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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Boise, Idaho » Northwest Watershed Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #168169
Title: THE WEPP/SPUR RANGELAND HYDROLOGY MODEL: A TOOL FOR DEVELOPING ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION

Author
item SPAETH, K - NCRS
item Pierson Jr, Frederick
item Moffet, Corey

Submitted to: Society for Range Management
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/24/2004
Publication Date: 1/24/2004
Citation: Spaeth, K.E., Pierson, F.B., and Moffet, C.A., 2004 The WEPP/SPUR rangeland hydrology model: a tool for developing ecological site descriptions. CD-ROM In: Abstracts of the 57th Annual Meeting. Society for Range Management, Salt Lake City, UT. Jan 24-30, Abstract #340.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service is engaged in writing new Ecological Site Descriptions (ESD's). These ESD's will contain the most updated information and includes new technology such as state and transition models and hydrologic and erosion information for the respective states. The NRCS is working to standardize the entry of data and the information will be available via the web. The Ecological Site Information System (ESIS) is the repository for the data associated with the collection of forestland and rangeland plot data and the development of ESD's. ESIS is organized into two applications and associated databases: the Ecological Site Description, and the Ecological Site Inventory (ESI). The ESD application provides the capability to produce automated ecological site descriptions from the data stored in its database. The ESI application provides the capability to enter, edit, and retrieve range, forestry, and agroforestry plot data. A demonstration of the WEPP/SPUR model is given for a high elevation Mountain Big Sagebrush site in northwestern Nevada. The WEPP/SPUR model is a process based rangeland hydrology model that combines the best attributes of the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) and the Simulation, Production, and Utilization of Rangeland (SPUR) model. The WEPP/SPUR model is capable of outputting information relating to the entire water budget (runoff, infiltration, evapotranspiration, deep percolation, rainfall), sediment loss, and is sensitive to changing vegetative composition.