review the y-axis range of the cross section profile graph. If the y-axis range is too large, it can make it difficult to see the details of the cross section profile graph. Adjust the y-axis range to ensure that the cross section profile graph is easily readable.

Cross section x-axis range is not too large

Review the x-axis range of the cross section profile graph. If the x-axis range is too large, it can make it difficult to see the details of the cross section profile graph. Adjust the x-axis range to ensure that the cross section profile graph is easily readable.

Estimate Bankfull Report

Study Area Overview

This report section contains a set of reach overview maps drawn using the 🗺️flowline and the riffle cross section dimensions, 🗺️*_dims_L2, feature classes (fc). Both the aerial photo and elevation are provided by Mapbox Raster Tiles. See the QA checklist items in the Level 1 Report, Study Area Overview section.

Bankfull Elevation Sensitivity Analysis

This report section contains the Bankfull Elevation sensitivity analysis Goodness of Fit graph and the Regional Hydraulic Geometry Curves graph drawn using the base year’s riffle cross section points fc.

Correct regions included

Regions are defined in the 🗺️regions fc. The regions included in the analysis should be appropriate for the study area. If the study area is located in a region that is not included in the 🗺️regions fc, the analyst will need to add the region to the fc and rerun the analysis.

Adequate range of bankfull elevations

Elevation values are tested in the sensitivity analysis. The range of elevations tested should be adequate to ensure that the best fit bankfull elevation is identified. If the range of elevations tested is too narrow, the analyst will need to rerun the analysis with a wider range of elevations.

REM bankfull elevation set to a reasonable value

Bankfull elevations are REM to remove the effect of longitudinal slope. The REM bankfull elevation should be set to a reasonable value. If the REM bankfull elevation is set to an unreasonable value, the analyst will need to rerun the analysis with a more reasonable value.

Drainage Area values are reasonable

Values for drainage area are derived from the 🗺️flowline fc. The drainage area values should be reasonable. If the drainage area values are not reasonable, the analyst will need to check the 🗺️flowline fc and rerun the analysis.

Longitudinal Profile

This section of the report contains a cross section longitudinal profile graph drawn using the riffle cross section dimensions, 🗺️riffle_channel_dims_L2 fc.

Elevation values are reasonable

Stationing in the correct units

The longitudinal profile graph can be drawn in either feet or miles. Ensure that the correct units are selected.

Stream feature labels display correctly

The longitudinal profile graph is labeled using the rows in the 🗺️features fc. Ensure these river features are labeled correctly and are located at the correct longitudinal position.

Cross Section Metrics

This report section contains a Level 2 cross section metrics plot drawn using the 🗺️riffle_channel_dims_L2 fc.

Width-Depth Ratio values are reasonable

Consideration should be given to the moving window size used to calculate the width-depth ratio. If the moving window is too small, metric values will be highly variable along the stream. As the moving window size gets larger, metric value variation will be reduced.

Entrenchment Ratio values are reasonable

Consideration should be given to the moving window size used to calculate the entrenchment ratio. If the moving window is too small, metric values will be highly variable along the stream. As the moving window size gets larger, metric value variation will be reduced.

Slope values are reasonable

The moving window size is used to calculate the slope. If the moving window is too small, metric values will be highly variable along the stream. As the moving window size gets larger, metric value variation will be reduced.

Sinuosity values are reasonable

The sinuosity metric is calculated using a moving window analysis. If the moving window is too small, metric values will be highly variable along the stream. As the moving window size gets larger, metric value variation will be reduced.

Shear Stress values are reasonable

The shear stress metric is calculated using a moving window analysis. If the moving window is too small, metric values will be highly variable along the stream. As the moving window size gets larger, metric value variation will be reduced.

Unit Stream Power values are reasonable

The unit stream power metric is calculated using a moving window analysis. If the moving window is too small, metric values will be highly variable along the stream. As the moving window size gets larger, metric value variation will be reduced.

Cross Section Profiles

This report section contains a cross section map and a cross section profile graph for each cross section in the reach. The map is drawn from the cross section dimensions fc 🗺️riffle_channel_dims_L2 and the 🗺️dem_hydro raster. The cross section profile graph is drawn using the 🗺️riffle_channel_points fc’s for each survey. see the QA checklist items in the 📑Level 1 Report, Cross Section Profiles section.

Level 2 Report

Study Area Overview

This report section contains a set of reach overview maps drawn using the 🗺️flowline and the regularly spaced cross section dimensions, 🗺️*_dims_L2, feature classes (fc). Both the aerial photo and elevation are provided by Mapbox Raster Tiles. See the QA checklist items in the Level 1 Report, Study Area Overview section.

Longitudinal Profile

This section of the report contains a cross section longitudinal profile graph drawn using the regularly spaced cross section dimensions, 🗺️*_dims_L2 fc. See the QA checklist items in the Estimate Bankfull, Longitudinal Profile section.

Cross Section Metrics

This report section contains a Level 2 cross section metrics plot drawn using the regularly spaced cross section dimensions, 🗺️*_dims_L2 fc.See the QA checklist items in the Estimate Bankfull, Cross section Metrics section.

Ensure metrics values are smooth

The metrics values are calculated using a longitudinal moving window analysis. The size of the moving window is controlled in the 🛠️XS Dimensions tools using the “📊lead_n” parameter. A smaller value applies a narrower moving mindow and a larger value applies a wider moving window. If the moving window is too small, metric values will be highly variable along the stream. As the moving window size gets larger, metric value variation will be reduced.

Cross Section Profiles

This report section contains a cross section map and a cross section profile graph for each cross section in the reach. The map is drawn from the regularly spaced cross section dimensions fc 🗺️*_dims_L2 and the 🗺️dem_hydro raster. The cross section profile graph is drawn using the cross section 🗺️*_points fc’s for each survey. see the QA checklist items in the Level 1 Report, Cross Section Profiles section.

Level 3 Report

Study Area Overview

This report section contains a set of reach overview maps drawn using the 🗺️flowline and the regularly spaced cross section dimensions, 🗺️*_dims_L3, feature classes (fc). Both the aerial photo and elevation are provided by Mapbox Raster Tiles. See the QA checklist items in the Level 1 Report, Study Area Overview section.

Longitudinal Profile

This section of the report contains a cross section longitudinal profile graph drawn using the regularly spaced cross section dimensions, 🗺️*_dims_L3 fc. See the QA checklist items in the Estimate Bankfull, Longitudinal Profile section.

Cross Section Metrics

This report section contains a Level 2 cross section metrics plot drawn using the regularly spaced cross section dimensions, 🗺️*_dims_L3 fc.See the QA checklist items in the Estimate Bankfull, Cross section Metrics section.

Ensure metrics values are smooth

Smoothing the metrics values is controlled in the 🛠️XS Dimensions tools using the “📊lead_n” parameter. A smaller value applies a narrower moving mindow and a larger value applies a wider moving window. If the moving window is too small, metric values will be highly variable along the stream. As the moving window size gets larger, metric value variation will be reduced.

Radius of Curvature to Bankfull Width values are reasonable

Curvature values should be greater than zero. If negative curvature values are being recorded, it usually means that the moving window size needs to be increased.

Cross Section Profiles

This report section contains a cross section map and a cross section profile graph for each cross section in the reach. The map is drawn from the regularly spaced cross section dimensions fc 🗺️*_dims_L3 and the 🗺️dem_hydro raster. The cross section profile graph is drawn using the cross section “🗺️_points” fc’s for each survey. see the QA checklist items in the Level 1 Report, Cross Section Profiles section.