ARS | Publication request: THE USDA WATER EROSION PREDICTION (WEPP) MODEL

Submitted to: Experiences with Soil Erosion Models
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 7, 1998
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: The USDA Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model is a process- based, distributed parameter, continuous simulation erosion prediction computer program, that can be used to estimate the impacts of various land management practices on runoff, soil loss, and sediment yield from small watersheds and hillslope profiles within those watersheds. Watersheds can be represented as a series of hillslopes, channels, and impoundments. The model was released in 1995 for implementation by federal action agencies in the United States. The model provides land managers with a powerful tool for conservation planning and resource inventory assessment. Recent work in the WEPP project has focused on implementation and development of better user interfaces, databases, and related tools. A graphical windows interface is being created to allow easier user description of watershed and hillslop elements, as well as easier representation of land management activities. A project to link th WEPP watershed model with the ArcView geographic information system (GIS) is also underway; that should result in procedures to take digital elevation data and other GIS map information and automatically create the input files needed to run the WEPP model. The WEPP project is also working cooperatively with the other USDA-ARS erosion projects (RUSLE, RWEQ, WEPS) to develop a common user interface that will allow access to common databases and land management information, and which is planned to eventually replace the currently separate individual interfaces for the four models.