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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