BASINSBetter Assessment Science Integrating

point and Non-point Sources

Tools for Watershed and Water Quality Assessment

GISHydro991999 ESRI User Conference

Andrew T. BattinU.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Water

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Mission of EPA’s Office of Science and Technology

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

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BASINS Development Team

EPA– Russell Kinerson

– Andrew Battin

– Bill Tate

– Paul Cocca

– Marjorie Wellman

Aqua Terra Consultants Tetra Tech Inc. USDA ARS & Texas A&M

(Blacklands Research Center)

– Mimi Dannel

– Ed Partington

– Hira Biswas

– Bryan Goodwin

– David Wells

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Examples of Watershed Management Programs

Supported by EPA

Water quality assessment and analysis

Watershed management

Source water protection

TMDL program

Varying problems - similar approaches

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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.

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– 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

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The Clean Water Act and TMDLs Goal of CWA

– Ensure that the Nation’s waters protect aquatic life, wildlife and human health

Tools

– TMDLs are one of many tools authorized by the CWA to implement applicable water quality standards

Primary CWA Tool

– NPDES permits for point sources - Nonpoint sources are not subject to NPDES permits

NPDES Permits

– Contain effluent limits on pollution discharged, including water quality-based effluent limits when necessary to achieve water quality standards

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303(d) List of Waters

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.

Each state shall identify those water quality-limited segments requiring TMDLs.

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.

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303 (d) Summary of Key Points

List includes only those waters where technology-based limitations or other required actions are not expected to implement WQS.

List is based on existing and readily available data.

List is dynamic and changes over time to reflect new information, current practices, and new control activities.

Prioritization is not necessarily by waterbody, but can be prioritized by class (e.g., type of pollutant).

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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

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Problem Statement #1Point Source

Miles

Cmg/l Cb

Criteria/standard

Impaired reach

P1

(Allowable Capacity)

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Problem Statement #2 Non-point Source

Time

Cmg/l

Criteria/standard

Existing conditionAllocation Scenario

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The TMDL Program

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 theTMDL “process”

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Analytical Needs to Support Water Quality Management Programs

Monitoring data– Represents condition of system– Provides the backbone for most analysis and modeling

Spatial/locational data– Point sources, highly erodible areas, construction areas...

Statistical analysis and mapping tools– Water quality trends, waterbody comparisons, proximity of impaired

water quality to potential sources

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?

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Analytical Needs (cont.)

Spatial analysis capabilities– Ability to relate causes and effects through mapping/overlays

Compilation, management, and facilitated access to historical data– Trend in land use changes, point source loadings, monitoring– Population growth - how much? Where? ...

Source characterization and quantification– Inventory of sources– Magnitude and significance of sources

Prediction of future conditions and implications of management– What is the best solution to meet objectives and

regulatory requirements?

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Watershed

Small Area StudiesSmall Area Studies Land Use UnitsLand Use Units Rivers/StreamsRivers/Streams

Urban landuse with BMPs

Rural landuses with BMPs

Ag

UrbSub 1

Sub 5

Sub 4

Sub 3

Sub 2

ReceivingWater

SubwatershedsSubwatersheds

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State and Local D

ataState and L

ocal Data

Decision-Decision-MakingMaking

AnalysisAnalysis

Watershed Management

.TMDLs

.Source Water

Protection.

Stormwater

Decision-Decision-MakingMaking

AnalysisAnalysis

Watershed Management

.TMDLs

.Source Water

Protection.

Stormwater

Nationally Available DataNationally Available Data

BaseBaseCartographicCartographicDataData

Environmental Environmental Background DataBackground Data

Environmental Environmental Monitoring DataMonitoring Data

Point Source/Loadings DataPoint Source/Loadings Data

Nationally Available DataNationally Available Data

BaseBaseCartographicCartographicDataData

Environmental Environmental Background DataBackground Data

Environmental Environmental Monitoring DataMonitoring Data

Point Source/Loadings DataPoint Source/Loadings Data

ModelsModels

HSPF - NPSMHSPF - NPSM•

QUAL2EQUAL2E

TOXIROUTETOXIROUTE

Model Post-ProcessorsModel Post-Processors

ModelsModels

HSPF - NPSMHSPF - NPSM•

QUAL2EQUAL2E

TOXIROUTETOXIROUTE

Model Post-ProcessorsModel Post-Processors

Assessment ToolsAssessment Tools

TargetTarget

AssessAssess

Data MiningData Mining

Watershed ReportingWatershed Reporting

Assessment ToolsAssessment Tools

TargetTarget

AssessAssess

Data MiningData Mining

Watershed ReportingWatershed Reporting

BASINSBASINS V2.0 System Overview

Target

Assess

DM

Overview of BASINS Data Products

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GIS DataData Categories

Base Cartographic Data

Environmental Data

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Base Cartographic Data Definition:

– Data that enhances the ability to interpret maps by providing a known frame of reference

Examples:– EPA regional boundaries – Major roads – Populated place locations – State and county boundaries– Urbanized area boundaries

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BASINS Environmental Data

Data capturing information on spatial and temporal changes in environmental conditions

GIS

Pollution Sources(Environmental Stressors)

Physical Data(Landscape Features)

Monitoring Data(Environmental Response)

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BASINS Data ProductsEnvironmental Data

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

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BASINS Data ProductsEnvironmental Data

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

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BASINS Data ProductsEnvironmental Data

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

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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

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BASINS Project View

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Types of Tools Included in BASINS(3 Categories of Tools)

Spatial analysis and overlays (GIS capability)

– Facilitate examination of multiple types of information

– Access to full functionality of ArcView

BASINS custom suite of integrated tools– Targeting

– Assessment

– Data Mining

– Watershed Reporting

BASINS utilities– Import new or local data sets (watersheds, landuse)

– Re-classify landuse, DEM

– Watershed Delineation

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Custom Tools included with BASINSBASINS

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

Wate

rshed

Level

Station Lev

el

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TargetSelect Target optionfrom menu

Overall summary of monitoring data

Distribution of monitoringdata by CU

Rankingof watershed

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AssessSelect Assess option from menu

Distributionof monitoring stations by CU

Station summaries for selected pollutant

Average condition for selected pollutant by CU

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Data Mining Spatial distribution of monitoring stations

WQsummaries

WQstations

WQparameterand code

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BASINSBASINS Custom Tool Watershed Report

Information available:

Administrative and locational report Point source discharge summary Dam locations State soil series data Land use summary Stream system inventory Toxics (NSI, TRI) STORET water quality monitoring

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An Example of Watershed Report

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BASINSBASINS Utility Tool Import

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

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BASINSBASINS Utility Tool Landuse Re-classification

Users can re-classify part of the landuse theme or the entire theme interactively

Users can re-classify their imported landuse data

Re-classification to various levels of detail– Anderson Level 1 to Level 2– Create more detailed levels

Weigh the potential significance of land use changes on water quality

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BASINSBASINS Utility Tool Watershed Delineation

Allows users to interactively subdivide a USGS 8-digit watershed into smaller sub-watersheds using mouse point-and-click inputs.

Sub-delineated watersheds and underlying data are then available for more detailed modeling.

It provides capability to modify the previous delineations.

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An Example of Delineated Watersheds using DEM, RF3, and RF1

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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

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Modeling Strategy

Need to define a suitable level of segmentation

2 Segments 8 Segments

Lumped DistributedFactors to ConsiderWatershed

LU distributionSoilsTopo/weather stn. loc.Data (weather, PS)

ManagementPlanningRegulatoryImpactAlternative analysis

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Overview of Model Categories

Landscape models

– Runoff of water and dissolved materials on and through the land surface

– Erosion of sediment, and associated constituents, from the land surface

Receiving water models

– Flow of water through streams, into lakes and estuaries

– Transport, deposition, and transformation in receiving waters

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BASINS Modeling System

NPSM (HSPF v11) – Integration of Point and Non-Point Source Modeling– Instream flow routing and water quality– Specialized agricultural chemical modeling

Pesticides Nutrients

– Other Chemicals Metals BOD/DO

– Pathogens– Sediment– Air Deposition (under development)– Continuous hydrologic simulation - Hourly time step

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How NPSM fits into BASINS

MeteorologicalData

GIS

Landuse and pollutantspecific Data

HSPFHSPF

LanduseDistribution

StreamData

Point Sources

Core Model

Post Processing

Windows interface

Landscape dataAB

D

E

F

C

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NPSM Interface - Data Editor

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NPSM Landuse Editor

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NPSM Pollutant Selection

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RF3 Watershed Delineation

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RF3 Watershed Delineation

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Nonpoint Source Modeling with RF3 Network

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Reach Visualization Tool

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Reach Visualization Tool

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Reach Cross Section Visualization

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Hydraulic Function Table Graph

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Interpretation of Modeling Results for Better Decisions

Graphing Capabilities– Spatial and temporal representation of data

– Analysis of magnitude and significance of sources

– Model calibration (observed vs. modeled)

Statistical Functions– Graphical representation of geometric and arithmetic means

– Statistics related to exceedances of a user-defined limit

Comparative analysis– Evaluation of various management alternatives

– Developing Allocation Scenarios

– Consensus building with stakeholders

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Graphing CapabilitiesAn example of Calibration

User-definedx- and y- axis scales

Selected plot

NPSMoutput

USGS data

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Statistical Functions Related to Threshold Exceedances

Plot of geometric orarithmetic mean

User-defined step length andexceedance limit

Selectedstatistical function

Table ofexceedanceinformation

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Comparative AnalysisFor developing Allocation Scenarios

Output from 1stsimulation

Output from 2ndsimulation

Load reduction for selected landuse

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BASINS Models continued

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

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QUAL2E Output

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Future Directions - System

Redesign of System– Lifecycle Development - System, Data, Models, etc.

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

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Future Directions - Tools Pursuit of a client/server architecture

– “Partitioning of labor”

Component-based approach on the client– Development of discrete tools that can be extended– Modular and maintainable software construction

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”

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Future Directions - New Models

Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT)

Modified Version of Generalized Watershed Loading Function (GWLF) Model

Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC) Model

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Future Directions Standardized Data Interchange

GISTools

SWAT

NPSM• Watershed Delineation• Reach Network • Soils Extraction• Land Cover Extraction• Other (physical aspect, slope)• Meteorologic

Spatial Data Preprocessing

QUAL2E

GWLF

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Future DirectionsStandardized Output Processing

OutputManager

SWAT

NPSM

QUAL2E

GWLF

• Time series analysis• Source significance• Investigate alternatives• Comparative analysis

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SWAT Main Interface

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Primary Watershed and Reach Delineation Tool:

Specify DEM Source

Superimpose RF-x Layer

Threshold to controldrainage density

Modify sub-watershed outlets

Derive spatial attributes required for modeling!

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Results from Sample Watershed Delineation:

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Sample Land Cover

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Sample STATSGO Soil Polygons

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Interface to SWAT model populated automatically:

Model Interfaceautomatically populated withGIS outputs

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Add Point Sources & Reservoirs

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Define Landuse and Soil Characteristics

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GWLF

Based on the original model by Haith, D., Mandel, R., and Wu, R. (Cornell, 1992).

Represents an intermediate step to continuous simulation watershed models like HSPF and SWAT.

Being modified to simulate loadings of bacteria, in addition to flow, sediment, and nutrients.

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GWLF Tool Features

Model being rewritten in Java (Javabeans).

Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) to manage all data.

Postprocessor to visualize model outputs in several different presentation styles.

Model GUI will allow user to enter project related information.

Automated report generation tool (inputs, results, scenarios, comparative results and discussion points).

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EFDC Toolkit Basic Goals

Create a suite of tools to facilitate multi-dimensional hydrodynamic & water quality modeling analyses.

Minimize labor intensive activities.

Reinforce good modeling practice.

Provide a robust data management scheme to maximize the reuse and sharing of data.

Facilitate team approach to modeling investigations.

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EFDC Toolkit Features:

Open client/server architecture.

GIS neutral.

Targeted to MS WindowsR and NTR .

Component-based architecture (Java Swing).

GUI for grid generator and interface to EFDC.

Post-processor for visualizing model output.

RDBMS to manage all aspects of model input data - eventually to be migrated to open ODBMS.

Model-to-Model linkages (HSPF -> EFDC).

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EFDC Toolkit

Three principal components:

– GUI interface to EFDC grid generator to setup physical domain

– GUI interface to EFDC model

– Visualization tool

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EFDC Toolkit

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Data Shoreline Import facility

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Grid Specification

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Generated Cartesian Grid Scheme

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Imported Bathymetric Data and Editing

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Processed Bathymetric Data

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Final Grid Scheme Exported to Text File

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Conclusion We need to promote better tool organization and

reusability, component interchange, and standardized data exchange formats.

Strive for open client/server, component-based architectures.

RDBMS to manage all aspects of model input data - eventually to be migrated to open ODBMS.

Model-to-Model linkages (HSPF -> EFDC).

Move modeling towards a more industrialized process while maintaining quality of analyses.

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www.epa.gov/ost/BASINS