United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content




National Resources Inventory
2003 Annual NRI

National and Major River Basin Soil Erosion Results Tables

Estimates presented here are based upon the latest information from the National Resources Inventory (NRI). The NRI is a longitudinal sample survey based upon scientific statistical principles and procedures. It is conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in cooperation with Iowa State University’s Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology. These results are based upon the 2003 Annual NRI, which statistically updates 1997 NRI results with data collected during 2000 - 2003. The NRI was conducted on a five-year cycle during the period 1982 to 1997, but now is conducted annually. NRI data were collected every five years for 800,000 sample sites; annual NRI data collection occurs at slightly less than 25 percent of these same sample sites. Current estimates cover the contiguous 48 states. Future estimates will include Hawaii, Alaska, the Caribbean, and selected Pacific Basin islands.

NRI data release procedures are affected by implementation of an annual data collection approach, because the scale of NRI estimates is affected by these reduced sample sizes. Estimates are being released when they meet NRI statistical standards and are scientifically credible in accordance with NRCS policy, and in accordance with OMB and USDA Quality of Information Guidelines. At all scales of analysis, margins of error must be considered. Margins of error (at the 95 percent confidence level) are presented for every NRI estimate. For more information see the NRI website at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/NRI/.

Water (Sheet & Rill) Erosion on Cropland by Year,
with Margins of Error
Year Million Tons per Year Tons per Acre per Year
1982 1,671.8
± 21.1		 4.0
± 0.1
1987 1,470.8
± 19.0		 3.6
± 0.1
1992 1,168.8
± 16.3		 3.1
± 0.1
1997 1,039.1
± 11.9		 2.8
± 0.1
2001 992.4
± 14.5		 2.7
± 0.1
2003 970.6
± 14.7		 2.6
± 0.1
Wind Erosion on Cropland by Year,
with Margins of Error
Year Million Tons per Year Tons per Acre per Year
1982 1,389.6
± 38.0		 3.3
± 0.1
1987 1,295.5
± 36.3		 3.2
± 0.1
1992 985.3
± 33.3		 2.6
± 0.1
1997 837.9
± 28.9		 2.2
± 0.1
2001 780.1
± 27.3		 2.1
± 0.1
2003 776.4
± 24.3		 2.1
± 0.1
Highly Erodible (HEL) Cropland by Year,
in Million of Acres, with Margins of Error
Year Eroding At or Below Soil Loss
Tolerance Rates		 Eroding Above Soil Loss
Tolerance Rates		 Total
1982 40.8
± 1.2		 82.8
± 1.3		 123.6
± 1.4
1992 40.5
± 1.0		 63.6
± 1.3		 104.1
± 1.3
1997 45.3
± 1.3		 57.5
± 1.2		 102.8
± 1.2
2003 46.1
± 1.3		 54.1
± 1.0		 100.2
± 1.2
Non-Highly Erodible (Non-HEL) Cropland by Year,
in Millions of Acres, with Margins of Error
Year Eroding At or Below Soil Loss
Tolerance Rates		 Eroding Above Soil Loss
Tolerance Rates		 Total
1982 210.0
± 2.2		 86.3
± 1.6		 296.3
± 2.0
1992 216.3
± 2.1		 60.9
± 1.6		 277.2
± 1.9
1997 222.4
± 1.8		 51.2
± 1.4		 273.6
± 1.8
2003 219.8
± 2.0		 47.9
± 1.4		 267.7
± 2.0
Water (Sheet & Rill) Erosion on Cropland by Major River Basin by Year,
with Margins of Error
River Basin Year Million Tons
per Year		 Tons per Acre
per Year
Arkansas-White-Red 1982 93.7
±4.4		 2.2
±0.1
1992 77.0
±3.9		 2.2
±0.1
2003 67.4
±3.4		 2.0
±0.1
California / Great Basin 1982 13.0
±3.7		 1.0
±0.3
1992 8.6
±4.3		 0.7
±0.3
2003 5.1
±1.4		 0.4
±0.1
Great Lakes 1982 54.2
±2.7		 2.4
±0.1
1992 41.0
±1.7		 1.9
±0.1
2003 33.7
±2.1		 1.7
±0.1
Lower Colorado / Upper Colorado 1982 1.9
±0.5		 0.6
±0.2
1992 1.6
±0.7		 0.6
±0.2
2003 1.5
±0.5		 0.6
±0.2
Lower Mississippi 1982 136.4
±7.9		 5.9
±0.3
1992 98.9
±5.2		 4.7
±0.2
2003 73.9
±3.4		 3.6
±0.1
Missouri 1982 433.1
±16.4		 4.1
±0.1
1992 288.0
±13.5		 3.0
±0.1
2003 246.1
±11.0		 2.5
±0.1
New England / Mid Atlantic 1982 57.3
±3.5		 4.2
±0.2
1992 45.7
±3.0		 3.6
±0.2
2003 36.3
±2.4		 3.2
±0.2
Ohio / Tennessee River 1982 189.3
±7.5		 5.3
±0.2
1992 128.4
±5.4		 3.8
±0.1
2003 94.7
±4.5		 2.9
±0.1
Pacific Northwest 1982 85.3
±6.4		 4.6
±0.3
1992 52.4
±4.0		 3.2
±0.2
2003 43.7
±4.0		 2.8
±0.2
Souris-Red- Rainy / Upper Mississippi 1982 390.7
±9.3		 4.4
±0.1
1992 275.2
±9.0		 3.3
±0.1
2003 250.8
±8.8		 3.0
±0.1
South Atlantic-Gulf 1982 145.0
±7.6		 5.4
±0.3
1992 91.3
±6.3		 4.3
±0.3
2003 62.8
±3.5		 3.4
±0.1
Texas-Gulf / Rio Grande 1982 72.0
±2.6		 2.7
±0.1
1992 60.8
±2.6		 2.6
±0.1
2003 54.5
±2.6		 2.6
±0.1
Wind Erosion on Cropland by Major River Basin by Year,
with Margins of Error
River Basin Year Million Tons per Year Tons per Acre per Year
Arkansas-White-Red 1982 212.2
±18.7		 5.1
±0.4
1992 118.5
±13.5		 3.3
±0.3
2003 90.0
±11.3		 2.7
±0.3
California / Great Basin 1982 23.3
±9.1		 1.7
±0.7
1992 16.8
±6.7		 1.3
±0.5
2003 11.7
±5.8		 1.0
±0.5
Great Lakes 1982 24.1
±1.7		 1.1
±0.1
1992 20.1
±1.8		 0.9
±0.1
2003 16.4
±1.7		 0.8
±0.1
Lower Colorado / Upper Colorado 1982 17.4
±2.2		 5.8
±0.7
1992 18.3
±3.6		 6.6
±1.3
2003 14.5
±2.8		 6.0
±1.1
Missouri 1982 403.4
±18.7		 3.8
±0.1
1992 288.7
±14.1		 3.0
±0.1
2003 232.8
±12.5		 2.4
±0.1
Ohio / Tennessee River 1982 3.6
±0.8		 0.1
—
1992 2.5
±0.7		 0.1
—
2003 1.4
±0.4		 0.0
—
Pacific Northwest 1982 60.0
±9.1		 3.2
±0.5
1992 58.1
±9.1		 3.6
±0.5
2003 51.9
±7.7		 3.3
±0.5
Souris-Red-Rainy / Upper Mississippi 1982 278.6
±11.9		 3.2
±0.1
1992 220.2
±9.7		 2.6
±0.1
2003 171.2
±9.8		 2.1
±0.1
Texas-Gulf / Rio Grande 1982 367.1
±28.8		 13.5
±1.1
1992 242.1
±23.2		 10.3
±1.0
2003 186.4
±16.8		 8.8
±0.8
Note: A — indicates that the margin of error is less than .05 tons per acre per year.
Highly Erodible (HEL) Cropland and Non-Highly Erodible (Non-HEL) Cropland by Major River Basin by Year,
in Thousands of Acres, with Margins of Error
River Basin Year HEL Cropland Eroding At or Below Soil Loss Tolerance Rates HEL Cropland Eroding Above Soil Loss Tolerance Rates Total HEL Cropland Non-HEL Cropland Eroding At or Below Soil Loss Tolerance Rates Non-HEL Cropland Eroding Above Soil Loss Tolerance Rates Total Non-HEL Cropland
Arkansas-White-Red 1982 6871.4
±653.2 		9337.0
±685.9 		16208.4
±923.8 		19152.3
±969.4 		6420.9
±556.1 		25573.2
±1223.8
1992 6700.0
±762.7 		5895.9
±642.3 		12595.9
±904.6 		18634.4
±1029.1 		4244.3
±457.3 		22878.7
±1254.8
2003 6895.7
±643.9 		4858.1
±594.4 		11753.8
±949.5 		18166.6
±1052.3 		3362.1
±404.1 		21528.7
±1199.7
California / Great Basin 1982 804.5
±254.9 		798.5
±150.3 		1603.0
±302.5 		11131.1
±673.7 		906.6
±561.3 		12037.7
±779.2
1992 748.7
±258.4 		607.6
±181.9 		1356.3
±365.9 		10718.7
±699.0 		550.7
±154.9 		11269.4
±739.9
2003 820.7
±248.4 		423.5
±125.3 		1244.2
±285.7 		10318.1
±749.5 		349.2
±138.6 		10667.3
±755.5
Great Lakes 1982 795.4
±157.9 		1591.9
±162.7 		2387.3
±212.0 		16197.5
±574.6 		3605.4
±223.3 		19802.9
±640.5
1992 966.4
±152.1 		1252.7
±172.1 		2219.1
±244.2 		16316.9
±627.2 		2708.2
±241.7 		19025.1
±640.9
2003 889.8
±142.9 		1109.2
±137.9 		1999.0
±219.2 		15552.5
±596.8 		2101.9
±250.8 		17654.4
±642.0
Lower Colorado / Upper Colorado 1982 1045.5
±144.4 		648.4
±104.3 		1693.9
±164.7 		1073.1
±139.3 		232.2
±69.1 		1305.3
±155.8
1992 882.4
±140.7 		712.9
±123.1 		1595.3
±166.6 		972.2
±157.6 		204.6
±115.6 		1176.8
±160.6
2003 740.5
±117.9 		651.4
±162.7 		1391.9
±192.6 		915.8
±187.1 		110.4
±57.2 		1026.2
±185.0
Lower Mississippi 1982 402.4
±71.9 		2710.3
±232.7 		3112.7
±245.7 		14375.9
±629.8 		5573.4
±324.2 		19949.3
±646.5
1992 413.6
±88.8 		1812.2
±174.6 		2225.8
±198.0 		14882.9
±615.2 		4087.5
±308.7 		18970.4
±637.1
2003 866.0
±138.6 		1377.4
±148.7 		2243.4
±209.1 		14947.1
±630.1 		3070.6
±312.1 		18017.7
±648.1
Missouri 1982 14694.6
±887.5 		26880.0
±882.8 		41574.6
±888.1 		47895.9
±1440.8 		16517.3
±821.1 		64413.2
±1644.9
1992 14442.1
±837.9 		21320.6
±920.4 		35762.7
±910.9 		51093.9
±1445.1 		10499.1
±714.1 		61593.0
±1545.6
2003 17333.6
±852.6 		18225.5
±846.8 		35559.1
±1024.1 		53652.6
±1653.9 		8661.9
±586.6 		62314.5
±1549.0
New England / Mid Atlantic 1982 3053.6
±231.4 		2925.9
±208.2 		5979.5
±274.8 		6399.5
±290.1 		1314.9
±123.7 		7714.4
±293.7
1992 2784.3
±201.6 		2679.1
±213.0 		5463.4
±300.1 		6181.5
±275.3 		965.3
±102.2 		7146.8
±280.9
2003 2821.6
±212.6 		2089.1
±150.3 		4910.7
±283.1 		5661.4
±320.5 		860.7
±116.7 		6522.1
±333.9
Ohio / Tennessee River 1982 4389.5
±201.8 		6434.2
±249.5 		10823.7
±261.7 		17920.8
±612.0 		7023.4
±393.7 		24944.2
±785.5
1992 4520.3
±225.3 		5209.1
±219.9 		9729.4
±300.0 		19394.1
±663.7 		4418.5
±319.6 		23812.6
±754.2
2003 5985.3
±387.0 		3886.9
±275.6 		9872.2
±438.0 		20699.1
±817.5 		2558.5
±212.2 		23257.6
±809.9
Pacific Northwest 1982 1369.7
±256.7 		5534.9
±512.1 		6904.6
±543.4 		7965.0
±610.6 		3619.4
±363.1 		11584.4
±621.5
1992 1407.7
±254.5 		4504.7
±410.9 		5912.4
±517.3 		7326.4
±540.9 		2917.4
±398.1 		10243.8
±645.8
2003 1566.3
±248.3 		4086.5
±416.6 		5652.8
±501.5 		7484.8
±528.0 		2480.2
±421.8 		9965.0
±634.5
Souris-Red-Rainy / Upper Mississippi 1982 3375.2
±243.2 		12522.4
±616.9 		15897.6
±659.9 		43350.3
±904.1 		29050.5
±950.5 		72400.8
±1164.8
1992 3840.4
±360.8 		9823.2
±563.0 		13663.6
±631.7 		49133.0
±931.9 		20637.7
±926.3 		69770.7
±1036.6
2003 4316.6
±330.2 		9636.0
±519.9 		13952.6
±585.5 		52336.4
±950.2 		16425.8
±873.0 		68762.2
±1166.9
South Atlantic-Gulf 1982 1308.6
±187.4 		4517.3
±297.4 		5825.9
±407.0 		15436.4
±607.0 		5556.1
±274.6 		20992.5
±567.7
1992 1352.4
±215.9 		2577.0
±288.2 		3929.4
±368.1 		13361.9
±545.1 		4092.5
±293.6 		17454.4
±492.6
2003 1729.7
±227.4 		1448.5
±162.0 		3178.2
±300.7 		12072.9
±582.7 		3213.4
±273.5 		15286.3
±599.3
Texas-Gulf/ Rio Grande 1982 2728.4
±463.8 		8906.1
±505.9 		11634.5
±676.4 		9061.3
±548.4 		6444.1
±491.6 		15505.4
±643.8
1992 2480.4
±462.0 		7205.1
±496.6 		9685.5
±622.0 		8331.1
±563.1 		5533.5
±530.9 		13864.6
±706.7
2003 2140.6
±431.1 		6307.9
±478.1 		8448.5
±545.1 		7965.6
±554.2 		4696.0
±518.7 		12661.6
±656.1

< Back to 2003 Annual NRI Erosion
< Back to National Resources Inventory