HydroSHEDS

The HydroSHEDS database provides a comprehensive suite of freely available global digital data layers designed to support a wide range of hydro-ecological research and applications across the globe. This invaluable resource offers various hydrographic data products, including meticulously mapped catchment boundaries, intricate river networks, and detailed representations of lakes, all available at multiple resolutions and scales to suit diverse project needs.

These HydroSHEDS data are readily accessible in standard GIS formats, ensuring ease of integration into existing workflows for researchers and practitioners worldwide. They form a fundamental geospatial framework that underpins a broad spectrum of assessments. These applications include critical hydrological analyses, comprehensive environmental monitoring, vital conservation planning, socioeconomic impact studies, and crucial human health applications, highlighting the database's versatility and importance.

Currently, an exciting update, HydroSHEDS v2, is under active development. This next-generation version is being derived from the advanced TanDEM-X dataset, promising an impressive 12-meter resolution with complete global coverage. This significant enhancement is set to further advance the precision and scope of hydro-ecological research and applications globally. The project is a collaborative effort, benefiting from the support and partnership of notable organizations such as WWF, McGill University, DLR, Confluvio, Diversey, IUCN, Biofresh, and The Nature Conservancy, underscoring its broad scientific and environmental impact.