Methodology
WaterGapMap combines public records and rule-based indicators to help identify records that may benefit from human review. The methodology is designed to support prioritization and investigation, not to produce compliance determinations.
Informational screening
The tool is designed for triage. It highlights possible data gaps, use-record patterns, and contextual attributes.
Screening Inputs
The current MVP evaluates several categories of information:
- Structure information
- Diversion reporting records
- Water-right information
- Net amount information
- Plan-related information
- Diversion activity history
It does not determine legality, compliance, abandonment, injury, validity, priority administration, or ownership.
General process
- Gather available public structure, diversion, rights, and governance records.
- Normalize identifiers where feasible, especially structure identifiers used across public datasets.
- Compute simple review signals, such as reported-use recency, data availability, and source-record differences.
- Display records with plain-language reasons so reviewers can decide whether additional verification is warranted.
Activity Classification
Activity status is based on the most recent diversion reporting year available.
Active
Diversion reporting within the past 10 years.
Possibly Inactive
Most recent diversion reporting between 11 and 20 years ago.
Inactive
Most recent diversion reporting more than 20 years ago.
No Data
No usable diversion reporting information available.
Review Priority Logic
High Priority
Assigned when recent diversion activity exists and one or more review triggers are identified.
Examples include:
- Recent diversion reporting with no matching rights record identified.
- Recent diversion reporting with no matching net amount identified.
Medium Priority
Assigned when review triggers are identified, but the available diversion activity appears historical or less recent.
Examples include:
- Historical diversion reporting with no matching rights record identified.
- Historical diversion reporting with no matching net amount identified.
Low Priority
Assigned when no stronger review signal is identified by the current screening logic.
Examples include:
- Rights and net amount information are identified.
- No diversion records are available.
Unknown
Assigned when available information is insufficient to support classification.
Human review required
Any flagged record should be checked against authoritative records, source agency systems, local facts, field conditions, historical context, and qualified professional judgment. Public datasets can contain missing values, reporting lag, identifier mismatch, geometry error, duplicate records, and changes not reflected in the reviewed snapshot.