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COUNCIL FOR REGULATORY ENVIRONMENTAL MODELING (CREM) PILOT WATER QUALITY MODEL SELECTION TOOL
Citation:
SUNDERLAND, E. COUNCIL FOR REGULATORY ENVIRONMENTAL MODELING (CREM) PILOT WATER QUALITY MODEL SELECTION TOOL. Presented at EPA Science Forum 2005, Washington, DC, May 16 - 18, 2005.
Impact/Purpose:
The objective of this task is to develop, support and transfer a wide variety of tools and mathematical models that can be used to support watershed and water quality protection programs in support of OW, OSWER, and the Regions.
Description:
EPA's Council for Regulatory Environmental Modeling (CREM) is currently supporting the development of a pilot model selection tool that is intended to help the states and the regions implement the total maximum daily load (TMDL) program. This tool will be implemented within the CREM Knowledge Base. The models Knowledge Base is a web-based repository of some of the most frequently used models at the Agency. An enhance inventory of models and tools that support the TMDL program are currently being compiled and the initial version of the model selection tool is now available. The pilot model selection/ranking tool will assist users in selecting the sub-set of models that are most appropriate for their specific application and document the decision process associated with model selection. Input from state and regional modelers on the usability and usefulness of this tool will be critical for moving this pilot into its final stage of development. Features in the selection tool, like report generation to document both the selection process and the chosen model's "pedigree" are expected to reduce resources spent on documenting metadata on commonly used models that support water quality management. CREM's long-term goal is to enhance transparency, scientific defensibility, and, where appropriate, the consistency of models and tools used to throughout the TMDL program in the States and EPA Regions.