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River Basin Export Reduction Optimization Support Tool (RBEROSTv1D) Training
Citation:
Connolly, C. AND N. Detenbeck. River Basin Export Reduction Optimization Support Tool (RBEROSTv1D) Training. RBEROSTv1D Training, Narragansett, RI, September 25, 2026.
Impact/Purpose:
States, tribes, and local stakeholders are faced with a myriad of choices when trying to meet nutrient loading targets for receiving waters, including upgrades to septic systems or wastewater treatment plants, implementation of stormwater best management practices or agricultural conservation practices, and restoration of riparian zones. EPA's static version of the River Basin Export Reduction Optimization Support Tool was initially developed for the Upper Connecticut River in collaboration with regional partners and stakeholders as a means to identify cost-effective solutions to meeting nutrient load reductions both within the watershed itself (for local TMDLs) and for the downstream waters of the Long Island Sound. EPA has expanded the temporal framework for RBEROST to consider temporal (seasonal) variability in nutrient loads over the period 2000-2020. By linking RBEROST to a new dynamic SPARROW loading model by USGS, EPA can address potential lags in response to various management practices and evaluate how least cost solutions and chances for success vary with wet versus dry phases. The purpose of this presentation is to provide a training, overview, and tutorial of the dynamic LIS RBEROST (RBEROSTV1D) for EPA (e.g., Regions 1/2, Office of Water), states, and stakeholders. This work supports Pillar 1 (clean and safe waters), Pillar 3 (science to action), and aligns with Clean Water Act §303(d)/TMDLs.
Description:
U.S. EPA previously released a static version of the River Basin Export Reduction Optimization Support Tool (RBEROST) for the Upper Connecticut River basin (v1s). RBEROST is designed to enable stakeholders to identify the least cost solutions to meet watershed nutrient loading targets with consideration of potential upgrades to septic systems or wastewater treatment plants, implementation of stormwater best management practices or agricultural conservation practices, and restoration of riparian zones. EPA is preparing to release a dynamic version of RBEROST that covers the entire Long Island Sound (LIS) basin. The dynamic LIS RBEROST is coupled with the new USGS dynamic SPARROW loading model for LIS, which yields seasonally and yearly source load estimates for 2000-2020. The dynamic version of RBEROST not only allows users to evaluate how least-cost solutions and probabilities of success in meeting targets vary between seasons and wet versus dry years but also allows users to evaluate lags in the performance of management practices related to storage of legacy nutrients in the system. In this presentation we provide a training, overview, and tutorial of the LIS RBEROST (RBEROSTV1D) for new users.