• BMP-DSS (Best Management Practice Decision Support System)
• LSPC (Loading Simulation Program in C++)
• WARMF (Watershed Analysis Risk Management Framework)

BMP-DSS (Best Management Practice Decision Support System)

The Best Management Practice Decision Support System (BMP-DSS) evaluates potential watershed management opportunities by quantifying potential best management practice (BMP) benefits and their costs. The modeling system supports watershed hydrologic and water quality analysis, simulates a variety stormwater BMPs, and optimizes selection and placement of BMPs. The system helps planners to determine which solution alternatives provide the greatest benefit for achieving management targets while balancing costs.

The proper selection and placement of BMPs is a critical part of the stormwater planning effort. Established urban and newly developing areas must establish cost effective means for restoring existing sites, minimizing impacts to new sites, and provide general site planning for future growth. BMP-DSS supports watershed hydrologic and water quality analysis, simulation of various innovative BMPs, and selection/placement optimization of suitable BMPs that will achieve project goals, as defined by a user. This system helps planners determine which alternatives will yield the greatest benefit by automatically assessing several key site-specific factors.

BMP-DSS is a process based simulation model for BMPs, it provides a technique that is sensitive to local climate and rainfall patterns as well as BMP size, design, and relative placement on the site. The system incorporates a meta-heuristic optimization technique to find the most cost-effective BMP placement and implementation plan that best satisfies a controlled target and fits within a fixed cost budget.

Model in action

Prince George’s County, Maryland BMP Evaluation

The BMP-DSS model was used to assist Prince George’s County, Maryland to evaluate BMPs in a green highway project located in the Anacostia River watershed. The area is highly urbanized and is located within the District of Columbia. Several BMPs, such as bioretention, green roof, porous paving, and rain barrels were proposed to minimize runoff, improve water quality, and provide water reuse opportunities. The modeling system was used to identify and evaluate various alternatives to determine the most cost-effective types and combinations of BMPs that best minimize the frequency and size of runoff events thereby also reducing the magnitude and frequency of combined sewer overflows to the Anacostia River.
BMP decision support system for evaluating stormwater alternatives

How to access the model

For more information, email (nutrient.criteria@tetratech.com).

LSPC (Loading Simulation Program in C++)

LSPC is a watershed modeling system that includes streamlined Hydrologic Simulation Program Fortran (HSPF) algorithms for simulating hydrology, sediment, and general water quality on land, as well as a simplified stream transport model.

Similar to HSPF, the LSPC model uses continuous rainfall and other meteorologic records to compute streamflow hydrographs and pollutographs. The model represents the spatial and temporal variability of hydrological characteristics within a watershed by simulating interception storage capacities, infiltration properties, evaporation and transpiration rates, and watershed slope and roughness. Nonpoint source loadings can be represented by build-up and wash-off algorithms and through interflow and groundwater flow paths. Once in the stream, loadings experience dilutions, accumulations, assimilation, biochemical cycling, and transport downstream and out of the watershed.

LSPC is derived from the Mining Data Analysis System (MDAS), which was developed by EPA Region 3 and has been widely used for mining applications and TMDLs. A key data management feature of this system is that it uses a Microsoft Access database to manage model data and weather text files for driving the simulation. The system also contains a module to assist in TMDL calculation and source allocations. For each model run, it automatically generates comprehensive text-file output by subwatershed for all land-layers, reaches, and simulated modules, which can be expressed on hourly or daily intervals. Output from LSPC has been linked to other model applications such as EFDC, WASP, and CE-QUAL-W2. LSPC has no inherent limitations in terms of modeling size or model operations. The Microsoft Visual C++ programming architecture allows for seamless integration with modern-day, widely available software such as Microsoft Access and Excel.

There are seven basic components of the LSPC system. They include: (1) a WCS extension for efficient model setup; (2) an interactive, stand-alone GIS control center; (3) data management tools; (4) data inventory tools; (5) data analysis tools; (6) a dynamic watershed model tailored for TMDL calculation; and (7) model results analysis.

Model in action

Weiss Lake TMDL, Alabama (PDF) (26 pp, 493 K)

How to access the model

Download the LSPC model

WARMF (Watershed Analysis Risk Management Framework)

To facilitate TMDL analysis and watershed planning, WARMF was developed under sponsorship from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) as a decision support system for watershed management. The system provides a road map to calculate TMDLs for most conventional pollutants (coliform, total suspended solids, biological oxygen demand, nutrients). It also provides a road map to guide stakeholders to reach consensus on an implementation plan. The scientific basis of the model and the consensus process have undergone several peer reviews by independent experts under EPA guidelines. WARMF is now compatible with the data extraction and watershed delineation tools of EPA BASINS. WARMF is organized into five linked modules under one, GIS-based graphical user interface (GUI). It is a very user friendly tool suitable for expert modelers as well as general stakeholders.

• Engineering Module—a GIS-based watershed model that calculates daily runoff, shallow ground water flow, hydrology and water quality of a river basin.
• The Data Module—contains meteorology, air quality, point source, reservoir release, and flow diversion data used to drive the model.
• Two watershed approach modules—used for consensus building and TMDL calculation.

• What are the cumulative water quality impacts under various watershed management scenarios?
• What are the trade-offs with sewer extension versus onsite wastewater systems?
• How will regional growth affect water quality?
• How will increased water diversions affect hydrology and water quality?
• Will BMPs such as buffer strips or livestock fencing be effective for nonpoint load reduction?
• What is the TMDL for a 303(d) listed stream?

Model in action

WARMF has been applied to over 15 watersheds in the United States and internationally. The studies have addressed the TMDLs of nutrients, sediment, fecal coliform, and the impact of onsite wastewater systems on a watershed scale. The size of river basin applications ranges from the small Mica Creek research watershed in Idaho (10.8 mi²) to the large San Juan Basin of Colorado and New Mexico (16,000 mi²). There is no limit on the size or scale of a potential WARMF application as long as adequate topography data are available.

Peer Review of WARMF: An evaluation of WARMF for TMDL applications by independent experts using USEPA guidelines