Watershed Explorer

Map-based exploration of 25,000+ USGS stations, WBD catalog HUC12 watersheds, and every HUC8 in CONUS — streamflow context, PDF reports, and SWAT+ models in one place.

SWATGenX hosts the interactive watershed workspace: pick a USGS station, a catalog HUC12 watershed, or a whole HUC8 basin; view live streamflow context; generate PDF reports; and build SWAT+ models across the Continental United States — no GIS install.

Geographic and data coverage

  • CONUS streamgages — more than 25,000 USGS NWIS stations with Log-Pearson Type III streamflow-status screening (names USGS Bulletin 17C as its framework, without the standard's low-outlier screening or regional-skew weighting).
  • Watershed units — WBD HUC8 basins and catalog HUC12 watersheds for basin-scale screening and model orders.
  • National datasets — NHDPlus HR hydrography, PRISM climate, gSSURGO soils, NLCD land cover, and 3DEP elevation in generated SWAT+ packages.
  • Coupled groundwater — hosted SWAT-MODFLOW-6 builds in Michigan Lower Peninsula, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin (offered for screening; not a calibrated claim for every basin).
  • PFAS map views — optional public soil-inventory and site-scale PFAS layers where inventories are posted.

Map layer glossary (crawlable summary)

  • Streamflow status — compares recent streamflow to Log-Pearson Type III thresholds (Q2–Q500) from USGS annual peaks (Bulletin 17C–aligned framework).
  • Rainfall status — classifies latest 24h totals vs. PRISM historical daily percentiles (p50–p99) at the gage’s PRISM cell.
  • Floodplain zones — DEM-derived elevation/slope classes for screening (not FEMA regulatory maps).
  • Population density — governmental boundaries clipped to the watershed with density buckets for exposure context.
  • Cropland groups — CDL-based categories summarized for the basin.

Full methodology, steward links, and limitations: Data & methodology. In the live app, use the Methodology button for the same content in a modal.

The full map and analysis tools load in your browser. Use the links below to read about the platform or open other entry points.