State-Specific Recovery Potential Screening (RPS) Tools
Watershed Index Online has been renamed to the Restoration and Protection Screening (RPS) Indicator Database. This webpage is no longer maintained. Visit the EPA RPS website for up-to-date information and resources to support strategic planning of priority waters and watersheds.
The Recovery Potential Screening (RPS) tool was the original source for the development of the WSIO tool online, and state-specific RPS tools are maintained and updated yearly. You can download state-specific RPS tools at the RPS website by clicking on the site's national map or drop-down menu. These tools can be used in the local computer environment without Internet access. Any state or territory’s RPS tool can be downloaded as an already available alternative to creating the user’s own custom WSIO tool; it is better to create a custom WSIO tool when interstate or multi-state areas are needed in one tool.
- The user does not define the project area in an RPS Tool because the tools are pre-set to fully cover each state.
- These statewide RPS tools use a simple mapping function within Excel to display color maps of the state's HUC12 watersheds alone (i.e., the watersheds are not superimposed over a base map with roads, place names, etc).
- Each of the tools from the 48 conterminous states is pre-loaded with data on about 300 indicators from the WSIO data library (indicator totals may differ for HI, AK and territories, or where states have collaborated to add more indicators and watershed scales), so user selection of online indicator data is not necessary. Additional indicators from WSIO or elsewhere can still be added to any RPS tool's data table by following directions on the “Add Indicators” tab.
- These tools will function using Excel 2007 or later version.
- If your file does not function properly when first opened, close it and open a second time. It will be fully functional from then on.
- Please contact EPA for information about tool use or development for tribal lands.