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Science Products
This page provides information on selected scientific papers, reports, and other references produced by researchers in the Water Quality Research Program in EPA's Office of Research and Development. The research is pertinent to each of the three long-term research goals: water quality protection, watershed management and source control management.
Published manuscripts are available from journals or through PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine that includes over 16 million citations from MEDLINE and other life science journals for biomedical articles.
To obtain copies of ORD (and other EPA) documents:
- National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP): NSCEP is EPA's central repository of all EPA documents with over 7,000 titles available in paper or electronic form. NSCEP also produces the EPA National Publications Catalog which is available on their web site.
- National Environmental Publications Internet Site (NEPIS): NSPIS is EPA's largest electronic documents site which allows you to search view and print, including full images of all original pages and full-text, from a collection of over 10,000 archival and current documents. This collection may include documents that are no longer available in print form. ORD publications are listed at "Publication Title List - 600 Series."
Casual Analysis/Diagnosis Decision Information System (CADDIS)
CADDIS is a web-based decisions support system that helps scientists in the regions, states, and tribes find, access, use, and share information to determine the causes of biological impairments in aquatic systems more quickly, cheaply, and defensibly. CADDIS is 5-step guide to lead decision makers through a causal analysis. Planned system improvements include: additional examples analysis worksheets and conceptual models, analytical tools useful for causal analysis such as modules on deriving empirical stressor-response relationships and stressor-specific tolerance values, and databases and syntheses of relevant literature on sediments and toxic metals.
More Information at the CADDIS website
Contact: Technical Information Staff, telephone, 202-564-3261, email: caddis@epa.gov
Stressor Identification Guidance Document
EPA has developed a process for identifying any type of stressor or combination of stressors that cause biological impairment. The Stressor Identification (SI) Guidance is intended to lead water resource managers through a formal and rigorous process that identifies stressors causing biological impairment in aquatic ecosystems, and provides a structure for organizing the scientific evidence supporting the conclusions. The ability to accurately identify stressors and defend the evidence supporting those findings is a critical step in developing strategies that will improve the quality of aquatic resources. The process has proven to be a powerful and effective way to determine the probable causes of undesirable biological conditions in aquatic systems.
More information on the Stressor Identification Guidance
Storm Water Management Model
The Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) is a dynamic rainfall-runoff simulation model used for single events or long-term (continuous) simulation of runoff quantity and quality from primary urban areas. SWMM can be used in both highly urbanized areas and in fast-developing urban fringe areas to: assess detention facilities for flood control and water quality protection; design control strategies for minimizing combined sewer overflows; evaluate the impact of inflow and infiltration on sanitary sewer overflows; generate non-point source pollutant loadings for waste load allocation studies; and evaluate the effectiveness of best management practices for reducing wet weather pollutants. SWMM contains a flexible set of hydraulic modeling capabilities used to route runoff and external inflows through the drainage system network of pipes, channels, storage/treatment units, and diversion structures. SWMM can also estimate the production of pollutant loads associated with runoff.
More information on Storm Water Management Model (SWMM)
Contact:Lewis Rossman, email: rossman.lewis@epa.gov
Estuarine Classification Tool
Water Quality Research Program scientists have developed an estuarine classification tool that groups U.S. estuaries based on existing physical and hydrological data; properties that may influence their susceptibility to increased nutrient loading; increased toxic inputs; altered sediment loading; or changes in habitat characteristics. As a result, 11 clusters of Estuarine/Coastal Drainage Areas (EDA/CDAs) have been identified. It was demonstrated that estuaries can be grouped by physical and hydrological properties that are known to influence response to aquatic stressors. The resulting classification presents the opportunity to extrapolate application of criteria guidelines, TMDL development, and radiation strategies from well studied estuaries to those for which we have little data.
Water Quality Models
EPA researchers investigate, test, and apply state-of-the-science watershed and water quality simulation tools to provide assistance to EPA regional offices, states and local government in implementing the Clean Water Act. The Watershed & Water Quality Modeling Technical Support Center provides technically defensible tools and approaches that can be used in the development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL), waste load allocations, and watershed protection plans. In this effort a number of watershed and water quality models, hydrodynamic models, and databases have been developed. Training is also provided for a better understanding of the use and application of models and tools used to develop TMDLs.
Landscape Assessment Tools for Watershed Characterization
EPA developed a number of statistical and empirical models to help states rapidly and inexpensively target and prioritize local-scale assessment, monitoring, and restoration activities. One tool is the Automated Geospatial Watershed Assessment (AGWA) tool for GIS-based hydrologic modeling. It enables multi-scale assessment using basin- and watershed-scale models; visualization of distributed model outputs for both upland and channel areas; and visual and numerical comparisons between simulations for forecasting and planning applications.
A series of statistical models also have been developed to indirectly measure known water quality indicators, model water quality impairment, and assess recovery potential. Empirical modeling has been done to develop an automated GIS watershed analysis tool for Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and SEDMOD soil erosion and sedimentation. EPA also developed the Analytical Tools Interface for Landscape Assessment (ATtILA) to calculate the most common landscape/watershed metrics with emphasis on water quality influences. ATtILA currently uses landscape characteristics, riparian characteristics, human stressors, and physical characteristics as the four metric characteristics.
More information on Landscape Assessment Tools
Characterizing Animal Feeding Operation Impacts on Ground Water
EPA conducts research to characterize the potential for ground water impact from a variety of stressors associated with different types of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs); develops tools to determine sources and specific mechanisms of impact; and uses the data collectively to develop effective risk management strategies for protection of ground and surface water quality. CAFOs research has provided critical data to EPA for use in enforcement actions.
More information at Research on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)