Abstract
Abstract. Ephemeral gully erosion is not included in predictions made with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, version 2 (RUSLE2). A new distributed application called RUSLER (RUSLE2-Raster) predicts distributed soil loss and its output can be linked with the new Ephemeral Gully Erosion Estimator (EphGEE). These models were applied to a 6.3 ha research watershed near Treynor, Iowa, USA, where runoff and sediment yield were measured from 1975 to 1991. Using a 3-m raster DEM, results indicate that ephemeral gully erosion contributed about one-third of the amount of sheet and rill erosion, and that considerable deposition of sediment originating from both sources occurred within the grassed waterway. For ambient conditions, predicted annual average watershed sediment yield was 17.5 Mg ha−1 year−1, 20% greater than the measured value of 14.6 Mg ha−1 year−1.
Highlights
The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation Version 2 – RUSLE2 (ARS, 2008; Renard et al, 2011) is the most recent in the family of Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) models that compute sheet and rill erosion and/or deposition in complex, one-dimensional (1-D) hillslopes
The primary objective of this paper is to demonstrate the application of RUSLER and Ephemeral Gully Erosion Estimator (EphGEE) to a research watershed located near Treynor, Iowa, USA
RUSLE2-predicted average annual runoff was 67 mm, which was higher than the observed runoff of 50 mm, possibly because the RUSLE2 simulation did not include a representation of the grassed waterway that likely slowed down runoff and increased infiltration
Summary
The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation Version 2 – RUSLE2 (ARS, 2008; Renard et al, 2011) is the most recent in the family of Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) models that compute sheet and rill erosion and/or deposition in complex, one-dimensional (1-D) hillslopes. As described by Vieira et al (2014), to support the application of RUSLE2 in complex 2-D landscapes with flow convergence, the way RUSLE2 estimates slope length was modified and technology to generate a representative series of runoff events was implemented. The new geographical information system based distributed RUSLE2 application, called RUSLER (RUSLE2-Raster), generates spatially distributed estimates of sheet and rill erosion and deposition, as well as water and sediment delivery to in-field concentrated flow channels. The primary objective of this paper is to demonstrate the application of RUSLER and EphGEE to a research watershed located near Treynor, Iowa, USA
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