Overview of the Restoration and Protection Screening (RPS) Tool and Indicator Database

The RPS Tool is a free, publicly available tool developed by the EPA to support strategic planning of priority waters and watersheds. Restoring and protecting the nation's rivers, lakes and coasts is an immense challenge. No single organization, public or private, has the resources needed to address water quality threats and challenges across all waters at once. Strategic planning can be undertaken to prioritize certain watersheds so that available resources can be focused on areas with the highest needs or where the greatest benefits are likely to occur.

The RPS Tool allows users to compare a group of subwatersheds using indicators that describe subwatershed conditions and characteristics. Comparisons may be based on a wide variety of factors, such as ecological or human health vulnerabilities, social or cultural significance and the likelihood for restoration and protection success.

The RPS Tool is flexible and customizable. Users choose which subwatersheds to screen, from a few HUC12s to an entire state, and select indicators that are most relevant to their interests and screening objectives. Screening results are viewable as data tables, charts and maps.

The RPS Indicator Database is a robust subwatershed indicator resource. Previously known as the Watershed Index Online Indicator Database, the RPS Indicator Database includes measurements of ecological, stressor and social characteristics compiled for roughly 83,000 HUC12 subwatersheds across the conterminous United States. This dataset can be accessed through the RPS Tool or through the RPS Indicator Database and Map Service page.

The RPS Tool is available as both a web application (the Web RPS Tool) and an Excel-based version (the Excel RPS Tool). This website provides access to all versions of the RPS Tool and the RPS Indicator Database, along with information and training resources for learning how to use the tool and data. Use the sidebar on the left to navigate between pages.