Virginia Coastal Program: 1997 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY1997 Task 17
Grantee:
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Project Title:
Desktop Simulation Software for Land Use and Nutrient Management Strategies
Project Description as Proposed:
A desktop simulation system (or management software) for the York River Basin, with easy-to-use graphics Windows interface (point-and-click), extensive databases (land use, population, soil, water discharge, water quality, climate, point nutrient sources, etc.), and a powerful nutrient-loading model in a single software package. Designed to enable coastal resources managers to visualize watershed characteristics, retrieve historic data (at county and sub-watershed levels), manipulate land use patterns, and simulate nutrient (N,P, and organic C) and sediment loadings under various scenarios. Will assist resource managers in making decisions using latest technology, information and scientific knowledge. Can be used to educate local organizations and general public about linkage between basinwide resource management and water quality. Can be extended to other Virginia coastal basins such as the Rappahannock and lower James rivers.
Federal Funding:
$56,284
Project Contact:
Dick Wetzel, 804.684.7381
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
A CD-ROM entitled BasinSim 1.0 Watershed Simulation System for Windows 95, 98, NT. The cover of the jewel case includes a color printed logo of red, yellow, green, and blue; the title in whiite over blue; and all other text in black-and-white. Also, there is a professionally spiral-bound, 137-page publication entitled BasinSim 1.0 A Windows-Based Watershed Modeling Package User's Guide. The text , tables, and some graphics and graphs are printed in black-and-white while logos and some graphics and graphs are printed in color. The cover is gray. The publication includes 3 appendices.
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
We
have developed a watershed simulation package - BasinSim 1.0 for
Windows. BasinSim 1.0 is a desktop application that predicts sediment
and nutrient loads for small to mid-sized watersheds. The simulation
system is based on a tested watershed model, the Generalized Watershed
Loading Functions (GWLF). BasinSim 1.0 integrates an easy-to-use
graphic Windows interface, extensive databases (land uses, population,
soils, water discharge, water quality, climate, point nutrient sources,
etc.), and the GWLF model (with modifications) into a single software
package. It was designed to enable resource managers to visualize
watershed characteristics, retrieve historic data (at the county
and sub-watershed levels), manipulate land use patterns, and simulate
nutrient (N,P, and organic C) and sediment loadings under various
scenarios. The simulation system will assist resource managers in
making sound management decisions using the latest technology, information,
and scientific knowledge. The simulation system can also be used
as a research and education tool to understand linkages between
basinwide resource management and water quality. BasinSim 1.0 is
available free from Internet download. Please contact the authors
for more information.
In addition to the original GWLF simulation model, BasinSim 1.0
for Windows has the following features that are useful for both
practical applications and basic research:
1. User-friendly interfaces
2. Detailed on-line help files
3. Ability to create and modify input files
4. Display map and database information for counties or sub-watersheds
5. Display results in bar, line, and pie charts
6. Regroup results into new categories to simplify data analysis
and visualization
7. Compare different simulation scenarios
8. Calculate total nutrient loads from subdivided basins
9. Capacity for the simulation of multiple sub-basins or scenarios
Form C end
Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Laura McKay, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4323 or email: Laura.McKay@deq.virginia.gov
A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov
