How to Use the Data - OpenWaterFoundation/owf-data-co-river-outfitters GitHub Wiki

The Colorado River Outfitters dataset intends to provide a complete statewide list of river outfitters assembled from multiple sources. There are identifiers for each outfitter and the dataset allows cross-referencing the identifiers so that other datasets can be joined. For example, the Source Water Route Framework, contains measured, named streams from the National Hydrography Dataset and uses GNIS IDs and names. GNIS IDs and names can be used to understand the number of outfitters operating on a particular river and sections of river that are utilized. Other potential uses of this dataset include the following. Note that this largely requires the use of additional data that are not currently in the dataset. Data issues are discussed in the Data Issues section.

• Creating a point map of outfitters to indicate where boating activities are concentrated.
• Creating a point map of outfitters in which points are sized or color-coded based on an attribute such as number of clients served or number of boats floated. This can serve to help understand the current state of rafting/boating use.
• Creating a map of the streams that are commercially floated and highlighting the stream miles that are floated by the various outfitters. This can serve to help understand the current state of rafting/boating use. These stretches of river would be key candidates for protection of recreational needs.
• Creating a heat map (also known as a raster plot) of daily, or possibly hourly, flows of the river miles that are commercially floated. Flows can be color-coded to indicate if they are ideal for floating or if they at least meet some minimum flow. This can serve to help understand what the ideal (or at least minimum) conditions are for rafting, how frequently those conditions are met, and if they have changed over time. This could be useful for water supply planning so that conflicts over recreational needs can be avoided. For example, future water development projects could take into account recreational needs if it is known that river outfitters estimate that "X" amount of water is needed from May to September in Clear Creek. This could then potentially be tied to the average amount of revenue generated by river outfitters in Clear Creek in an average season to indicate the economic importance of maintaining certain flow conditions. An example of a raster plot of streamflows from the U.S. Geological Survey is shown below.

• Creating a heat map of the rafting season of a particular river in which each day is color-coded as yes/no for being a rafting day; the heat map could contain several years of data. This can serve to help understand the typical rafting season and to assess any trends over time.

The Excel and csv files can be used as tabular datasets as is, to create filtered lists or to link to other datasets. Data-processing software such as TSTool can be used to link this dataset to other datasets.

The format and contents of the dataset will change over time. It is recommended to save a copy of the dataset.