RELEASE NOTES: ======================================================================== February 2015 Version 4.3 was released. Updates in this version include: 1. updating Puetro Rico weather dataset (increased stations from 5 to 21) using the daily NCDC rain gages. 2. summarizing average annual rainfall (1981-2013) at the station level (not at county) and counting the days if rainfall > 5 mm/day. 3. filtering the weather stations pick list in STEPL spreadsheet model based on the user selected state. 4. updated the source codes to resolve "run-time error 1004" caused by the latest MS Office upgrades. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ April 2013 Version 4.2 was released. Updates in this version include: 1. adding Puetro Rico dataset at the local assessment unit boundaries. 2. modifying BMP calculator tool for a bug fix. 3. adding an option to create STEPL model in Excel 2010 format. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ December 10,2006 Version 4.1 beta was released. New features added: 1. The program was modified to work with Excel 2007. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ October 28, 2006 1. Users can now calculate gully and streambank erosion in the new Gully&Streambank worksheet. 2. Users can now calculate pollutant loading from shallow groundwater using the groundwater option on the Input worksheet. 3. Users now have the option (on the Input worksheet) to calculate pollutant loads for: (1) the entire watershed (treat all the subwatersheds as the pats of a larger watershed, considering sediment transport routing loss in the watershed), or (2) the individual watershed or project area (treat subwatersheds or areas as independent project areas, no watershed transport routing is considered). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ September 29, 2005 1. Users can now specify partial area BMP applications in the BMPs worksheet. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ March 29, 2005 1. A bug related to the urban BMP application area is fixed ------------------------------------------------------------------------ September 24, 2004 Version 3.0 beta was released. New features added: 1. Rainfall correction factors have been compiled and incorporated into the model. 2. Model can now estimate load reductions from projects dealing with direct wastewater discharge 3. Model can now estimate load reductions from projects dealing with runoff reduction from irrigation conservation. 4. Model can now estimate load reductions from projects dealing with Low Impact Development. 5. Users can now copy the calculated BMP efficiencies from BMP calculator to STEPL Excel sheets. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ July 28, 2003 Version 2.2 was released. The best management practice database can be changed, added, and deleted through the BMPList worksheet. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ December 14, 2001 A BMP calculator was developed (Visual C++) and linked to the STEPL in this release. Changes were made in STEPL to use the composite BMP efficiencies from the BMP calculator. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ October 18, 2001 This is the readme file of STEPL 2.0 1. System Requirements Windows 95/ 98/ NT/2000. MS Excel 97/2000. MS Excel 2000 is recommended. 30 MB hard disk space. 2. Installing STEPL To install STEPL, you run the setup.exe in the distribution CD. STEPL can also be downloaded as a zipped file. If you downloaded the STEPL2.zip file, unzip it to a temporary directory and then run the setup.exe program. It is recommended that you install STEPL in the default STEPL folder on the target drive. Reboot your computer. 3. Tips - Set your Excel security level to Medium. - Enable Macros when you start a file created by STEPL program. - Study the "sample.xls" or "sample97.exe" examples with the User's Guide. - As you become more and more familiar with STEPL, you may change parameter values in the optional input tables, or view the hidden sheets and tables. Contact Khalid Alvi at Tetra Tech for more information about STEPL. Tetra Tech 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 340 Fairfax, VA 22030 (703) 385-6000