Author: Sam Albers
Date: 2026-06-11

# tidyhydat: An Introduction

#### Sam Albers

#### 2026-06-11

## Package loading

In addition to tidyhydat, this vignette makes use of the dplyr package for data manipulations and ggplot2 for plotting.

    library(tidyhydat)
    library(dplyr)
    library(ggplot2)

# `tidyhydat` package

This vignette will outline a few key options that will hopefully make `tidyhydat` useful.

## HYDAT download

To use many of the functions in the `tidyhydat` package you will need to download a version of the HYDAT database, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s database of historical hydrometric data then tell R where to find the database. Conveniently `tidyhydat` does all this for you via:

    download_hydat()

This downloads the most recent version of HYDAT and then saves it in a location on your computer where `tidyhydat`’s function will look for it. Do be patient though as this takes a long time! To see where HYDAT was saved you can run `hy_dir()`. Now that you have HYDAT downloaded and ready to go, you are all set to begin some hydrologic analysis.

## Combining validated and provisional data

For most analysis needs, the `available_flows()` and `available_levels()` functions provide the most complete picture by combining validated historical data with recent provisional real-time data:

    available_flows(
      station_number = "08MF005",
      start_date = "2020-01-01",
      end_date = Sys.Date()
    )

These functions: - Automatically combine validated data from HYDAT (or web service if HYDAT unavailable) with provisional real-time data - Include an `Approval` column indicating whether each record is “final” (validated) or “provisional” (subject to revision) - Aggregate real-time data to daily means for consistency - Handle missing data gracefully

For water levels, use `available_levels()`:

    available_levels(
      station_number = "08MF005",
      start_date = "2020-01-01",
      end_date = Sys.Date()
    )

## Usage of HYDAT functions

Most functions in `tidyhydat` follow a common argument structure. We will use the `hy_daily_flows()` function for the following examples though the same approach applies to most functions in the package (See `ls("package:tidyhydat")` for a list of exported objects). Much of the functionality of `tidyhydat` originates with the choice of hydrometric stations that you are interested in. A user will often find themselves creating vectors of station numbers. There are several ways to do this.

The simplest case is if you would like to extract only station. You can supply this directly to the `station_number` argument:

    hy_daily_flows(station_number = "08LA001")

    ##   Queried from version of HYDAT released on 2026-04-17
    ##    Observations:                      32,447
    ##    Measurement flags:                 6,304
    ##    Parameter(s):                      Flow
    ##    Date range:                        1914-01-01 to 2024-12-31
    ##    Station(s) returned:               1
    ##    Stations requested but not returned:
    ##     All stations returned.
    ## # A tibble: 32,447 × 5
    ##    STATION_NUMBER Date       Parameter Value Symbol
    ##    <chr>          <date>     <chr>     <dbl> <chr>
    ##  1 08LA001        1914-01-01 Flow        144 <NA>
    ##  2 08LA001        1914-01-02 Flow        144 <NA>
    ##  3 08LA001        1914-01-03 Flow        144 <NA>
    ##  4 08LA001        1914-01-04 Flow        140 <NA>
    ##  5 08LA001        1914-01-05 Flow        140 <NA>
    ##  6 08LA001        1914-01-06 Flow        136 <NA>
    ##  7 08LA001        1914-01-07 Flow        136 <NA>
    ##  8 08LA001        1914-01-08 Flow        140 <NA>
    ##  9 08LA001        1914-01-09 Flow        140 <NA>
    ## 10 08LA001        1914-01-10 Flow        140 <NA>
    ## # ℹ 32,437 more rows

Another method is to use `hy_stations()` to generate your vector which is then given the `station_number` argument. For example, we could take a subset for only those active stations within Prince Edward Island (Province code:PE) and then create vector for `hy_daily_flows()`:

    PEI_stns <- hy_stations() |>
      filter(HYD_STATUS == "ACTIVE") |>
      filter(PROV_TERR_STATE_LOC == "PE") |>
      pull_station_number()

    PEI_stns

    ## [1] "01CA003" "01CB002" "01CB004" "01CB018" "01CC002" "01CC005" "01CC010" "01CC011" "01CD005"

    hy_daily_flows(station_number = PEI_stns)

    ##   Queried from version of HYDAT released on 2026-04-17
    ##    Observations:                      129,218
    ##    Measurement flags:                 22,638
    ##    Parameter(s):                      Flow
    ##    Date range:                        1961-08-01 to 2024-12-31
    ##    Station(s) returned:               9
    ##    Stations requested but not returned:
    ##     All stations returned.
    ## # A tibble: 129,218 × 5
    ##    STATION_NUMBER Date       Parameter Value Symbol
    ##    <chr>          <date>     <chr>     <dbl> <chr>
    ##  1 01CA003        1961-08-01 Flow         NA <NA>
    ##  2 01CB002        1961-08-01 Flow         NA <NA>
    ##  3 01CA003        1961-08-02 Flow         NA <NA>
    ##  4 01CB002        1961-08-02 Flow         NA <NA>
    ##  5 01CA003        1961-08-03 Flow         NA <NA>
    ##  6 01CB002        1961-08-03 Flow         NA <NA>
    ##  7 01CA003        1961-08-04 Flow         NA <NA>
    ##  8 01CB002        1961-08-04 Flow         NA <NA>
    ##  9 01CA003        1961-08-05 Flow         NA <NA>
    ## 10 01CB002        1961-08-05 Flow         NA <NA>
    ## # ℹ 129,208 more rows

We can also merge our station choice and data extraction into one unified pipe which accomplishes a single goal. For example if for some reason we wanted all the stations in Canada that had the name “Canada” in them we unify that selection and data extraction process into a single pipe:

    search_stn_name("canada") |>
      pull_station_number() |>
      hy_daily_flows()

    ##   Queried from version of HYDAT released on 2026-04-17
    ##    Observations:                      93,879
    ##    Measurement flags:                 28,686
    ##    Parameter(s):                      Flow
    ##    Date range:                        1918-08-01 to 2025-12-31
    ##    Station(s) returned:               7
    ##    Stations requested but not returned:
    ##     All stations returned.
    ## # A tibble: 93,879 × 5
    ##    STATION_NUMBER Date       Parameter Value Symbol
    ##    <chr>          <date>     <chr>     <dbl> <chr>
    ##  1 01AK001        1918-08-01 Flow      NA    <NA>
    ##  2 01AK001        1918-08-02 Flow      NA    <NA>
    ##  3 01AK001        1918-08-03 Flow      NA    <NA>
    ##  4 01AK001        1918-08-04 Flow      NA    <NA>
    ##  5 01AK001        1918-08-05 Flow      NA    <NA>
    ##  6 01AK001        1918-08-06 Flow      NA    <NA>
    ##  7 01AK001        1918-08-07 Flow       1.78 <NA>
    ##  8 01AK001        1918-08-08 Flow       1.78 <NA>
    ##  9 01AK001        1918-08-09 Flow       1.5  <NA>
    ## 10 01AK001        1918-08-10 Flow       1.78 <NA>
    ## # ℹ 93,869 more rows

We saw above that if we were only interested in a subset of dates we could use the `start_date` and `end_date` arguments. A date must be supplied to both these arguments in the form of YYYY-MM-DD. If you were interested in all daily flow data from station number “08LA001” for 1981, you would specify all days in 1981 :

    hy_daily_flows(station_number = "08LA001",
                   start_date = "1981-01-01",
                   end_date = "1981-12-31")

This generally outlines the usage of the HYDAT functions within `tidyhydat`.

## Real-time functions

In addition to the approved and vetted data in the HYDAT database ECCC also offers unapproved data that is subject to revision. `tidyhydat` provides three functions to access these data sources. Remember these are unapproved data and should treated as such:

- `realtime_stations()`
- `realtime_dd()`
- `realtime_ws()`

Not every stations is currently part of the real-time network. Therefore `realtime_stations()` points to a (hopefully) updated ECCC data file of active real-time stations. We can use the `realtime_stations()` functionality to get a vector of stations by jurisdiction. For example, we can choose all the stations in Prince Edward Island using the following:

    realtime_stations(prov_terr_state_loc = "PE")

`hy_stations()` and `realtime_stations()` perform similar tasks albeit on different data sources. `hy_stations()` extracts directly from HYDAT. In addition to real-time stations, `hy_stations()` outputs discontinued and non-real-time stations:

    hy_stations(prov_terr_state_loc = "PE")

This is contrast to `realtime_stations()` which downloads all real-time stations. Though this is not always the case, it is best to use `realtime_stations()` when dealing with real-time data and `hy_stations()` when interacting with HYDAT. It is also appropriate to filter the output of `hy_stations()` by the `REAL_TIME` column.

### Meterological Service of Canada datamart - `realtime_dd()`

To download real-time data using the datamart we can use approximately the same conventions discussed above. Using `realtime_dd()` we can easily select specific stations by supplying a station of interest:

    realtime_dd(station_number = "08LG006")

Another option is to provide simply the province as an argument and download all stations from that province:

    realtime_dd(prov_terr_state_loc = "PE")

### Real-time web service - `realtime_ws()`

The `realtime_ws()` function provides access to ECCC’s real-time web service. This offers several advantages including access to a wider variety of parameters and the ability to filter by date range. Using `realtime_ws()` requires specifying both the station and parameter of interest:

    realtime_ws(station_number = "08MF005",
                parameters = 46, ## Water level
                start_date = Sys.Date() - lubridate::days(30),
                end_date = Sys.Date())

You can query multiple parameters simultaneously. See `data("param_id")` for a complete list of available parameter codes:

    realtime_ws(station_number = "08MF005",
                parameters = c(46, 47), ## Water level and discharge
                start_date = Sys.Date() - lubridate::days(7),
                end_date = Sys.Date())

## Using the web service without HYDAT

For smaller queries where downloading the entire HYDAT database is unnecessary, you can use `hy_daily_flows()` and `hy_daily_levels()` with `hydat_path = FALSE` to access historical daily data directly from ECCC’s web service. These are particularly useful when you need data for only a few stations or a limited time period:

### Historical flows and levels via web service

    hy_daily_flows(station_number = "08MF005",
                   hydat_path = FALSE,
                   start_date = "2020-01-01",
                   end_date = "2020-12-31")

Similarly for water levels:

    hy_daily_levels(station_number = "08NL071",
                    hydat_path = FALSE,
                    start_date = "2019-01-01",
                    end_date = "2019-12-31")

Multiple stations can be queried in a single call:

    hy_daily_flows(station_number = c("08MF005", "08NL071"),
                   hydat_path = FALSE,
                   start_date = "2020-01-01",
                   end_date = "2020-12-31")

## Search functions

You can also make use of auxiliary functions in `tidyhydat` called `search_stn_name()` and `search_stn_number()` to look for matches when you know part of a name of a station. For example:

    search_stn_name("liard")

    ## # A tibble: 10 × 5
    ##    STATION_NUMBER STATION_NAME                                    PROV_TERR_STATE_LOC LATITUDE LONGITUDE
    ##    <chr>          <chr>                                           <chr>                  <dbl>     <dbl>
    ##  1 10AA001        LIARD RIVER AT UPPER CROSSING                   YT                      60.1     -129.
    ##  2 10AA006        LIARD RIVER BELOW SCURVY CREEK                  YT                      60.8     -131.
    ##  3 10BE001        LIARD RIVER AT LOWER CROSSING                   BC                      59.4     -126.
    ##  4 10EC004        SOUTH NAHANNI RIVER NEAR LIARD RIVER CONFLUENCE NT                      61.0     -123.
    ##  5 10ED001        LIARD RIVER AT FORT LIARD                       NT                      60.2     -123.
    ##  6 10ED002        LIARD RIVER NEAR THE MOUTH                      NT                      61.7     -121.
    ##  7 10BE005        LIARD RIVER ABOVE BEAVER RIVER                  BC                      59.7     -124.
    ##  8 10BE006        LIARD RIVER ABOVE KECHIKA RIVER                 BC                      59.7     -127.
    ##  9 10ED008        LIARD RIVER AT LINDBERG LANDING                 NT                      61.1     -123.
    ## 10 10GC004        MACKENZIE RIVER ABOVE LIARD RIVER               NT                      61.9     -121.

Similarly, `search_stn_number()` can be useful if you are interested in all stations from the 08MF sub-sub-drainage:

    search_stn_number("08MF")

    ## # A tibble: 54 × 5
    ##    STATION_NUMBER STATION_NAME                           PROV_TERR_STATE_LOC LATITUDE LONGITUDE
    ##    <chr>          <chr>                                  <chr>                  <dbl>     <dbl>
    ##  1 08MF005        FRASER RIVER AT HOPE                   BC                      49.4     -121.
    ##  2 08MF035        FRASER RIVER NEAR AGASSIZ              BC                      49.2     -122.
    ##  3 08MF038        FRASER RIVER AT CANNOR                 BC                      49.1     -122.
    ##  4 08MF040        FRASER RIVER ABOVE TEXAS CREEK         BC                      50.6     -122.
    ##  5 08MF062        COQUIHALLA RIVER BELOW NEEDLE CREEK    BC                      49.5     -121.
    ##  6 08MF065        NAHATLATCH RIVER BELOW TACHEWANA CREEK BC                      50.0     -122.
    ##  7 08MF068        COQUIHALLA RIVER ABOVE ALEXANDER CREEK BC                      49.4     -121.
    ##  8 08MF072        FRASER RIVER AT LAIDLAW                BC                      49.3     -122.
    ##  9 08MF074        FRASER RIVER ABOVE HERRLING ISLAND     BC                      49.3     -122.
    ## 10 08MF075        FRASER RIVER AT LOWER KENT             BC                      49.2     -122.
    ## # ℹ 44 more rows

## Using joins

Sometimes it is required to make use of information from two tables from HYDAT. In some cases, we need to combine the information into one table using a common column. Here we will illustrate calculating runoff by combining the `hy_stations` tables with the `hy_daily_flows` table by the `STATION_NUMBER` column:

    stns <- c("08NH130", "08NH005")
    runoff_data <- hy_daily_flows(station_number = stns, start_date = "2000-01-01") |>
      left_join(
        hy_stations(station_number = stns) |>
          select(STATION_NUMBER, STATION_NAME, DRAINAGE_AREA_GROSS),
        by = "STATION_NUMBER") |>
      ## conversion to mm/d
      mutate(runoff = Value / DRAINAGE_AREA_GROSS * 86400 / 1e6 * 1e3)

    ggplot(runoff_data) +
      geom_line(aes(x = Date, y = runoff, colour = STATION_NAME)) +
      labs(y = "Mean daily runoff [mm/d]") +
      scale_colour_viridis_d(option = "C") +
      theme_minimal() +
      theme(legend.position = "bottom")

This is an effective way to make use of the variety of tables available in HYDAT.

# License

    Copyright 2017 Province of British Columbia

    Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
    you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
    You may obtain a copy of the License at

       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

    Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
    distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
    WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
    See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
    limitations under the License.