After looking over the various topics, I have decided to go with Reservoir Site Suitability.  I am not anywhere near being a hydrologist, but I am going to do a reasonable assessment on what I think would be required.  Obviously in order to create a reservoir, I am going to need to know the locations of streams, rivers, and lakes.  This data will help determine where the current flows of water are since that is crucial to a reservoir.

In addition to hydrology, I will need various data layers that will impact the reservoir or be impacted by the reservoir.  One of those elements that can impact the reservoir is soil.  Soils types such as clay are probably better than sand.  You need to be able to keep the body of water from seeping into the ground.  Vegetation is something else that should be considered.  There are costs to remove trees for a lake as compared to just grass.  Another factor is elevation.  This is important in order to meet the required depth and area of the reservoir.  Elevation will also help determine flow direction and basins.

A reservoir can affect many things such as roads.  You can’t just flood over a highly traveled road; however, a dirt road to just a barn would be easier to work with.  Parcel data provided a great source of information.  Parcels can help determine land value, vacant vs. improved, and owner.  Along these lines is structures.  Impacting as few structures as possible is key.  The data layer that doesn’t immediately come to mind is airports.  You must factor that bodies of water will attract large flocks of birds.  With the recent “bird strikes” in the news, this cannot be ignored.

Hear is my list.  Although it seems complete, I am sure there are a variety of additional data layers that could help with this project.  I will make note as I find additional resources.

  • Hydrology
  • Soils
  • Vegetation
  • Elevation
  • Roads
  • Parcels
  • Structures
  • Airports

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