Pete Steeves is a Physical Scientist in the New England Water Science Center.
Pete Steeves has a long history with hydrography mapping in USGS, having been the original water program geospatial liaison to the National Geospatial Program (NGP). Pete has been involved in national and international hydrography mapping for decades and served as the USGS hydrography lead on the highly successful efforts to 'harmonize' hydrography and watershed boundaries with Canada along the international border. Pete attended a vast majority of the annual National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) Management meetings from the earliest years (late 90s) and provided many insights from the water program perspective. Pete started what would become StreamStats with Kernell Ries in the early 90s and has been a member of the National StreamStats Team since its inception in the early 2000s. One of Pete's primary roles in StreamStats early on was to co-develop tools to preprocess raster (elevation) and vector (hydrography, watershed boundaries) data, and to train others on the use of those tools. This process was adopted by national products over the ensuing decades.
Professional Experience
Physical Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey, New England Water Science Center, 1988 to present.
Education and Certifications
B.S. History and Geography, North Adams State College, North Adams MA
Additional post B.S. education at Northeastern University related to biology, math, and earth sciences.
Science and Products
Peak-flow and low-flow magnitude estimates at defined frequencies and durations for nontidal streams in Delaware
Techniques for estimating the magnitude and frequency of peak flows on small streams in the binational U.S. and Canadian Lake of the Woods–Rainy River Basin upstream from Kenora, Ontario, Canada, based on data through water year 2013
Using the NHD, WBD, and NHDPlus to solve problems
StreamStats, version 4
Compilation of streamflow statistics calculated from daily mean streamflow data collected during water years 1901–2015 for selected U.S. Geological Survey streamgages
Equations for estimating selected streamflow statistics in Rhode Island
Towards a publicly available, map-based regional software tool to estimate unregulated daily streamflow at ungauged rivers
The Massachusetts Sustainable-Yield Estimator: A decision-support tool to assess water availability at ungaged stream locations in Massachusetts
Use of the U.S. Geological Survey StreamStats Web Application for dam safety analysis
Local and Cumulative Impervious Cover of Massachusetts Stream Basins
Stream-network navigation in the U.S. Geological Survey stream stats web application
StreamStats: A water resources web application
Delineating High-Resolution Urban Drainage Systems for Stormwater Management in the Mystic River Watershed
Digital Elevation Model and Derivative Datasets to Support the Integration of Stormwater Drainage into the StreamStats Application for the Mystic River Watershed, Massachusetts
Basin Characteristics Data for the StreamStats Application in the Mystic River Basin, Massachusetts
Basin Characteristics Rasters for Delaware StreamStats 2020
Fundamental Dataset Rasters for Delaware StreamStats 2020
Basin characteristics and point locations of road crossings in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island for highway-runoff mitigation analyses using the Stochastic Empirical Loading and Dilution Model
Basin Characteristics Rasters for Pennsylvania StreamStats 2020
StreamStats Data Preparation Tools, version 4
A Python package to pre-process and hydro-enforce digital elevation models using hydrography features for use in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) StreamStats project.
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 21
Peak-flow and low-flow magnitude estimates at defined frequencies and durations for nontidal streams in Delaware
Reliable estimates of the magnitude of peak flows in streams are required for the economical and safe design of transportation and water conveyance structures. In addition, reliable estimates of the magnitude of low flows at defined frequencies and durations are needed for meeting regulatory requirements, quantifying base flows in streams and rivers, and evaluating time of travel and dilution of tAuthorsJohn C. Hammond, Edward J. Doheny, Jonathan J.A. Dillow, Mark R. Nardi, Peter A. Steeves, Daniel L. WarnerTechniques for estimating the magnitude and frequency of peak flows on small streams in the binational U.S. and Canadian Lake of the Woods–Rainy River Basin upstream from Kenora, Ontario, Canada, based on data through water year 2013
A binational study was initiated to update statistical equations that are used to estimate the magnitude and frequency of peak flows on streams in Manitoba and Ontario, Canada, and Minnesota that are contained within the binational Lake of the Woods–Rainy River Basin upstream from Kenora, Ontario, Canada. Hydraulic engineers use peak streamflow data to inform designs of bridges, culverts, and damsAuthorsChristopher A. Sanocki, Tara Williams-Sether, Peter A. Steeves, Victoria G. ChristensenUsing the NHD, WBD, and NHDPlus to solve problems
No abstract available.AuthorsKernell G. Ries, Peter A. SteevesStreamStats, version 4
IntroductionStreamStats version 4, available at https://streamstats.usgs.gov, is a map-based web application that provides an assortment of analytical tools that are useful for water-resources planning and management, and engineering purposes. Developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the primary purpose of StreamStats is to provide estimates of streamflow statistics for user-selected ungageAuthorsKernell G. Ries, Jeremy K. Newson, Martyn J. Smith, John D. Guthrie, Peter A. Steeves, Tana Haluska, Katharine R. Kolb, Ryan F. Thompson, Richard D. Santoro, Hans W. VragaCompilation of streamflow statistics calculated from daily mean streamflow data collected during water years 1901–2015 for selected U.S. Geological Survey streamgages
Streamflow statistics are needed by decision makers for many planning, management, and design activities. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) StreamStats Web application provides convenient access to streamflow statistics for many streamgages by accessing the underlying StreamStatsDB database. In 2016, non-interpretive streamflow statistics were compiled for streamgages located throughout the NationAuthorsGregory E. Granato, Kernell G. Ries, Peter A. SteevesEquations for estimating selected streamflow statistics in Rhode Island
Regional regression equations were developed for estimating selected natural—unaffected by alteration—streamflows of specific flow durations and low-flow frequency statistics for ungaged stream sites in Rhode Island. Selected at-site streamflow statistics are provided for 41 long-term streamgages, 21 short-term streamgages, and 135 partial-record stations in Rhode Island, eastern Connecticut, andAuthorsGardner C. Bent, Peter A. Steeves, Andrew M. WaiteTowards a publicly available, map-based regional software tool to estimate unregulated daily streamflow at ungauged rivers
Streamflow information is critical for addressing any number of hydrologic problems. Often, streamflow information is needed at locations that are ungauged and, therefore, have no observations on which to base water management decisions. Furthermore, there has been increasing need for daily streamflow time series to manage rivers for both human and ecological functions. To facilitate negotiation bAuthorsStacey A. Archfield, Peter A. Steeves, John D. Guthrie, Kernell G. RiesThe Massachusetts Sustainable-Yield Estimator: A decision-support tool to assess water availability at ungaged stream locations in Massachusetts
Federal, State and local water-resource managers require a variety of data and modeling tools to better understand water resources. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, has developed a statewide, interactive decision-support tool to meet this need. The decision-support tool, referred to as the Massachusetts Sustainable-Yield EstiAuthorsStacey A. Archfield, Richard M. Vogel, Peter A. Steeves, Sara L. Brandt, Peter K. Weiskel, Stephen P. GarabedianUse of the U.S. Geological Survey StreamStats Web Application for dam safety analysis
No abstract available.AuthorsJohn D. Guthrie, Kernell G. Ries, Peter A. SteevesLocal and Cumulative Impervious Cover of Massachusetts Stream Basins
Impervious surfaces such as paved roads, parking lots, and building roofs can affect the natural streamflow patterns and ecosystems of nearby streams. This dataset summarizes the percentage of impervious area for watersheds across Massachusetts by using a newly available statewide 1-m binary raster dataset of impervious surface for 2005. In order to accurately capture the wide spatial variabilityAuthorsSara L. Brandt, Peter A. SteevesStream-network navigation in the U.S. Geological Survey stream stats web application
StreamStats is a U.S. Geological Survey Web-based geographic information systems application developed as a tool for water-resources planning and management, engineering design, and other applications. The primary functionality of StreamStats allows users to obtain drainage-basin boundaries, basin characteristics, and streamflow statistics for gaged and ungaged sites. Recently, tools that allow stAuthorsK. G. Ries, P. A. Steeves, J. D. Guthrie, A. H. Rea, D. W. StewartStreamStats: A water resources web application
Streamflow statistics, such as the 1-percent flood, the mean flow, and the 7-day 10-year low flow, are used by engineers, land managers, biologists, and many others to help guide decisions in their everyday work. For example, estimates of the 1-percent flood (the flow that is exceeded, on average, once in 100 years and has a 1-percent chance of being exceeded in any year, sometimes referred to asAuthorsKernell G. Ries, John D. Guthrie, Alan H. Rea, Peter A. Steeves, David W. Stewart - Science
Delineating High-Resolution Urban Drainage Systems for Stormwater Management in the Mystic River Watershed
Characterizing hydrology and pollutant inputs in urban watersheds requires the consideration of both the natural and manmade environment. The Mystic River Basin is a highly urbanized, 76-square-mile watershed north of Boston, Massachusetts, that includes several underserved communities. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed a watershed-scale web application of the Mystic River Basin to... - Data
Digital Elevation Model and Derivative Datasets to Support the Integration of Stormwater Drainage into the StreamStats Application for the Mystic River Watershed, Massachusetts
The U.S. Geological Survey’s StreamStats program is a publicly-accessible web application (https://streamstats.usgs.gov) that can be used to delineate drainage areas, compute basin characteristics, and estimate flow statistics for user-selected locations on streams. StreamStats services are typically implemented at the statewide or watershed scale (referred to as state or basin applications), andBasin Characteristics Data for the StreamStats Application in the Mystic River Basin, Massachusetts
The U.S. Geological Survey’s StreamStats program is a publicly-accessible web application (https://streamstats.usgs.gov) that can be used to delineate drainage areas, compute basin characteristics, and estimate flow statistics for user-selected locations on streams. StreamStats services are typically implemented at the statewide or watershed scale (referred to as state or basin applications), andBasin Characteristics Rasters for Delaware StreamStats 2020
This dataset was produced in by the Delaware Geological survey in cooperation with the US Geological Survey and Delaware Department of Transportation for the purpose of calculating stream gage basin characteristics in preparation for the Delaware 2020 StreamStats application. These datasets are raster representations of various environmental, geological, and land use attributes within the DelawareFundamental Dataset Rasters for Delaware StreamStats 2020
This dataset was produced in by the Delaware Geological survey in cooperation with the US Geological Survey and Delaware Department of Transportation for the purpose of delineating gage basins and performing hydrologic analysis in the Delaware 2020 StreamStats application. These datasets are raster representations of the fundamental dataset layers necessary for the functionality of StreamStats appBasin characteristics and point locations of road crossings in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island for highway-runoff mitigation analyses using the Stochastic Empirical Loading and Dilution Model
This data release documents the location of intersections between roads and streams, referred to as road crossings, and associated basin characteristics to support highway-runoff mitigation analyses using the Stochastic Empirical Loading and Dilution Model (SELDM, Granato, 2013) in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The data set of road crossings was generated from the intersections ofBasin Characteristics Rasters for Pennsylvania StreamStats 2020
In cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) calculated over 20 different basin characteristics as part of preparing the Pennsylvania StreamStats 2020 application. These datasets are raster representati - Multimedia
- Software
StreamStats Data Preparation Tools, version 4
A Python package to pre-process and hydro-enforce digital elevation models using hydrography features for use in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) StreamStats project.
- News