Simplified Method for Creating a Watershed Layer from a DEM

Using ArcMap and Spatial Analyst

Preparation:
a) In ArcMap, be sure the Spatial Analyst Extension is loaded and the Spatial Analyst
toolbar is visible.
b) Add in your DEM layer.
c) Add in vector layers for rivers and shoreline. These will be used for visually locating a
general area to place the pour point.
d) Set your geoprocessing environment to use the same spatial reference system and cell
size as your DEM layer.
e) You now need to set your processing extents in the geoprocessng environment. Here is
simple (and simplistic) way for doing this:
Using the river layer overlaying your DEM, zoom in to an area somewhat larger
than the watershed of interest.
Set your raster processing extents to same as display setting.
Step 1: Create the Flow Direction and Flow Accumulation hydrology layers from your DEM
a) Run the Fill tool
Input: (your DEM layer)
Output: DEMFill11
b) Run the Flow Direction Tool
Input: DEMFill1
Output: FlowDir1
c) Run the Flow Accumulation Tool
Input: FlowDir1
Output: FlowAcc1
d) Using the Spatial Analyst raster calculator, determine the actual river lines from the flow
accumulation layer:
Make sure that FlowAcc1 is showing in the Spatial Analyst toolbar layer field.
Use raster calculator to evaluate FlowAcc1 > 5000. (Note the value of 5,000 is
an arbitrarily high number representing large flows in the river bed. Depending on
the size of your watershed, you may have to adjust this number.
In the resulting Calculation layer, resymbolize the 0 values to be No Color
(i.e., transparent). You now have a raster layer showing the river course.

The file names used in this document are only suggestions. You may use your own file names. Do not use any
blank spaces in your file names many ESRI tools will generate errors if you use file names with spaces, with
special characters, or that are longer than 8 characters.

You now have a flow direction and a flow accumulation raster for your watershed area,
as well a raster layer showing the river course.
Step 2: Create a Pour Point Layer (shapefile)
(These instructions are based on the document
http://courses.washington.edu/geog460/readings/ArcMAP/Make%20a%20shapefile/ )
a)
b)
c)
d)

Open ArcCatalog and navigate to your own working directory.

Create a new shape file using the File-New menu.
Choose a file name (e.g., PourPoint1), and choose point as the Feature Type.
Sets shapefiles coordinate system to be the same as the DEMs by pressing the Edit...
button, then Import, then navigating to your DEM.
e) Click OK. You have now created an empty shapefile (i.e., it has no features in it yet).
Step 3: Specify a pour point in the PourPoint1 shapefile
The most critical stage in generating a watershed from your DEM is specifying the
correct pour point(s). This technique is a simplified way of choosing a single pout point
at a river mouth using visual inspection. Other, more automated and more rigorous
methods exist, but are beyond the scope of this document.
a) Adjust your map:
Place the new shapefile, PourPoint1, on top in the maps table of contents.
The river and coastline vector layers must be visible just under PourPoint1.
The Calculate layer (the results of the raster calculator operation that shows the
river course) should be visible under the river vector layer.
The DEM should be under all.
All other layers should be unchecked (not visible)
Change the symbology of your DEM to turn the display background value
option on (with the value set to 0) and change the background to some contrasting
color (e.g., red).
b) With your DEM layer in the background and using the river and coastline vector layers as
visual guides, zoom in to the river mouth (at the coastline) until the individual pixels
(cells) in the DEM raster layer are large (1/4 inch or so) on the screen.
c) Locate the cell location in the Calculate layer that seems to best represent the actual
river mouth:
This may be the first cell where the Calculate layer meets the a zero-value (red)
cell in the DEM; or
This may be a cell in the Calculate layer that is closer to the shoreline.
Your choice of cell will determine the end of your watershed.
NOTE: Use the raster river course layer and the DEM to determine your pour
point, NOT the river and shoreline vector layers (these vector layers are for
reference, but they are not consistent with the raster-based layers).

d) Now that you have chosen the river mouth cell, you will place your pour point over
that cell:
Turn on the Editor toolbar.
In the Editor menu, choose Start Editing.
At the Start Editing dialog, choose the folder in which you have saved
PourPoint1. On the Editor toolbar, make sure PourPoint1 is visible in the Target
field.
The Task field should be set to Create New Feature. Choose the Sketch tool
(looks like a pencil).
Place the crosshairs in the center of the cell that you have identified as the river
mouth. Click the mouse once.
In the Editor toolbar, choose Save Edits, the Stop Editing
You have just put a point feature in the PourPoint1 shapefile that corresponds with the
mouth of the river. This point will be the pour point used in the Watershed tool in the
next (and final) step.
Step 4: Run the Watershed Tool

Input raster: FlowDir1

Input Pour Point: PourPoint1
Output: Watershed1

Note that all of the cells inside the watershed have the value of 0 (zero). Those outside the
watershed have the value of NoData.
Drafted November 2007, Gary Simonson. Derik Andreoli, and Joe Hannah