Application of the Unit Stream Power Erosion and Deposition (USPED) Model at Fort Campbell, Kentucky/Tennessee

Abstract

During the last century, numerous models have been developed to predict soil erosion and concomitant sediment deposition. Most have been shown to be inadequate and/or inaccurate in one respect or another. Historically, erosion model results have been compared with sediment outflow from watersheds, providing no information regarding sources and sinks of erosion and deposition within them. This paper documents the application of the new-generation Unit Stream Power Erosion and Deposition (USPED) model at the U.S. Army's Fort Campbell, Kentucky / Tennessee. The USPED model is relatively simple to apply and its novel approach compares model results with observed soil erosion and sediment deposition spatially across the landscape. The model results matched visually-estimated erosion/sediment deposition values 85% of the time, providing an encouraging test of the model. The approach we used provided information regarding the intensity and spatial distribution of soil erosion and sediment deposition that can be used to optimize the placement and size of soil erosion and sediment control efforts.