Table of Contents

Goals of the Exercise
Computer and Data Requirements
Getting Started
Water Quality Targeting
Water Quality Assess
Permit Compliance System Loadings
River Reach Analysis
Data Mining
Watershed Report Generation

Goals of the Exercise

This exercise is structured after the EPA BASINS Training Workshop for BASINS2 training. The original exercise uses Georgia data while this exercise uses Texas data.

This exercise will familiarize the user with the tools available in BASINS. The first two parts of the exercise will introduce the Target and Assess tools within the BASINS program. The next two exercises will focus in on the understanding of the content and data structure of select BASINS environmental data discussed during the data overview lesson. The lesson will guide the user through the use of ArcView table and view operations. The next exercise will explore the relationship between the environmental data and its spatial variability. The final exercise introduces the watershed report generation process.

Computer and Data Requirements

ArcView 3.0a and BASINS2 software are needed for the exercise. The data needed for the exercise is included in the Basins directory on the C:\ drive of the computer. It is also downloadable from the EPA Internet Site: http://www.epa.gov/OST/BASINS/.

Three computers in the last row of room 3.400 in the LRC are setup with ArcView 3.0a and BASINS2. There is also one computer set up in room 3.402 in the LRC and one computer at CRWR. If you would like the software installed on your computer at home, the BASINS software is downloadable through the EPA Internet site (http:\www.epa.gov/OST/BASINS).

The computer requirements needed to run the BASINS software are listed below:

 If you are running WindowsNT you will need a special build.apr file in order to run the system.

 Getting Started

Using the Windows Start button, click on the Programs icon which will lead you to the Basins program. Click on the Basins icon. Open the project called texas.apr.

In order to get the texas.apr project, a data extraction must be done along with the build program. These two process are explained in the BASINS users manual. They are not discussed in this exercise due the time involved.

** Immediately save the project to a directory of your own with a unique name.**

The BASINS program saves to its own folder as the default. This means that other people have access to your files which are created while you work. You will not have the option to save most of your data files else where, but you will have the option to save your project elsewhere. This will partially secure your project as you own. The reason for this is probably because the version of BASINS that we are using is still in Beta format and some of the bugs have not been worked out.

Water Quality Targeting 

1. Make BASINS View active and pull down the Target menu and select Water Quality.

NOTE: Target automatically performs the analysis for the entire extracted project area. There is no need to select an area for analysis.

2. Water Quality data summaries are included for five time periods. Select period "from 1990 to 1994".

NOTE: BASINS water quality monitoring data are available for statistical summaries for 5-year periods. Descriptive statistics (mean; 15^th, 25^th, 50^th, 75^th, 75^th and 85^th percentiles) are provided for 50 physical and chemical-related parameters at each water quality monitoring station.

3. From the parameter drop-down list, select "Total Lead".
4. From summary statistic drop-down list, select "Mean".
5. Specify the maximum threshold to value "0".

The Target session ends by generating thee output windows that summarize the results in map and graphical form. 

1. A map with watersheds shaded based on the average monitoring value computed for each watershed (hydrologic cataloging unit) from the user-specified parameter, station, statistic, and threshold.
2. A bar chart that shows the distribution of cataloging units based on the number of stations for each cataloging unit that exceed the selected threshold.
3. A bar chart that summarizes the ranges of average monitoring values by cataloging unit.

Answer the following questions:

1. How many watersheds (cataloging units) are there in the study area?__________
2. How many watersheds have average total lead concentrations of 0-1.3 µg/l?_________ 1.3-6.5 µg/l?_________ 6.5-26.1 µg/l?_________
3. How many water quality stations are there in the study area?______________
4. How many watersheds have 1 station exceeding the average threshold limit?_______ 2 - 4 stations?_______ Over 4 Stations?_______ 

Water Quality Assess 

1. Click on the "Water Quality targeting for Lead …" view. Use the Select Feature tool, , to highlight one of the watersheds identified as having a relatively higher lead concentrations.

NOTE: Be certain the "Average Monitoring Value" Theme is active. Do this by clicking on the theme name. It will then appear raised.

2. From the Assess menu, select Water Quality (You will be prompted as to which cataloging unit you chose. Click OK.)
3. Select period "from 1990 to 1994".
4. From the parameter drop-down list, select "Total Lead".
5. From summary statistic drop-down list, select "Mean".
6. Use the Identify Feature tool, , to examine the selected stations. 

The Assess session ends by generating two output windows that summarize the results. 

1. A map with water quality stations classified in legend according to their concentrations for the selected parameter.

(You can zoom into these stations and check the box next to the Reach File, V1 theme to look at the stream network in which the stations are located. Make the Reach File, V1 theme active by clicking on the name of the theme. Use the identify feature tool to find the name of the River by clicking on the tool and then the river reach of interest. The name will appear in the message box. In order to find the name of the stations, do the same thing, but this time make the Lead, Total theme active. The name of the station will appear in the message box in the location field.)

2. A bar chart displaying the distribution of station according to their level of concentration. 

Answer the following questions:

1. What cataloging unit did you choose?
2. How many stations are there in this watershed?__________
3. What are the name of the stations?__________________
4. What is range of concentrations found in the watershed?____________
5. How many stations fall into each range?________________

NOTE: This procedure can be done to inquire about Permitted Discharging. Instead of clicking on the Water Quality option in the Target and Assess menus, click on the Permitted Discharges option.

Permit Compliance System (PCS) Loadings 

You will begin by opening three ArcView tables associated with the PCS and arrange in application window to facilitate subsequent table processes. 

1. Close all views except the BASINS View. Make it active.
2. Display and activate the "Permit Compliance System" theme by checking the box next to the theme name and clicking on the theme name.
3. From Theme menu, select Table.
4. From project window, click on Table icon, .
5. Scroll table list to highlight "Permitted Discharges 1993".
6. While holding Shift Key down, scroll further through the table list to highlight "Permitted Discharges Parameter Table 1993".
7. Click on Open button.
8. Minimize project window.
9. From Window menu, select Tile. 

Next you will Join the PCS parameter table to the PCS loading table to accommodate loading queries using parameter name. You will also establich a link between the PCS loading table and the PCS site table. 

1. Activate the "Permitted Discharges Parameter Table 1993", highlight field name "Parameter" by clicking on the name of the field. This will make the field name to appear depressed.
2. Activate the "Permitted Discharges 1993" table, highlight field name "Parameter".
3. From Table menu, select Join.

NOTE: "Permitted Discharges Parameter Table 1993" no longer exists as a separate table; its contents have been added to the "Permitted Discharges 1993" table.

4. Activate the "Permitted Discharges 1993" table, scroll across and note the fields added from the parameter table. Added fields are "Pram_name", "Chemical_n", and "Cas_number".
5. Activate the "Attributes of Permit Compliance System" table, highlight field name "Npdes".
6. Activate the "Permitted Discharges 1993" table, highlight field name "Npdes".
7. From Table menu, select Link. 

Next, you will perform a query that identifies all facilities discharging lead. The facilities the have the highest discharge will be identified. 

1. From Table menu, select Query.
2. In query builder window:
a) scroll Fields list and double click "Pram_name"
b) click on "=" operand
c) scroll Values list and double click "LEAD, TOTAL" (If the Values list is empty, click in the "Update Values" box and try again.)
d) click on New Set button
3. Drag query builder window to bottom of ArcView window.
4. Activate the "Permitted Discharges 1993" table, highlight field name "Lby0".
5. From Field menu, select Sort Descending.
6. From Table menu, select Promote.
7. Activate the "Permitted Discharges 1993" table, click on the first three records (top lead dischargers) one at a time.

NOTE: The facility-level information is then highlighted in "Attributes of Permit Compliance System" table. 

Answer the following questions:

**You will notice that the tables contain information about the facilities such as name, amount discharged, latitude, longitude, the watershed it is in, phone number, address, etc.

Next, you will create a chart illustrating the number of lead dischargers by industry type. 

1. Drag query builder window to center of ArcView window, click New Set button.
2. Close the query builder window.
3. From Windows menu, select "Permitted Discharges 1993".
4. From Table menu, select Refresh.
5. Activate the "Attributes of Permit Compliance System" table, highlight field name "Sic".
6. From Field menu, select Summarize.
7. Activate the Summary Table Definition window, and save the file to your directory with a unique name. Click on OK button.
8. From Table menu, select Chart.
9. Activate the Chart Properties window:

a) from Fields list, highlight "Count"
b) click on Add button
c) from Label Series list, highlight "Sic".
d) click on OK button

1. From Gallery menu, select Pie.
2. Activate the Pie Chart Gallery window, click on OK button.
3. Select Change Chart Element Properties tool button.
4. Activate the Chart window, click on the chart's legend.
5. Activate Chart Legend Properties window, point and click to the location underneath chart icon to change legend position.
6. Click on OK button.
7. Maximize Chart window. 

River Reach Analysis 

1. Make the BASINS View active.
2. Display and activate "Reach File, V1" theme.
3. From Theme menu, select Query.
4. In query builder window:

a) scroll Fields list and double click "Pname"
b) click on "=" operand
c) scroll Values list and double click "NUECES R"
d) click on "and" operand
e) scroll Fields list and double click "Cu"
f) click on "=" operand
g) scroll Values list and double click "12110101". It should look like this inside the Query Box: ( [Pname] = "NUECES R") and ([Cu] = "12110101" )
h) click on New Set button

1. Close query builder window.
2. From View menu, select Zoom To Selected.

NOTE: Main stem of Nueces River for the selected watershed is highlighted.

Now, determine length of Nueces River’s main stem. 

1. From Theme menu, select Table.
2. From Table menu, select Promote.
3. Activate the "Attributes of Reach File, V1" table, highlight field name "Segl".
4. From Field menu, select Statistics.
5. Activate the Statistics window, click on OK button after noting the sum value.

Answer the following question:

How long is the Nueces River's main stem?__________________ 

Next, you will identify PCS sites and water quality monitoring stations associated with the Nueces River's main stem. 

1. Minimize project window and activate the "BASINS View".
2. From Window menu, select Tile.
3. In "BASINS View", display and activate "Permit Compliance System" and "Water Quality Stations" themes.
4. NOTE: Be sure to hold Shift Key down while activating second theme.
5. From Theme menu, select "Select by Theme".
6. Activate the Select by Theme window:

a) scroll "the selected features of" list and click "Reach File, V1"
b) scroll "Select features of active themes" list and click "Are Within Distance of"
c) enter Selection distance "0.5" miles
d) click on New Set button

1. From Theme menu, select Table.
2. From Window menu, select Tile.
3. From Window menu, select "Attributes of Water Quality Stations".
4. From Table menu, select Promote.
5. From Window menu, select "Attributes of Permit Compliance System".
6. From Table menu, select Promote.

Answer the following question:

You will now Identify the Nueces River’s entire stream network (main stem and tributaries). You will also determine the length of the Nueces River's entire stream network (main stem and tributaries).

1. From Window menu, select "Attributes of Reach File, V1".
2. From Table menu, select Query.

a) scroll Fields list and double click "Cu"
b) click on "=" operand
c) scroll Values list and double click "12110101"
d) click on New Set button

NOTE: Main stem and tributaries of Nueces River for the basin are highlighted.

1. Close query builder window.
2. Activate the "Attributes of Reach File, V1" table, highlight field name "Type".
3. From Field menu, select Summarize.
4. Activate the Summary Table Definition window:

a) scroll Field list and click "Segl"
b) scroll Summarize list and click "Sum"
c) click on Add button
d) click on OK button

NOTE: To approximate total waterway length of stream network for this exercise: Add type "R" (regular transport reaches), plus type "S" (start reaches), plus half of the type "L" (lake shoreline reaches). Disregard type "A" (artificial transport reaches).

Answer the following question:

What is the total length of the stream network?______________

Next, you will Identify PCS sites and water quality monitoring stations associated with the Nueces River's entire stream network. 

1. Close summary results window.
2. From Window menu, select "BASINS View".
3. Activate and Display the "Permit Compliance System" and "Water Quality Stations" themes.
4. From Theme menu, select "Select by Theme".
5. Activate the Select by Theme window:

a) scroll "the selected features of" list and click "Reach File, V1".
b) scroll "Select features of active themes" list, click "Are Within Distance of".
c) enter Selection distance "0.5" miles
d) click on New Set button

1. From Window menu, select "Attributes of Water Quality Stations".
2. From Table menu, select Promote.
3. From Window menu, select "Attributes of Permit Compliance System".
4. From Table menu, select Promote. 

Answer the following questions:

Data Mining 

1. Activate the BASINS View and make the Water Quality Stations theme active by clicking on the theme name.
2. Select the "Data Mining" tool from the toolbar.
3. From the view, select several water quality stations you are interested in by using the Select Feature tool.
4. Click on the D button, located in the button bar. If the message box says "There is no related discharge information for the facilities selected. ... ...", select other sites.
5. Click on YES in the message box, if the selected sites fall within the recommended number range. Otherwise, select fewer sites.
6. Now you are ready to explore the relationships among water quality stations, water quality data for 1991, 1992 and 1993, and parameter tables. Explore by selecting one record from the multiple tiled windows. The system will automatically highlight related records in other tables and the view. You may need to adjust the theme list’s width to see the selected sites in the smaller ‘Water Quality Data Mining View’. Select the "Select Feature" tool from tool bar. 

The data mining can also be done for Permit Compliance Systems. 

Watershed Report Generation 

The following steps apply to report generation of an entire cataloging unit rather than a single watershed. Report generation for a single watershed delineated in BASINS is similar to the following exercise. This may be done in future exercise. The Watershed Report Generator can be used for point sources and land use as well as the water quality that is discussed in the following exercise. 

1. Activate the BASINS View.
2. Activate the Cataloging Unit Boundaries theme by clicking on its name in the theme list.
3. Locate Cataloging Unit #12110101 using the Query Builder in the Theme menu.

1. Select this Cataloging Unit using the "Select Feature" tool.
2. From the Report menu, select the "Water Quality" menu item.
3. Enter a new subdirectory name for storing watershed reports (Make it unique to you).
4. Select data for one five year period from the subsequent dropdown list.
5. Select BOD5 from the next dropdown list. 

Three windows follow.

1. One shows the watershed’s location map.
2. The other two show text reports by watershed. One text window reports each individual sites’ information, while the other reports information associated with the parameter selected (You may use the default name for the Report Generator –Create Map).

Answer the following questions: