Project Number: 3602-12000-012-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Dec 22, 2006
End Date: Dec 21, 2011

Objective:
1) Integrate the WEPP and WEPS model erosion technologies through the use of the Object Modeling System (OMS) into a single wind/water erosion prediction system using common databases and interfaces at the plot and field scale. 2) Incorporate, test and verify new erosion science or related components, such as winter processes, tillage erosion, ephemeral gully erosion, irrigation erosion and rangeland erosion, into the integrated erosion prediction system. 3) Cooperate with all ARS scientists and NRCS staff involved with the CEAP effort to extract relevant modules from existing models such as SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool), RUSLE2 (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation ¿ version 2), AnnAGNPS (Annualized AGricultural Non-Point Source pollution), CONCEPTS (CONservational Channel Evolution and Pollutant Transport System), WEPP (Water Erosion Prediction Project), WEPS (Wind Erosion Prediction System), and REMM (Riparian Ecosystem Management Model) and integrate them into the OMS for development of regional water and air quality models at the plot, field, and watershed scales.

Approach:
Objective 1: a) Incorporate the core WEPP model erosion component into the Object Modeling System, test and verify against the original WEPP model. b) Develop a single storm hydrology and water erosion model in OMS, then adapt model in OMS to handle temporal (multiple storms) and spatial (multiple flow planes) looping. c) Develop a continuous simulation water erosion model in OMS containing infiltration, ET, percolation, water balance, surface runoff routing, and water erosion calculations (multiple storms and multiple spatial planes). d) Create a single event wind detachment component in OMS based upon the core WEPS erosion code. Test and verify against the original WEPS code. e) Create a single event combined wind and water erosion model in OMS, using the individual water and wind modules. f) Merge wind detachment component into continuous simulation OMS water erosion model. g) Add other required components needed for a complete prediction system, including climate generation, plant growth, tillage disturbance, residue management, baseline hydrologic, and erodibility parameterization, etc. h) Test, verify, and validate modules and models. i) Work with NRCS and other users on interface and database development. Objective 2: a) Develop detailed guidelines and instructions for cooperators on formats needed for new components to be incorporated within OMS for inclusion in combined wind and water model, or as special model applications using existing modules from the combined model. b) Work with ARS and university cooperators on testing, verifying, and validating new component modules within OMS. c) Incorporate, test, and verify new erosion science or related components, such as winter processes, tillage erosion, ephemeral gully erosion, irrigation erosion and rangeland erosion, into the integrated erosion prediction system. Objective 3: This effort is a part of the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) Objective 5 which deals with development of regionalized watershed models for assessment of the impacts of field soil conservation practices on off-site resources (water, air, etc.). Hillslope and field components developed in Objectives 1 and 2 may be utilized within larger regionalized models. Alternately, due to much larger scale representations and more coarse process conceptualization, use of simpler types of erosion functions may also be warranted and necessary. CEAP-Objective 5 work is being led by staff in ASRU in Fort Collins, CO.