Does Anyone Know How to Upload a 2024 Annual NLCD Dataset into SWAT/HAWQS?

[John Beasley]

I know this is a SWAT-user group, but I have no other resources, and this was an actual suggestion from a faculty member of a university.  I need to upload the 2024 Annual NLCD dataset found at USGS’s National Land Cover Database (NLCD) into HAWQS 2.0 to improve the validity of my PhD research. Using the recent 2024 Annual NLCD dataset, I will be improving the quality of my classification system and refining the overall scope of my research from 1986-2020.  Currently, HAWQS 2.0 is preloaded with a 2016 NLCD dataset. Comparatively, the 2024 Annual NLCD dataset provides a more precise and accurate: Temporal Coverage, Methodology, Accuracy (Overall), Western US Detail and Consistency and Change Detection versus the 2016 NLCD dataset.

I recently found an “integrated process” that I think the EPA previously used which incorporates ArcGIS Pro to manipulate the downloaded GeoTIFF from the NLCD site. ArcGIS Pro is also used to populate the subbasins with land cover data from the 2024 Annual NLCD dataset (GeoTIFF). This land cover (land use) data in HAWQS HRU.csv is broken down by: subbasin, land use type, soil type, and slope and uploaded as a HRU.csv back into HAWQS 2.0 and the model is re-run. Unfortunately, I cannot find anyone or any published literature, to validate this process or confirm this procedure by this federal agency?

Any help that you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you for your time,