HSPF BMP Toolkit

HSPF Web-based Tool for Simulation of Urban Watersheds with Storm Sewers and Best Management Practices (BMPs)

This web-based HSPF tool extends the model's applications for urban watersheds with storm sewers and best management practices (BMPs). The tool was developed to aid HSPF users in simulating the effectiveness of watershed management alternatives, including low impact development. The tool can be used for the following applications. For each application, the icons below will guide the user to the appropriate calculator.

1. Stage-Storage-Discharge Relationships

There are hydrologic models other than HSPF that use stage-area-storage-outflow relationships to represent ponds, wetlands, and reservoirs. These models include SWMM, HEC-HMS, and TR-20. The tool offers users of these models ease of calculating these relationships from channel shape and channel dimensions or, in the case of a natural channel, from surveyed cross-section (x, y) data. The tool allows users to export the calculated relationships as an EXCEL spreadsheet.

3. Storage BMPs (Photo: Storage Basin)

The tool allows users to calculate FTABLES for the HSPF model. The tool represents Storage BMPs as open channels with flow control devices (orifices and weirs). Note that this option assumes no infiltration. If a user desires a BMP with infiltration, we recommend that they use the infiltration BMP option.

2. Storm Sewers

4. Infiltration BMPs (Photo: Grassy Swale)

This option allows HSPF users to represent infiltration BMPs as channels that infiltrate. There are two types of infiltration BMPs. One stores water on the surface and the other stores water on both the surface and subsurface (backfilled reservoir). BMPs that store runoff on the surface include infiltration basins, and BMPs that use underground reservoirs to store runoff include infiltration trenches.

For a step by step walkthrough of the storage tool, read the Tutorial. (PDF, 13 pp., 142 KB, about PDF)
For a step by step walkthrough of the infiltration tool, read the Tutorial. (PDF, 17 pp., 273 KB, about PDF)

Users can also download HSPF example project files (Self-extracting zip file, 658 KB)