Project Number: 5348-12000-007-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Feb 14, 2002
End Date: Feb 13, 2007

Objective:
Improve overall erosion prediction technology to enhance soil and water quality. Develop improved winter routines for the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP). Develop improved relationships for factors used in the RUSLE for winter hydrology areas. Evaluate the effects of direct seeding and other alternative management practices on infiltration, runoff, erosion and soil and water quality. Develop a database of erosion and topographic data for use in hill slope hydrology and erosion models.

Approach:
Improve predictive capability of the erosion prediction tools that are currently in use or projected for use in the Northwestern Wheat and Range Region of the Pacific Northwest. Establish a database that can be used to test techniques for using digital elevation data for applying these models to the widely varying topography in the region, and towards evaluating new management practices for their effects in improving soil and water quality. The research builds on previous experience and makes new use of datasets that are already in existence, as well as new data that will be collected for management systems that are still evolving. The research on the RUSLE and WEPP models evolves from the need to make the models more robust so that they can be used with confidence in a wide variety of conditions where hydrology is dominated by winter events. The collaborators who have agreed to participate in this research are highly qualified, and have demonstrated their interest in the research through previous collaborative efforts. Replaced 5348-12000-006-00D (03/02).

Project Team

McCool, Donald - Don Kennedy, Ann

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002

Related National Programs

Water Quality & Management (201)   Soil Resource Management (202)

Related Projects

Land Management Effects on Runoff, Erosion, and Water Quality under Winter Conditions