BASINSBetter Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources

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BASINS Better Assessment Science Integrating
point and Non-point Sources A Tool for
Watershed and Water Quality Assessment
Watershed 2000
David Wells EPA Office of Water Office of Science
and Technology
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Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program

• TMDL - Calculation of Maximum pollutant a
  waterbody can receive and still meet water
  quality standards
• Sum of the allowable loads of single pollutant
  from all point and non-point sources
• Includes a margin of safety, seasonal variation,
  and needed reductions to meet WQ standards

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TMDLs

• 1998 303(d) list cycle contained 21,845 waters
  with 41,318 impairments
• Top Five Impairments - Sediments, Pathogens,
  Nutrients, Metals, Dissolved Oxygen

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BASINS
EPAs Office of Science and Technology

• Mission
• Develop methods, models, and procedures to
  support nationwide watershed studies (TMDLs,
  etc.)
• To provide technical assistance and support to
  the Agencys Water Quality Criteria and Standards
  Program
• To develop guidance on specific water quality
  issues

• Integrates a geographic information system
  (GIS),
• national watershed data and environmental
  assessment
• and modeling tools

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BASINS Development Team

• EPA
• Russell Kinerson
• David Wells
• Ed Partington
• Mimi Dannel
• Paul Cocca
• Marjorie Wellman

• AQUA TERRA Consultants
• Tetra Tech Inc.
• USDA ARS Texas AM
  (Blacklands Research Center)
• Other Contributors
• CH2M Hill
• Utah State

• BASINS Education and Training
• EPA
• Hira Biswas and Bryan Goodwin
• Utah State
• University of Texas at Austin

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BASINS

• Components
• 1. National databases
• 2. Assessment Tools
• 3. Utilities
• 4. Watershed and Water Quality Models
• 5. Post-processing and Output Tools

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Simplified Diagram of BASINS 3.0
BASINS GIS Interface
Watershed Delineation Automated - Non SA
Watershed Delineation Automated w/ ESRI SA 1.1
Watershed Delineation Manual
Generate Watershed Properties
QUAL2E
WIN HSPF
SWAT
PLOAD
GWLF (Not Yet Implemented)
GenScn (Post-processor)
Output and Analysis
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Automated Watershed Delineator
Based on 124,000 DEM
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Watershed Models

• Screening
• PLOAD
• Detailed
• HSPF (Hydrological Simulation Prog - Fortran)
• SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool)

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PLOAD

• Spreadsheet Model
• Uses EPAs Simple Method
• Calculates pollutant loads from Watersheds
• Estimates average annual nonpoint and point
  source loads Optional BMP Evaluation and Post
  Processing tools

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WinHSPF

• New Windows based HSPF Interface
• Replaces BASINS NPSM (Non-Point Source Model)
• Preserves basic functionality of NPSM
• Includes complete HSPF parameter editing
• Improved Scenario Management Interface
• Assistance with Parameter Estimation
• Interactive with HSPFParm database

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HSPF - Hydrological Simulation Prog- Fortran

• Update HSPF to Version 12
• New snow melt routine
• Requires only
• precipitation and air temperature data
• Ability to model land to land transfers, High
  water tables, surface ponding (wetlands)
• New BMP and Reporting Modules

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GenScn

• Interface for Scenario development and analysis
• New Version developed between EPA and USGS

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GenScn

• Full HSPF Model setup, execution,
  post-processing, display and analysis
• Expanded to provide full functionality of HSPF
• Special Actions, Nutrient modeling, Air
  deposition
• Interactive with WDM Utility and HSPF Parameter
  Database
• SWAT output post-processing
• Does not require ArcView or Spatial Analyst
• No software licensing costs

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SWAT

• Basin scale Model
• Models water and sediment movement, crop growth,
  nutrient cycling, bacteria, metals, etc.
• Originally developed by USDA, ARS
• Incorporates features or influenced by SWRRB,
  CREAMS, GLEAMS, and EPIC

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SWAT

• Physically based Model
• Does not use regression equations to describe
  relationship between input and output
• Needs specific information about weather, soil
  properties, topography, vegetation and land
  management
• Uses readily available input data often available
  from federal agencies and from internet
• Simulates watersheds with no monitoring data
• (no stream gages) using Weather simulator

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New Tools and Utilities

• Bacterial Indicator Tool
• WDMUtil
• HSPFParm and HSPEXP

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BASINS 3.0
Expanded Features and Utilities of HSPF and SWAT
WIN HSPF Interface
SWAT Interface
WDM Utility (weather data editor)
Weather Generation (optional)
Bacterial Indicator Tool
HSPF Parm
HSPF V. 12
SWAT
HSPF EXPERT
GenScn (Post-processing)
Output and Analysis
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Bacterial Indicator Tool

• Estimate of non-point source loading from
  livestock, septic systems, and wildlife
• Incorporates landuse/landcover information
• Watershed/subwatershed scale
• Initial input literature based

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WDMUtil

• Create and edit Time Series files with
  Meteorological data (WDM files)
• Add stations, fill in missing data, format input
  for HSPF

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HSPFParm and HSPEXP

• HSPFParm
• Interactive Database with HSPF input parameters
  for over 40 watersheds in 14 states
• HSPEXP
• Provides parameter advice for calibrating HSPF

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Version 3.0 Architecture

• Modularization
• Flexible, Easy to Update
• BASINS Functions converted to Extensions
• Currently 700 Scripts gt 20 Extensions
• BASINS Extension Manager
• Standardize Naming

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BASINS Extensions

• Data Managers
• 1. Import (External Data)
• 2. Theme Manager
• 3. Update (Additions to Existing Datasets)
• 4. Grid Projector
• 5. WDM Util
• 6. GenScn
• 7. Archive/Export
• Assessment Tools
• 8. Target/Assess/Data Mining
• Watershed Delineators
• 9. Manual
• 10. Automatic/Subbasin Parameters

• Watershed Utilities
• 13. LandUse classification/Point Source
  Location/Water Quality Stations
• 14. Land Use/Soil Overlay
• 15. HRU
• Models
• 16. QUAL2E
• 17. WinHSPF
• 18. SWAT
• 19. PLOAD
• Requires ESRI Spatial Analyst

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http//www.epa.gov/ost/basins
Please contact David Wells at
wells.david_at_epa.gov