Submitted to: Soil Science Society of America Journal
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/3/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Technical Abstract: The Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) hillslope and watershed scale model is a computer simulation program developed by the USDA for purposes of erosion assessment and conservation planning. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the WEPP model applicability and prediction accuracy for natural runoff/erosion plots and small watersheds under different climates, topographies, soils, and management. Data from 64 runoff plots from 9 locations, and 15 small watersheds from 6 locations in the United States were compared to runoff and sediment yield estimates using WEPP95. Historical climate and management information, as well as representative slope and soil information, was used to build input files for the model. The result shows that the WEPP predicted reasonable average annual and event runoff and sediment yield with default parameter estimation procedures for most of the data. Model efficiencies for storm by storm runoff and sediment yield were quite reasonable for general conditions. The distributions of measured and predicted events were similar. This study also pointed out the potential areas for model improvement, including better and more specific silage routines, addition of a weed component to the plant growth and management model, and better linkage of the sediment from contoured hillslopes to the watershed channel system.