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Pete Steeves

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

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A view of the bridge over Neponset River near Canton, Massachusetts

Delineating High-Resolution Urban Drainage Systems for Stormwater Management in the Neponset River Watershed

The natural environment and manmade infrastructure must be considered when characterizing hydrology and water quality in urban watersheds. This requirement is critical in stormwater management, which must account for how water flows above ground and underground through stormwater infrastructure. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is...
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New England Water Science Center
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Delineating High-Resolution Urban Drainage Systems for Stormwater Management in the Neponset River Watershed

The natural environment and manmade infrastructure must be considered when characterizing hydrology and water quality in urban watersheds. This requirement is critical in stormwater management, which must account for how water flows above ground and underground through stormwater infrastructure. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is...
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Three-dimensional view of imagery, stormwater catch basin locations and pipes near the Mystic River in Medford, Massachusetts

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...
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New England Water Science Center
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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...
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Digital elevation model and derivative datasets to support the integration of stormwater drainage into the Washington, D.C. Stormwater StreamStats application

This dataset was created to support the Washington D.C. StreamStats project funded by the Washington D.C. Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). The dataset contains digital elevation model (DEM), flow direction and catchment layers that were conditioned using Washingtons D.C.’s stormwater network layer. The data are hosted online as a component of the USGS StreamStats web application (https
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Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

Basin characteristics data for the Washington, D.C. StreamStats application

This data was created to support the Washington D.C. StreamStats project funded by the Washington D.C. Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). The data release contains high-resolution (1-meter) land cover data layers for Washington D.C. and its tributaries that represent canopy cover, canopy cover with building and road coverage removed (“pervious canopy”), impervious cover, slope (in units
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Chesapeake Bay Activities, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

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), and
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New England Water Science Center

Basin 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), and
By
New England Water Science Center

Basin 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 Delaware
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Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, StreamStats

Fundamental 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 app
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Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, StreamStats

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

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 of
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New England Water Science Center

Basin 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
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center
Filter Total Items: 22

StreamStats—A quarter century of delivering web-based geospatial and hydrologic information to the public, and lessons learned

StreamStats is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) web application that provides streamflow statistics, such as the 1-percent annual exceedance probability peak flow, the mean flow, and the 7-day, 10-year low flow, to the public through a map-based user interface. These statistics are used in many ways, such as in the design of roads, bridges, and other structures; in delineation of floodplains for la
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Kernell G. Ries, Peter A. Steeves, Peter M. McCarthy
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Water Resources Mission Area, StreamStats

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 t
Authors
John C. Hammond, Edward J. Doheny, Jonathan J.A. Dillow, Mark R. Nardi, Peter A. Steeves, Daniel L. Warner
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StreamStats

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

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 dams
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Christopher A. Sanocki, Tara J. Williams-Sether, Peter A. Steeves, Victoria G. Christensen
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center, StreamStats

Using the NHD, WBD, and NHDPlus to solve problems

No abstract available.
Authors
Kernell G. Ries, Peter A. Steeves
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Water Resources Mission Area, National Hydrography

StreamStats, 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 ungage
Authors
Kernell 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. Vraga
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Water Resources Mission Area, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, StreamStats

Compilation 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 Nation
Authors
Gregory E. Granato, Kernell G. Ries, Peter A. Steeves
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Water Resources Mission Area, StreamStats

Equations 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, and
Authors
Gardner C. Bent, Peter A. Steeves, Andrew M. Waite
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Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center, StreamStats

Towards 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 b
Authors
Stacey A. Archfield, Peter A. Steeves, John D. Guthrie, Kernell G. Ries
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Water Resources Mission Area, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, New England Water Science Center

The 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 Esti
Authors
Stacey A. Archfield, Richard M. Vogel, Peter A. Steeves, Sara L. Brandt, Peter K. Weiskel, Stephen P. Garabedian
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Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Use of the U.S. Geological Survey StreamStats Web Application for dam safety analysis

No abstract available.
Authors
John D. Guthrie, Kernell G. Ries, Peter A. Steeves
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Water Resources Mission Area, StreamStats

Local 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 variability
Authors
Sara L. Brandt, Peter A. Steeves

Stream-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 st
Authors
K. G. Ries, P. A. Steeves, J. D. Guthrie, A. H. Rea, D. W. Stewart

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.

By
Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center
DC StreamStats storm drain functionality and basin characteristics release

DC StreamStats storm drain functionality and basin characteristics release

The MD-DE-DC Water Science Center has developed new storm drain functionality (and basin characteristics) for Washington, DC StreamStats in...

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New Web Tool Informs Stormwater Management in Urbanized Mystic River Watershed

New Web Tool Informs Stormwater Management in Urbanized Mystic River Watershed

The U.S. Geological Survey has developed a watershed-scale web application that includes stormwater infrastructure for the first time to assist...

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Linking U.S. and Canadian Border Waters

Linking U.S. and Canadian Border Waters

Clearer views of waters along the U.S. and Canadian border are now possible with new seamless digital maps. These maps make it easier to solve complex...

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Science and Products