BASINs and WEPP Climate Assessment Tools (CAT): Case Study Guide To Potential Applications (Final Report)
EPA announced the release of the final report, BASINs and WEPP Climate Assessment Tools (CAT): Case Study Guide to Potential Applications. This report supports application of two recently developed water modeling tools, the Better Assessment Science Integrating point & Non-point Sources (BASINS) and the Water Erosion Prediction Project Climate Assessment Tool (WEPPCAT). The report presents a series of short case studies designed to illustrate the capabilities of these tools for conducting scenario based assessments of the potential effects of climate change on streamflow and water quality.
There is growing concern about the potential effects of climate change on water resources. U.S. EPA and partners have developed two assessment tools, the BASINS* and WEPPCAT climate assessment tools, that facilitate application of existing simulation models for conducting scenario-based assessments of potential climate change effects on streamflow and water quality.
This report presents a series of short case studies using the BASINS and WEPP climate assessment tools. The case studies are designed to illustrate the capabilities of these tools for conducting scenario-based assessments of the potential effects of climate, land use, and management change on water resources.Climate change scenarios are created based on model projections as well as historical data and past events. Land use change and management scenarios are also included to address questions related to the relative effects of land use versus climate change, and the effectiveness of management practices for reducing impacts.
This report is of interest to modeling professionals including water and watershed managers, urban or regional planners, government officials, and scientists and engineers interested in using the BASINS or WEPP water models to assess the potential implications of climate change on water resources.
*Note: The BASINS CAT version 2 software described in this report will not be available on the BASINS website until release of the next scheduled BASINS 4 update in late 2012. A pre-release version of BASINS with BASINS CAT version 2 is available on request. Please contact Thomas Johnson for more information (johnson.thomas@epa.gov; 703-347-8618).
There is growing concern about the potential effects of climate change on water resources. U.S. EPA and partners have developed two assessment tools, the BASINS* and WEPPCAT climate assessment tools, that facilitate application of existing simulation models for conducting scenario-based assessments of potential climate change effects on streamflow and water quality.
This report presents a series of short case studies using the BASINS and WEPP climate assessment tools. The case studies are designed to illustrate the capabilities of these tools for conducting scenario-based assessments of the potential effects of climate, land use, and management change on water resources.Climate change scenarios are created based on model projections as well as historical data and past events. Land use change and management scenarios are also included to address questions related to the relative effects of land use versus climate change, and the effectiveness of management practices for reducing impacts.
This report is of interest to modeling professionals including water and watershed managers, urban or regional planners, government officials, and scientists and engineers interested in using the BASINS or WEPP water models to assess the potential implications of climate change on water resources.
*Note: The BASINS CAT version 2 software described in this report will not be available on the BASINS website until release of the next scheduled BASINS 4 update in late 2012. A pre-release version of BASINS with BASINS CAT version 2 is available on request. Please contact Thomas Johnson for more information (johnson.thomas@epa.gov; 703-347-8618).
Impact/Purpose
This report presents a series of short, illustrative case studies using the BASINS and WEPP climate assessment tools.
Citation
U.S. EPA. BASINs and WEPP Climate Assessment Tools (CAT): Case Study Guide To Potential Applications (Final Report). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-11/123F, 2012.
History/Chronology
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| Apr 2007 | BASINS CAT version 1 for HSPF released with version 4 of EPA's BASINS modeling system. |
| Nov 2010 | WEPPCAT released. |
| Nov 2011 | EPA released the external review draft report for peer review and public comment. [Federal Register Notice Nov 17, 2011] |
| Aug 2012 | EPA released the final report. |
| Aug 2012 | BASINS CAT version 2 released extending CAT capabilities to the SWAT and SWMM models in BASINS. |
Additional Information
The BASINS CAT version 2 software described in this report wasn't available on the BASINS website until release of the next scheduled BASINS 4 update in late 2012. A pre-release version of BASINS with BASINS CAT version 2 is available on request. Please contact Thomas Johnson for more information (johnson.thomas@epa.gov; 703-347-8618).
This document has been reviewed in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
Related Link(s)
- EPA BASINS Web site (Note: The BASINS CAT version 2 software described in this report will not be available at this site until late 2012)
- WEPPCAT
- BASINs 4.0 Climate Assessment Tool (CAT): Supporting Documentation and User's Manual (Final Report)
- BASINS and WEPP Climate Assessment Tools (CAT): Case Study Guide to Potential Applications (External Review Draft)