United States
                                 Environmental Protection
                                 Agency
                             Office of Water
                             (4305)
                             Washington, DC 20460
                EPA-823-F-99-001
                February 1999
                                 FACT  SHEET
                                                          'mmm\J  A powerful tool for managing watersheds
           BASINS is a
           multipurpose
           environmental

analysis system for use by
regional, state, and local

agencies in performing
watershed' and water
quality-based studies.

This new software makes
it possible to quickly assess
large amounts of point

source and nonpoint source
data in a format that is
easy to use,  easy to

understand. Installed on a
personal computer, BASINS

allows die user to assess
water quality at selected

stream sites or throughout
an entire watershed, It is

an invaluable tool that
integrates environmental

data, analytical tools, and

modeling fwograms to
support development of

cost-effective approaches to
environmental protection.
     The U.S. Environmental
     Protection Agency's water
 programs and their counterparts
 in states and pollution control
 agencies are increasingly
 emphasizing watershed- and
 water quality-based assessment
 and integrated analysis of point
 and nonpoint sources. Better
 Assessment Science Integrating
 point and Nonpoint Sources
 (BASINS) is a system developed
 to meet the needs of such
 agencies. It integrates a
 geographic information system
 (CIS), national watershed data,
 and state-of-the-art environmen-
 tal assessment and modeling
 tools into one convenient package.

    Originally released in September 1996, BASINS
 addresses three objectives: (1) to facilitate examina-
 tion of environmental information, (2) to provide an
 integrated watershed and modeling framework, and
 (3) to support analysis of point and nonpoint source
 management alternatives. It supports the develop-
 ment of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), which
 require a wateished-based approach that integrates
 both point and nonpoint sources. BASINS can
 support the analysis of a number of pollutants at a
 variety of scales, using tools that range from simple to
 sophisticated.

    Overcoming the lack of integration, limited
 coordination, and time-intensive execution typical of
 more traditional assessment tools, BASINS makes
 watershed and water quality studies easier by
 bringing key data and analytical components together
 "under one roof."

    The heart of BASINS is its suite of interrelated
 components essential for performing watershed and
 water quality analysis. These components are
 grouped into five categories: (1) national databases;
 (2) assessment tools (TARGET; ASSESS, and Data
 Mining) for evaluating water quality and point
 source loadings at a variety of scales; (3) utilities
 including local data import, land-use and DEM
 reclassification, watershed delineation, and manage-
 ment of water quality observation data; (4) water-
• shed and water quality models including NPSM
 (HSPF), TOXIROUTE, and QUAL2E; and (5) post
 processing output tools for interpreting model
 results. BASINS' databases and assessment tools are
 directly integrated within an Arc View CIS
 environment. By using CIS, a user can fully visualize,
 explore, and query to bring a watershed to life. The
 simulation models run in a Windows environment,
 using data input files generated in ArcView.
                     BASINS Overview

                   , AsMMmntTooK*

                   I  .TARGET

                   i  .ASSESS

                   i  -Data Mining
                    Quality IfcxMIng
                    .NPSM (HSPF)'
                    .TOXIROUTE
                    •QUAIZE:
BASINS DATA AND COVERAGES

Spatially Distributed Data
Land use/land cover
Urbanized areas
Populated place locations
River Reach File version 1 (RF1) and RF3 Alpha
Soils (STATSGO)
Elevation contours (DEM)
Major roads
USGS hydroiogic unit boundaries (accounting unit,
  cataloging unit)
Drinking water supply sites
Dam sites
EPA regional, state and county boundaries
Federal and Indian Lands
Ecoregions

Environmental Monitoring Data
Water quality monitoring station summaries
Water quality observation data
Bacteria monitoring station summaries
Weather station sites
USGS  gaging stations
Rsh consumption advisories
National Sediment Inventory (NSI)
National Sheffish Regster
Clean  Water Needs Survey

Point Source  Data
Permit Compliance System (PCS) sites
  and computed loadings
Industrial Facilities Discharge (IFD) sites
Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) sites
Superfund National Priority List (NPL) sites
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) sites
Mineral Industry Locations


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                                                                                                                                       .
 BASINS ANALYTICAL TOOLS

 TARGET is a watershed targeting tool that allows
 environmental managers to make a broad-based
 evaluation of a watershed's water quality and/or
 point source loadings. It operates on a large area
 such as a region or a state.

 ASSESS operates on a single watershed
 (cataloging unit) or a limited set of watersheds and
 focuses on the status of specific water quality
 stations or discharge facilities and their proximity
 to water bodies.

 Data Mining dynamically links different data
 elements using a combination of tables and maps.
 This unique linkage adds significant informational
 value to the raw data on water quality and
 loadings. Data Mining is a powerful tool that can
 assist in the integration and environmental
 interpretation ofboth geographic and historical
 information simultaneously.

 BASINS MODELING SYSTEM

    Three models are integrated into BASINS
 within an Arc View GIS environment. This allows
 the user to assess watershed loadings and receiving
 water impacts at various levels of complexity.
 ArcView geographic data preparation, selection
 routines, and visual output streamline
 the use of the models. A post processor
 graphically displays model results.

 Nonpoint Source Model (NPSM)
 estimates land-use-spedfic nonpoint
 source loadings for selected pollutants
 at a watershed (cataloging unit or user-
 defined subwatershed scale). The
 model uses landscape data such as
 watershed boundaries and land use
 distribution to automatically prepare
 many of the input data it requires.
 NPSM combines a Windows-based
 interface with EPA's Hydrologic
 Simulation Program-FORTRAN
 (HSPF) model and is linked to
 ArcView.
BASINS Models
 QUAL2E is a one-dimensional, steady-
 state water quality and eutrophication
 model. It is integrated with ArcView to
 extract point source and stream network
 data and provides a Windows-based
 interface to facilitate parameter value
 assignment. It allows fete and transport
 modeling for multiple sources and polluants.

 TOXIROUTE is a screening-level stream
 routing model that performs simple dilution/
 decay calculations under mean or low flow
 conditions for a stream system within a
 given watershed (cataloging unit).
 TOXIROUTE integrates with the ArcView
 GIS to extract stream networks, as well as
 point source loadings computed from the
 effluent monitoring data.

 Data Utilities streamline the importing of
 local data such as land use, stream networks,
 and watershed boundaries. Data manage-
 ment tools permit reclassification of land use
               and DEM data as well as
               manipulation of water
               quality observation data.

               Post Processing. The
               BASINS modeling system
               includes a post processing
               tool to facilitate the evalua-
               tion and analysis of model
 output. The graphical interface allows the
 user to select data sets, parameters, and
 location; define output scales; and overlay
 multiple graphs and management scenarios.

 RELEASE SCHEDULE AND
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
    BASINS 2.0 was released on the internet
 in September 1998 and on CD-ROM in
January 1999. EPA plans to update the
 system periodically by adding new data layers,
new databases, expanded state coverage, and
enhanced modeling capabilities. EPA
maintains a mailing list to notify users of
system and data updates as they are
developed. Updates are also available
through the Internet.
BASINS Targeting Analysis
        Minimum System Requirements
        BASINS 2.0
        Pentium IBM-compatible PC, 133-MHz; 400
        mb hard disk space; 32 mb RAM, CD drive,
        Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 (except for
        QUAL2E); ArcView 3.0a or 3.1.
        Obtaining BASINS
        BASINS 2.0 is available through the Internet at
        www.epa.gov/osVBASINS.
        The final version of BASINS 2.0 CD-ROMs is
        available free of charge through the National
        Service Center for Environmental Publications
        (NSCEPI), RO. Box 42419, Cincinnati, OH
        45242. Tel: (513) 489-8190 or (800) 490-
        9198. Fax: (513) 489-8695. The package
        includes:
         •  User's Manual—Better Assessment
            Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint
            Sources.  BASINS Version 2.0.
         •  Compact disks specific to one of 10
            regions of interest within the conterminous
            U.S. (Be sure to indicate the EFA region of
            your choice in your request.)
       For more information on content, availability, and
       training, please contact

       Exposure Assessment Branch (4305)
       Standards and Applied Science Division
       Office of Science and Technology
       U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
       401M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460
       Fax (202) 260-9830 orwww.epa.gov/osVBASINS.

         Aooy Baffin      Tel  (202)260-3061
                     e-mail  bartin.andrew@epa.gcv

        WilliamTate:      Tel  (202)260-7052
                     e-mail  tate.wiiiiam@epa.gov

         PaulCocca      Tel  (202)260-8614
                     e-mail  cocca.paul@epa.gov


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