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Frequent Questions
The following is a list of frequent questions. However, if you have a question that's not listed, you can search the monthly archives of the BASINS listserver.
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BASINS General Questions
Q: The USGS gage daily values failed to process correctly into my WDM file. What is the problem?
A minor change by USGS to the format of USGS daily values data downloaded through BASINS requires that the DD value must be 01. A new script has been created that processes data with any DD value into the user specified WDM file. Download this script, USGSdvBASINSdownload, and replace the same one in the \Basins\models\HSPF\WDMUtil\Scripts folder.
Q: When will BASINS 4 become available?
We released BASINS 4 in April 2007. It is available on this web site; no CDs are necessary. Also, no licensed or proprietary GIS software are required because BASINS 4 runs on OPEN-SOURCE GIS software (MapWindow 
).
This first version only has the HSPF and PLOAD models available. We will continue to support BASINS 3.1 for the SWAT and AGWA models for several more months until resources become available. This open source GIS will read shapefiles and TIFF images so you can share data between ArcGIS and BASINS.
BASINS 4.0 is based on a non-proprietary, open-source GIS foundation. By using open-source GIS tools and non-proprietary data formats, the core of BASINS becomes independent of any proprietary GIS platform while still accommodating users of several different GIS software platforms. The open-source GIS tool, MapWindow, was chosen for use in BASINS 4.0 because
- it is fully extensible using a plug-in extension interface,
- it has an active and supportive international developer community, and
- it supports both vector and raster data manipulation in most common file formats.
We anticipate that the use of open source software will provide BASINS with greater stability and transparency because the source code for all components—including the foundation GIS software—will always be available to end users.
Q: What happened to the QUAL2E model in BASINS?
A: In version 3.1 of BASINS we dropped the QUAL2E model because it would NOT run under the XP Operating System. Also our Watershed & Water Quality Modeling Support Center has adopted and supports the new QUAL2K model which works with Excel under the newer Windows operating systems.
Q. When will BASINS be compatible with the new ArcGIS (ArcView 8.x) software?
A: The release of BASINS 4 marks a significant shift in the core GIS software underlying the BASINS system. BASINS 4 will operate using an open source GIS platform called MapWindow to provide the GIS capabilities. With this new release users will not longer be required to purchase any GIS software to use BASINS. MapWindow is able to perform most of the same operations (plus some new ones) upon shapefiles, database files, and grids that users have had access to under previous versions of BASINS with ArcView.
While not being dependent upon any proprietary GIS platform, the core of BASINS 4.0 is designed to complement and interoperate with enterprise and full-featured GIS systems. BASINS 4 will interoperate with ArcView and ArcGIS so that users of those packages will be able to transfer files to/from BASINS 4. A user may wish to transfer files into ArcView or ArcGIS to perform more advanced GIS operations, but a user will not be required to have either of these programs to run BASINS 4.
The only watershed model available through the first release of the BASINS 4 MapWindow interface will be HSPF; all the functionality from BASINS 3.1 will still be available in BASINS 4 through the ArcView 3.x interface. We are looking for the production release of BASINS 4 to occur by the end of 2006, with beta versions released prior to that. Contact BASINS (basins@epa.gov) for more information about BASINS 4.
If you are interested, our contractor wrote a paper on BASINS 3.1 and BASINS 4 (16 pages, 1.4 MB).
Q. How does BASINS calculate stream width and depth values during manual and automatic watershed delineation?
A. (PDF , 75KB)
Q: Do I need to buy the Spatial Analyst extension for ArcView in order to run version 3.1?
A: Spatial Analyst is required only for the SWAT and the Automatic Delineation BASINS extensions.
Q: How do I incorporate other ArcView extension into BASINS?
A: Instructions on adding other extensions into the BASINS applications has been developed. Please download the ext4bsn3.pdf (PDF,5KB) file.
Q: Is there a new manual or a tutorial for using BASINS?
A: See the BASINS Users manual in the "basins\docs" folder. Tutorial instructions can be found at the end of each section starting with section 4.3. Also the new BASINS 3 Users Manual is available within your ArcView/BASINS project window under the "Help"-"BASINS Help" pulldown menu at the top right of the BASINS project window.
The BASINS 3.0 Users Manual is also available on the documentation web page. A free printed copy of the manual is available from EPA's National Center for Environmental Publications. Please provide the publication number EPA-823B01001 with your order.
Q: Can BASINS be used outside the conterminous U.S.?
A: While BASINS was not explicitly designed for such use, projects can be built outside the conterminous U.S. by not selecting watersheds and using the "no data" option in the "build_new_project.apr". Empty GIS datasets will be created. The user will have to supply the needed GIS datasets for BASINS. By simply duplicating the BASINS database structure and formats, you can take advantage of the analytical tools and models in BASINS. BASINS Technical Note 2 lists the AVENUE scripts in BASINS as well as all the key fields from which BASINS extracts data. It should be noted that the watershed and water quality models (WinHSPF, WDMUtil, and GenScn) can be operated in a stand-alone fashion where the user manual enters all required input parameters. When used in conjunction with standard BASINS data layers, BASINS extracts GIS data sets to partially parameterize the models. The datasets used in the parameterization are the stream reach network and characteristic data (RF1 and NHD), landuse data (non-point source loads), point source loads (PCS), and weather station data (WDM). See Technical Note 2 for details.
Q: What is the projection for BASINS data?
A: BASINS GIS data is provided as unprojected-decimal degrees. Users can project the data to their preferred projection using the "data extractor" as described in the users manual. It should be noted that the datum of the BASINS GIS data in NAD 83.
Q. I am having trouble using the Reporting feature with my local subwatershed (landuse, soils) themes. The reports are greyed out under the Report menu, or the report doesn't properly characterize different subwatersheds. How can I get BASINS to recognize these new subwatershed boundaries (or new landuse or soils themes) and report out correctly?
A. Due to a design limitation in BASINS 3.0, the Reporting feature does not function for subwatersheds. The reporting features are designed to work solely for BASINS native coverages (land use, soils, elevation, point sources, water quality, and air emission data) and at the cataloging unit watershed level. The Reporting feature is not available for local data.
HSPF Model
Q: Are there any tools that can be used to automate the calibration of HSPF/WinHSPF?
A: The software PEST can be run in conjunction with HSPF to automate the calibration of HSPF. PEST (stands for Parameter Estimation) can be setup to iteratively run HSPF, while it modifies input parameter values within user defined max/min limits until modeled flow matches gage flow data. The software uses the Gauss-Marquardt-Levenberg nonlinear parameter estimation method to determine how to best modify variable parameters for each iteration of the model. The PEST software stops iterating once the objective function, defined as the least squares of the difference between modeled and measured flow, reaches a global minimum.
The PEST software is available from the developer
website
This web page also includes documentation on running PEST in conjunction
with HSPF, as well as example HSPF application files, and a special version
of HSPF12 modified to provide ascii output with full numerical precision.
EPA's Center for Exposure Assessment Modeling (CEAM) has a web site on PEST
Q: Is there a bibliography on the HSPF model?
A: Yes, Aqua Terra Consultants have compiled a extensive bibliography
on the HSPF model and it can be found on the web
Q: Is HSPF Version 12 available independently of BASINS 3.0?
A: Yes, the current version of the HSPF source code (version 12.2) is available (zipped file, 11 Mb) . This file includes all of the code necessary to build the executable program for the HSPF water quality model used in BASINS.
The documentation for HSPF version 12 can be found on the BASINS' documentation web page.
Q: Where can I get the HSPF parameter database program HSPFParm?
A: HSPFParm is not part of the BASINS 3.1 installation package and must be installed separately. The program can be downloaded. Documentation can be found under the "Help" pulldown menu in the program. Usage of HSPFParm is free and unrestricted.
WinHSPF/GenScn/WDMUtil
Q: I’m constructing a WDM file from scratch. What are the minimum data requirements?
A: (PDF, 12KB)
Q: How do I convert my NPSM project to WinHSPF?
A: See the PDF document Converting a Project from NPSM to WinHSPF (PDF, 125KB). The BASINS team is currently testing an upgrade to WinHSPF which will automate this conversion process. The WinHSPF/GenScn upgrade should be available soon.
Q: The installation for WinHSPF/GenScn did not run correctly. How can I get the installation to work?
A. There is a bug in the setup program used by Visual Basic, which is
described on the Microsoft
web page
When updating system files, the installation first copies them to a temporary directory, then during reboot they are supposed to be copied into the system directory. (For technical reasons, some files can only be updated during a reboot.) The cause we have seen is that either the system is configured to automatically delete all temporary files during reboot or temporary files are being stored on a different drive and therefore cannot be copied into the system directory early in the reboot process.
The solution suggested by Microsoft is to make sure the directory C:\TEMP exists, then open a command prompt window and type the following at the prompt:
-
Set TMP=C:\TEMP
Set TEMP=C:\TEMP
If a user does this before attempting the installation again, it should succeed.
In the process of diagnosing and finding solutions for this problem, we also developed an alternative distribution of GenScn/WinHSPF that can be installed manually without running the setup program. This distribution can be found at:
The file SkippingSetup.txt in that directory describes the process.
Q: How do you run HSPF without running WinHSPF in the BASINS 3.0 environment? In BASINS 2.x you could do this by running xnpsm11x.exe at the dos prompt.
A: Run WinHSPF "lite" - i.e. WinHSPFlt.exe in the BASINS\models\hspf\bindirectory. This is a 32-bit version of HSPF meant to be used in exactly the same way you used to use the dos HSPF v.11 executable.
Q: When I create a new WinHSPF project, it asks me for a project WDM file. Where is this file?
A: The project WDM file is the output for WinHSPF. If you do not have an existing WDM file for output, you can create one by clicking the "Select" button and specify the directory and typing in a new file name.
Q: How do I get WinHSPF to use the land use scenario I generated with the Land Use Reclassification function?
A: WinHSPF is not currently able to use the land use scenarios in generating
a project. Instead, use the following work-around:
- Make a copy of the original land use theme (i.e. files in "BASINS\data\project\landuse") as a backup.
- Perform a simple reclassify on one landuse and "Save Classification to landuse theme" option.
- Using Windows Explorer delete the reclassification from "BASINS\data\project\landuse".
- Re-import the backup above as a user defined land use theme.
Q: I am trying to add a second general quality constituent to the PQUAL module in WinHSPF. When I set NQUALS = 2 and complete the QUAL-PROPS table for the second constituent and then try to fill in the QUAL-INPUT table, it does not give me the option of the #2 occurrence in the drop down window. Any suggestions as to how to fix this?
A: The latest Utah State BASINS training class covers a work-around to this bug. This computer session procedure (PDF) describes how to add an additional constituents to the QUAL-INPUT table. You will need to modify your inputs to the specifics of your project.
PLOAD Model
Q: I get an error message when using the "LiteratureReview_EMCs.xls" spreadsheet as a data source for the PLOAD model. I don't get this error when using the "Tutorial_EMC_Table.xls" or "tutoriallut.xls" spreadsheets. How can I get PLOAD to work with the literature review spreadsheets?
A: The problem you are running into is due to the use of spaces and "%" characters in the spreadsheet and spreadsheet names, which are incompatible with the PLOAD software. A compressed revised without the spaces and "%" characters "LiteratureReview_EMCs.xls" spreadsheet is available. Please download the lremc101.zip file.
Additional Assistance
Additional questions and answers are also available on the BASINSInfo Listserver Archives.
For more information on BASINS, contact the BASINS support team:
Modeling and Information Technology Team
Standards and Health Protection Division
Office of Science and Technology
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Mailcode - 4305T
1201 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
Fax (202) 566-0409