DOI: 10.48443/57z7-s858
title: Stream morphology map (DP4.00131.001)
title: RELEASE-2026

description: The wadeable stream morphology data product provides data for three types of total station surveys at NEON wadeable stream sites. **Geomorphology surveys** are conducted at each site once every five years, on average. For a geomorphology survey, downloads include raw survey data and post-processed maps (including interactive Google Earth .KMZ maps), shapefiles, and metric tables that quantify channel geomorphology, bed composition, and biological habitat within the aquatic reach boundaries (approximately 1,000 meters in stream length) of NEON wadeable stream sites. Raw survey data are collected with high-resolution total station survey equipment at each site. Survey maps and channel metrics are produced by geo-referencing the raw survey data (Level 0) to a global coordinate system (Level 4). During years when a geomorphology survey is not conducted, a site will undergo a **rapid habitat assessment survey**. For a rapid habitat assessment survey, downloads include raw survey data and metric tables that assess habitat size and composition within the aquatic reach boundaries. An **AIS (Aquatic Instrumented Systems) site survey** may also be conducted in any given year. For AIS site surveys, downloads include a table of survey points collected along one or more transects that bisect the stream channel. These data are used to delineate hydraulic controls for development of stage-discharge rating curves. For additional details, see the Data Product User Guide, protocols, and science design listed in the Documentation section in this data product's details webpage.

Latency:
The expected time from data and/or sample collection in the field to data publication is one year.
description: Geomorphology surveys encapsulate the entirety of the aquatic reach, which at most NEON sites is equivalent to approximately 1,000 meters in stream length. A raw survey data file includes each of the individually mapped points collected by the total station during the geomorphology survey. Each point contains a Northing, Easting, and elevation coordinate relative to fixed benchmarks that are typically installed near the staff gauge and discharge cross-section (where most surveys begin). Mapped points are distributed at a high resolution (typically less than 1m) throughout the extent of the aquatic reach. Points are mapped along the main channel to capture thalweg (or the deepest part of the stream) elevation, along the edge of water to capture wetted width, and along select transects that bisect the channel in order to capture cross-sectional area. Additional points are collected at geomorphic features that influence fluvial processes (i.e. large woody debris jams, mid-channel bars, etc.). Northing, Easting, and elevation data contained in raw survey files are relative to a local Cartesian coordinate plane (X, Y, and Z, respectively) defined by the fixed benchmark used to orient the total station at the beginning of the survey. Fixed benchmark locations are globally referenced (WGS 84 reference coordinate system) and locally projected (UTM Zone xNorth) using global positioning instrumentation to an accuracy of 10-30 centimeters of elevation. The degree of additional uncertainty associated with each survey will vary and is dependent on operator/instrument error, site-specific conditions, and environmental factors. Uncertainty data associated with each survey are included within the data product package. During post-processing, GPS data are utilized to convert Northing and Easting values to latitude and longitude and elevation values to meters above mean sea level. All geo-referenced survey data are considered Level 4.

Geomorphology surveys are conducted a minimum of once every five years. During years when there is not a geomorphology survey, a geo-referenced rapid habitat assessment is conducted throughout the monitoring reach that includes a large woody debris survey, aquatic habitat typing, and pebble count sampling at the same transects that are sampled during geomorphology surveys. AIS surveys may occur one or more times per year and are used to relate the relative elevation of the channel cross-section where stream discharge is measured to the height of the co-located staff gauge. These data are used to produce hydraulic control information included in stage-discharge rating curve models. Instrumentation: Hilti POS 180 robotic total station