Watershed Modeling Approaches Using EPA's Basis Modeling Tool-Why i should Care At My Facility

摘要

An EPA geographic-based watershed tool is described to better integrate point and nonpoint source water quality assessments for the Nation's 2100+ watersheds. The tool builds upon federal databases of water quality conditions and poitn source loadings for numerous parameters to allow comprehensive assessments and modeling of both point and nonpoint sources in a typical total maximum daily load computation. While the TMDL utility is the primary reason BASINS was developed, other longer-range ecological assessments will become posible as the Agency expands the suite of assessment models and databases in future releases. The simplistic approach to modeling and user-friendly tools gives rise, however, to concernsthat are elaborated in this paper.