BASINS Better Assessment Science Integrating point and Non-point Sources Tools for Watershed and Water Quality Assessment GISHydro ESRI User Conference Andrew T. Battin U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water

1-2 Mission of EPA’s Office of Science and Technology F Mission Highlights –To provide technical assistance and support to the Agency’s Effluent Guidelines and to the Water Quality Criteria and Standards Program –To develop guidance on specific water quality issues –Develop methods, models, procedures to support nationwide watershed studies Problem Solving and Technical Tools

1-3 BASINS Development Team F EPA –Russell Kinerson –Andrew Battin –Bill Tate –Paul Cocca –Marjorie Wellman F Aqua Terra Consultants F Tetra Tech Inc. F USDA ARS & Texas A&M (Blacklands Research Center) –Mimi Dannel –Ed Partington –Hira Biswas –Bryan Goodwin –David Wells

1-4 Examples of Watershed Management Programs Supported by EPA F Water quality assessment and analysis F Watershed management F Source water protection F TMDL program Varying problems - similar approaches

1-5 Commonalities of Watershed Management Programs –Characterization: understand the “big picture”. What is contained with the watershed? What are the activities, uses, sources, and resources? –Source identification: what potential sources are within the watershed? Identify location and spatial distribution, potential magnitude of loading/stress, location/type of impacted resources. 1 2

1-6 –Develop and evaluate management alternatives: taking action requires an evaluation of the alternatives, consideration of the benefit/cost. Analysis considers what, where and how to control/manage pollutants/stressors. –Communicate watershed information to the public: present, describe, teach, and summarize environmental information and actions for the public stakeholders. Commonalities of Watershed Management Programs 3 4

1-7 The Clean Water Act and TMDLs F Goal of CWA –Ensure that the Nation’s waters protect aquatic life, wildlife and human health F Tools –TMDLs are one of many tools authorized by the CWA to implement applicable water quality standards F Primary CWA Tool –NPDES permits for point sources - Nonpoint sources are not subject to NPDES permits F NPDES Permits –Contain effluent limits on pollution discharged, including water quality-based effluent limits when necessary to achieve water quality standards

(d) List of Waters F Each state shall assemble and evaluate all existing and readily available water quality data and information to develop the Section 303(d) list of waters. F Each state shall identify those water quality- limited segments requiring TMDLs. F Water quality-limited segment: –Any segment where it is known that water quality does not meet applicable WQS, even after the application of effluent limits by the CWA.

(d) Summary of Key Points F List includes only those waters where technology- based limitations or other required actions are not expected to implement WQS. F List is based on existing and readily available data. F List is dynamic and changes over time to reflect new information, current practices, and new control activities. F Prioritization is not necessarily by waterbody, but can be prioritized by class (e.g., type of pollutant).

1-10 The TMDL Program TMDL =  WLAi +  LAi + MOS  WLAi: Sum of waste loads (point sources)  LAi: Sum of loads (non point sources) MOS: Margin Of Safety

1-11 Problem Statement #1 Point Source Miles C mg/l Cb Criteria/standard Impaired reach P1 (Allowable Capacity)

1-12 Problem Statement #2 Non-point Source Time C mg/l Criteria/standard Existing condition Allocation Scenario

1-13 The TMDL Program F Five key steps for TMDL development –Problem statement –Definition of endpoint –Source identification –Linkage between source and receiving water –Allocation Analytical tools can be used to support each step of the TMDL “process”

1-14 Analytical Needs to Support Water Quality Management Programs F Monitoring data –Represents condition of system –Provides the backbone for most analysis and modeling F Spatial/locational data –Point sources, highly erodible areas, construction areas... F Statistical analysis and mapping tools –Water quality trends, waterbody comparisons, proximity of impaired water quality to potential sources F Assessment and modeling tools –What are the relative contributions of the various pollution sources? –What will happen if we develop the watershed? –How can we evaluate planning and management alternatives?

1-15 Analytical Needs (cont.) F Spatial analysis capabilities –Ability to relate causes and effects through mapping/overlays F Compilation, management, and facilitated access to historical data –Trend in land use changes, point source loadings, monitoring –Population growth - how much? Where?... F Source characterization and quantification –Inventory of sources –Magnitude and significance of sources F Prediction of future conditions and implications of management –What is the best solution to meet objectives and regulatory requirements?

1-16 Watershed Small Area Studies Land Use Units Rivers/Streams Urban landuse with BMPs Rural landuses with BMPs Ag Urb Sub 1 Sub 5 Sub 4 Sub 3 Sub 2 Receiving Water Subwatersheds

1-17 State and Local Data Decision- Making Analysis Watershed Management. TMDLs. Source Water Protection. Stormwater Decision- Making Analysis Watershed Management. TMDLs. Source Water Protection. Stormwater Nationally Available Data Base BaseCartographicDataEnvironmental Background Data Environmental Monitoring Data Point Source/Loadings Data Nationally Available Data Base BaseCartographicDataEnvironmental Background Data Environmental Monitoring Data Point Source/Loadings Data Models HSPF - NPSM HSPF - NPSM QUAL2E QUAL2E TOXIROUTE TOXIROUTE Model Post-Processors Models HSPF - NPSM HSPF - NPSM QUAL2E QUAL2E TOXIROUTE TOXIROUTE Model Post-Processors Assessment Tools TargetAssess Data Mining Watershed Reporting Assessment Tools TargetAssess Data Mining Watershed Reporting BASINS BASINS V2.0 System Overview Target Assess DM

Overview of BASINS Data Products

1-19 GIS Data Data Categories F Base Cartographic Data F Environmental Data

1-20 Base Cartographic Data F Definition: –Data that enhances the ability to interpret maps by providing a known frame of reference F Examples: –EPA regional boundaries –Major roads –Populated place locations –State and county boundaries –Urbanized area boundaries

1-21 BASINS Environmental Data F Data capturing information on spatial and temporal changes in environmental conditions GIS Pollution Sources (Environmental Stressors) Physical Data (Landscape Features) Monitoring Data (Environmental Response)

1-22 BASINS Data Products Environmental Data F Pollution sources –Permitted dischargers (PCS) –Toxic Release Inventory sites (TRI) –Industrial Facility Dischargers (IFD) –Mineral Industry Locations –Superfund sites (NPL) –Land Use/ Land Cover –Population centers GIS Sources Landscape Monitoring

1-23 BASINS Data Products Environmental Data F Physical landscape features –USGS Watershed boundaries –RF1 and RF3 Stream networks –Land Use/ Land Cover –Elevation (DEM) –Dam locations –Soil characteristics GIS Sources Landscape Monitoring

1-24 BASINS Data Products Environmental Data F Environmental monitoring –Water Quality station summaries (STORET) –Bacteria station summaries (STORET) –Water Quality Observation Data –National Sediment Inventory (NSI) –USGS Stream flow (gaging stations) –Fish and Wildlife Advisories –Shellfish Contamination Inventory –Clean Water Needs Survey –Meteorological (477 station locations) GIS Sources Landscape Monitoring

1-25 Meteorological Data in BASINS Example of GIS Coverage of Meteorological Station NPSM Meteorological Station Selection Screen Identify appropriate Meteorological Station from GIS WDM INF

BASINS Assessment Tools

1-27 BASINS Project View

1-28 Types of Tools Included in BASINS (3 Categories of Tools) F Spatial analysis and overlays (GIS capability) –Facilitate examination of multiple types of information –Access to full functionality of ArcView F BASINS custom suite of integrated tools –Targeting –Assessment –Data Mining –Watershed Reporting F BASINS utilities –Import new or local data sets (watersheds, landuse) –Re-classify landuse, DEM –Watershed Delineation

1-29 BASINS Custom Tools included with BASINS  Target : Provides broad-based evaluation of watershed water quality and point source loadings.  Assess : Watershed-based evaluation of specific water quality stations and/or dischargers and their proximity to waterbodies.  Data Mining : Dynamic link of data elements using a combination of tables and maps. Allows for visual interpretation of geographic and historical data.  Watershed Reporting : Automated summary report system. Allows users to select types of information to be included. Automated generation of associated graphics and tables. Target DM Assess Regional Level Watershed Level Station Level

1-30 Target Select Target option from menu Overall summary of monitoring data Distribution of monitoring data by CU Ranking of watershed

1-31 Assess Select Assess option from menu Distribution of monitoring stations by CU Station summaries for selected pollutant Average condition for selected pollutant by CU

1-32 Data Mining Spatial distribution of monitoring stations WQ summaries WQ stations WQ parameter and code

1-33 BASINS BASINS Custom Tool Watershed Report Information available: u Administrative and locational report u Point source discharge summary u Dam locations u State soil series data u Land use summary u Stream system inventory u Toxics (NSI, TRI) u STORET water quality monitoring

1-34 An Example of Watershed Report

1-35 BASINS BASINS Utility Tool Import F The import tool gives users the capability to add their own data into the BASINS system: –Watershed boundaries (8-digit or smaller) –Landuse –Stream Networks –Elevation (DEM) Polygons –Water Quality Observation Data

1-36 BASINS BASINS Utility Tool Landuse Re-classification F Users can re-classify part of the landuse theme or the entire theme interactively F Users can re-classify their imported landuse data F Re-classification to various levels of detail –Anderson Level 1 to Level 2 –Create more detailed levels F Weigh the potential significance of land use changes on water quality

1-37 BASINS BASINS Utility Tool Watershed Delineation F Allows users to interactively subdivide a USGS 8- digit watershed into smaller sub-watersheds using mouse point-and-click inputs. F Sub-delineated watersheds and underlying data are then available for more detailed modeling. F It provides capability to modify the previous delineations.

1-38 An Example of Delineated Watersheds using DEM, RF3, and RF1

1-39 Modeling Process Data Collection (historic, field) Model Input Preparation Parameter Evaluation Calibration Verification Post-Audit Analysis of Alternatives Phase I Phase II Phase III Need to plan ahead and follow a structured modeling plan

1-40 Modeling Strategy F Need to define a suitable level of segmentation 2 Segments8 Segments LumpedDistributed Factors to Consider Watershed LU distribution Soils Topo/weather stn. loc. Data (weather, PS) Management Planning Regulatory Impact Alternative analysis

1-41 Overview of Model Categories F Landscape models –Runoff of water and dissolved materials on and through the land surface –Erosion of sediment, and associated constituents, from the land surface F Receiving water models –Flow of water through streams, into lakes and estuaries –Transport, deposition, and transformation in receiving waters

1-42 BASINS Modeling System F NPSM (HSPF v11) –Integration of Point and Non-Point Source Modeling –Instream flow routing and water quality –Specialized agricultural chemical modeling u Pesticides u Nutrients –Other Chemicals u Metals u BOD/DO –Pathogens –Sediment –Air Deposition (under development) –Continuous hydrologic simulation - Hourly time step

1-43 How NPSM fits into BASINS Meteorological Data GIS Landuse and pollutant specific Data HSPF Landuse Distribution Stream Data Point Sources Core Model Post Processing Windows interface Landscape data A B D E F C

1-44 NPSM Interface - Data Editor

1-45 NPSM Landuse Editor

1-46 NPSM Pollutant Selection

1-47 RF3 Watershed Delineation

1-48 RF3 Watershed Delineation

1-49 Nonpoint Source Modeling with RF3 Network

1-50 Reach Visualization Tool

1-51 Reach Visualization Tool

1-52 Reach Cross Section Visualization

1-53 Hydraulic Function Table Graph

1-54 Interpretation of Modeling Results for Better Decisions F Graphing Capabilities –Spatial and temporal representation of data –Analysis of magnitude and significance of sources –Model calibration (observed vs. modeled) F Statistical Functions –Graphical representation of geometric and arithmetic means –Statistics related to exceedances of a user-defined limit F Comparative analysis –Evaluation of various management alternatives –Developing Allocation Scenarios –Consensus building with stakeholders

1-55 Graphing Capabilities An example of Calibration User-defined x- and y- axis scales Selected plot NPSM output USGS data

1-56 Statistical Functions Related to Threshold Exceedances Plot of geometric or arithmetic mean User-defined step length and exceedance limit Selected statistical function Table of exceedance information

1-57 Comparative Analysis For developing Allocation Scenarios Output from 1st simulation Output from 2nd simulation Load reduction for selected landuse

1-58 BASINS Models continued F QUAL2E –Low flow euthrophication modeling –Point source impact evaluation –BOD/DO, nutrients, bacteria –Steady State/Dynamic water quality modeling –Spatial representation of chemical concentrations in the stream

1-59 QUAL2E Output

1-60 Future Directions - System F Redesign of System –Lifecycle Development - System, Data, Models, etc. F DBMS –Formalized Database Management Scheme - maintainable, updateable, and reusable –Default Data - physiographic and other hydrologic data –Management of all spatial and non-spatial data; –Away from flat files, towards RDBMS and in some instances ODBMS

1-61 Future Directions - Tools F Pursuit of a client/server architecture –“Partitioning of labor” F Component-based approach on the client –Development of discrete tools that can be extended –Modular and maintainable software construction F Emphasis on Better Data Management and Reuse –Build capacity to address long term needs –Minimize effects of employee turnover and learning curve –Move modeling investigations towards a “production environment”

1-62 Future Directions - New Models F Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) F Modified Version of Generalized Watershed Loading Function (GWLF) Model F Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC) Model

1-63 Future Directions Standardized Data Interchange GIS Tools SWATNPSM Watershed Delineation Reach Network Soils Extraction Land Cover Extraction Other (physical aspect, slope) Meteorologic Spatial Data Preprocessing QUAL2EGWLF

1-64 Future Directions Standardized Output Processing Output Manager SWATNPSMQUAL2EGWLF Time series analysis Source significance Investigate alternatives Comparative analysis

1-65 SWAT Main Interface

1-66 Primary Watershed and Reach Delineation Tool: Specify DEM Source Superimpose RF-x Layer Threshold to control drainage density Modify sub-watershed outlets Derive spatial attributes required for modeling!

1-67 Results from Sample Watershed Delineation:

1-68 Sample Land Cover

1-69 Sample STATSGO Soil Polygons

1-70 Interface to SWAT model populated automatically: Model Interface automatically populated with GIS outputs

1-71 Add Point Sources & Reservoirs

1-72 Define Landuse and Soil Characteristics

1-73 GWLF F Based on the original model by Haith, D., Mandel, R., and Wu, R. (Cornell, 1992). F Represents an intermediate step to continuous simulation watershed models like HSPF and SWAT. F Being modified to simulate loadings of bacteria, in addition to flow, sediment, and nutrients.

1-74 GWLF Tool Features F Model being rewritten in Java (Javabeans). F Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) to manage all data. F Postprocessor to visualize model outputs in several different presentation styles. F Model GUI will allow user to enter project related information. F Automated report generation tool (inputs, results, scenarios, comparative results and discussion points).

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1-76 EFDC Toolkit Basic Goals F Create a suite of tools to facilitate multi-dimensional hydrodynamic & water quality modeling analyses. F Minimize labor intensive activities. F Reinforce good modeling practice. F Provide a robust data management scheme to maximize the reuse and sharing of data. F Facilitate team approach to modeling investigations.

1-77 EFDC Toolkit Features: F Open client/server architecture. F GIS neutral. F Targeted to MS Windows R and NT R. F Component-based architecture (Java Swing). F GUI for grid generator and interface to EFDC. F Post-processor for visualizing model output. F RDBMS to manage all aspects of model input data - eventually to be migrated to open ODBMS. F Model-to-Model linkages (HSPF -> EFDC).

1-78 EFDC Toolkit F Three principal components: –GUI interface to EFDC grid generator to setup physical domain –GUI interface to EFDC model –Visualization tool

1-79 EFDC Toolkit

1-80 Data Shoreline Import facility

1-81 Grid Specification

1-82 Generated Cartesian Grid Scheme

1-83 Imported Bathymetric Data and Editing

1-84 Processed Bathymetric Data

1-85 Final Grid Scheme Exported to Text File

1-86 Conclusion F We need to promote better tool organization and reusability, component interchange, and standardized data exchange formats. F Strive for open client/server, component-based architectures. F RDBMS to manage all aspects of model input data - eventually to be migrated to open ODBMS. F Model-to-Model linkages (HSPF -> EFDC). F Move modeling towards a more industrialized process while maintaining quality of analyses.

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