read_waterdata_metadata: Generalized USGS Water Meta Data API retrieval function

In dataRetrieval: Retrieval Functions for USGS and EPA Hydrology and Water Quality Data

Generalized USGS Water Meta Data API retrieval function

Description

Function to get metadata from Water Data API. These are useful to get the human readable words and other metadata associated with USGS codes.

Usage

read_waterdata_metadata(collection, limit = NA, ...)

Arguments

collection	character, can be any existing collection such as "parameter-codes", "agency-codes", "altitude-datums", "aquifer-codes", "aquifer-types", "coordinate-accuracy-codes", "coordinate-datum-codes", "coordinate-method-codes", "hydrologic-unit-codes", "medium-codes", "national-aquifer-codes", "reliability-codes", "site-types", "statistic-codes", "topographic-codes", "time-zone-codes".
limit	The optional limit parameter is used to control the subset of the selected features that should be returned in each page. The maximum allowable limit is 50000. It may be beneficial to set this number lower if your internet connection is spotty. The default (NA) will set the limit to the maximum allowable limit for the service.
...	Optional arguments to pass to the query. Available parameters can be found with the get_ogc_params function.

Examples

agency_codes <- read_waterdata_metadata("agency-codes")
altitude_datums <- read_waterdata_metadata("altitude-datums")
aquifer_codes <- read_waterdata_metadata("aquifer-codes")
aquifer_types <- read_waterdata_metadata("aquifer-types")
counties <- read_waterdata_metadata("counties")
us_counties <- read_waterdata_metadata("counties", country_code = "US")
coordinate_accuracy_codes <- read_waterdata_metadata("coordinate-accuracy-codes")
coordinate_datum_codes <- read_waterdata_metadata("coordinate-datum-codes")
coordinate_method_codes <- read_waterdata_metadata("coordinate-method-codes")
huc_codes <- read_waterdata_metadata("hydrologic-unit-codes")
national_aquifer_codes <- read_waterdata_metadata("national-aquifer-codes")
parameter_codes <- read_waterdata_metadata("parameter-codes")
reliability_codes <- read_waterdata_metadata("reliability-codes")
site_types <- read_waterdata_metadata("site-types")
states <- read_waterdata_metadata("states")
us_states_territories <- read_waterdata_metadata("states", country_code = "US")
statistic_codes <- read_waterdata_metadata("statistic-codes")
topographic_codes <- read_waterdata_metadata("topographic-codes")
time_zone_codes <- read_waterdata_metadata("time-zone-codes")
time_zone_limited <- read_waterdata_metadata("time-zone-codes",
                        time_zone_description = c("Alaska", "Hawaii", "Pacific North America"))

dataRetrieval documentation built on March 31, 2026, 5:07 p.m.