vvEPA
                   United States
                   Environmental Protection
                   Agency
Fact Sheet
                                 Office of Water
                                 4305 T
EPA-823-F-04-026
September 2004
                Better Assessment Science  Integrating
     point and Nonpoint Sources,  Version 3 (BASINS  3.1)
Summary
Version 3.1 of the Better Assessment Science
Integrating point and Nonpoint Sources (BASINS)
software system has been released. BASINS supports
the objectives of facilitating examination of
environmental information, supporting analysis of
environmental systems, and providing a framework for
examining management alternatives.

Background
Originally introduced in 1996 with subsequent releases
in 1998 and 2001, BASINS is a multipurpose
environmental analysis system designed for use by
regional, state, and local agencies in performing
watershed and water quality-based studies. This
system makes it possible to quickly assess large
amounts of point source and non-point source data in a
format that is easy to use and understand. Installed on
a personal computer, BASINS allows the user to
assess water quality at selected stream sites or
throughout an entire watershed. This invaluable tool
integrates environmental data,  analytical tools, and
modeling programs to support development of cost-
effective approaches to watershed management and
environmental protection, including TMDLs.

What=s New in BASINS 3.1?
Like the previous release, BASINS includes a data
extractor, projector, project builder, GIS interface,
various GIS-based tools, a series  of models, and
custom databases. But instead of including that data
on multiple CDs as in version 3.0, data are available
entirely through a web data extraction tool. This web
data extractor provides a tool for dynamic
downloading of BASINS data  from a variety of
sources.  Other significant enhancements in version
3.1 include a new tool to archive  and restore BASINS
projects, updated data holdings, and a tool to update
the BASINS software interactively.
                             Access to data in BASINS 3.1 is web based. The user
                             either downloads the core system from the BASINS
                             web site or obtains a single CD containing BASINS
                             software. The user then specifies a geographic area of
                             interest and the software downloads appropriate data
                             from EPA, USGS and other locations on the Internet.
                             After the BASINS data are downloaded, they are
                             extracted and projected to the user specified map
                             projection.  Once the projection change is
                             accomplished, the new project file (the Arc View .apr
                             file) is automatically built. This Web Data Download
                             tool allows the user to add additional data to the
                             BASINS project from a variety of data sources, and to
                             check for more recent data and update the BASINS
                             project data as appropriate.

                             The BASINS Web Data Download tool also has a built-
                             in function for installing updates to any of the BASINS
                             components. This feature automatically checks for
                             components of the BASINS installation that have been
                             updated; and if any are found, downloads and installs
                             those updates. Through this feature the BASINS users
                             can be assured that are running the most up-to-date
                             software.
                             How to Get Additional Information
                             For further information about BASINS 3.1, contact
                             basins@epa.gov
                             Russell Kinerson  202-566-0392
                             Paul Cocca       202-566-0406
                             Jim Carleton      202-566-0389
                             Marjorie Wellman 202-566-0407
                             David Wells      202-566-0387
                             Ed Partington     202-566-0764

                             The BASINS web site
                             http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/basins/

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