Search for: All records

The LAGOS-US RESERVOIR data module (hereafter, RESERVOIR) classifies all 137,465 lakes > 4 hectares in the conterminous U.S. into one of the following three categories using a machine-learning predictive model based on visual interpretation of lake outlines and a classification rule based on lake shape. Natural Lakes (NLs) are defined as lakes that are likely to be entirely or mostly naturally-formed and that do not have large, flow-altering structures on or near them; Reservoir Class A’s (RSVR_A) are defined as lakes that are likely to be either human-made or highly human-altered by the presence of a relatively large water control structure that appears to significantly change the flow of water; and Reservoir Class B’s (RSVR_Bs) are lakes that are likely to be entirely human-made based on isolation from rivers and a highly angular shape that is rarely, if ever, seen in natural lakes also often. We trained the machine learning models on 12,162 manually-classified lakes to assign probabilities of a lake being in 1 of 2 of the categories (NL or RSVR), then we further classified the RSVR classification into either A or B based on NHD Fcodes, isolation, and angularity. The data module includes a detailed User Guide, metadata tables, and a data table that includes information such as location, lake geometry, surface water connectivity class, and official name. Using our definition, our classification indicates that over 46 % of lakes > 4 ha in the conterminous U.S. are reservoir lakes. These data can be combined with other LAGOS-US data modules and U.S. national databases using unique lake identifiers to study both reservoir lakes and natural lakes at broad scales. 

Abstract The LAGOS‐US RESERVOIR data module classifies all 137,465 lakes ≥ 4 ha in the conterminous U.S. into three categories using a machine learning predictive model based on visual interpretation of lake outlines and a lake shape classification rule. Natural Lakes (NLs) are defined as naturally formed, lacking large, flow‐altering structures; Reservoir Class A's (RSVR_A) are defined as lakes likely human‐made or human‐altered by a large water control structure; and Reservoir Class B's (RSVR_Bs) are lakes likely human‐made but are not connected to streams and have a shape rare in NLs. We trained machine learning models on 12,162 manually classified lakes to predict assignment as an NL or RSVR, then further classified RSVRs based on NHD Fcodes, isolation, and angularity. Our classification indicates that > 46% of lakes ≥ 4 ha in the conterminous U.S. are reservoir lakes. These data can be easily combined with other LAGOS‐US modules and U.S. national databases for the broad‐scale study of reservoir lakes and NLs.