Technical Abstract: An inexpensive, portable and lightweight (9 kg) measuring device was designed and fabricated to precisely assess soil erosion or deposition along the length of small surface ditches (quarter-drains). This measuring device performed very well under typical weather and soil conditions. Since the meter was built from non-corrosive materials such as aluminum (pins, base, and frame) and stainless steel (bolts, nuts, washers and rulers with mm scale), no problems were reported in functioning of the tool during the entire season. The device was able to read depths up to 500 mm with a resolution of 2 mm. Occasional cleaning was required to remove soil particles and moisture from pins. This measuring system is ideal for cases where budget constrains exist. In particular, the system's low cost may make it an attractive tool for erosion assessment in underdeveloped countries. The meter was successfully operated by one person due to the locking feature of pins with respect to the meters' frame. Locking wing-nuts also allowed the user to read data after moving the meter from the benchmark location for more convenient readings from the millimeter rulers. This portable meter allowed for the study of changes in cross sectional area due to soil erosion or deposition in small surface ditches (quarter-drains) at specific locations within a ditch network. Monitoring these changes is important in terms of proper ditch management (sizing, cleaning), and improving effectiveness of residue management in minimizing runoff/sediment loss within the field.